Sawt Falasteen - Transnistria leader visited Moscow for energy talks: reports

The tiny self-proclaimed republic, which is reliant on Russia's financial backing, has been unable to provide heating and hot water to residents since January 1, when Moscow cut off gas to Moldova over a financial dispute.

"President (Vadim Krasnoselsky) held talks in Moscow and the topic was indeed the energy crisis," Transnistria's main TV channel reported on Telegram, citing Krasnoselsky's press secretary.

It did not say when Krasnoselsky visited or give details on who he talked to, but some Moldovan media outlets reported he travelled to Russia on Friday and returned on Tuesday.

The breakaway republic said last Friday it was "counting" on Russia to help it overcome the crisis, claiming it had not received concrete offers of support from Moldova or the European Union.

With temperatures hitting freezing point, people in Transnistria have been forced to burn wood or plug in electric heaters for warmth.

Transnistria's Soviet-era energy grid has imposed five-hour long blackouts to cope with the surge in demand.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said she was aware of the visit, citing it as proof her government "is not an impediment to finding a solution".

Russian energy provider Gazprom halted gas to Moldova on January 1 over what it said were longstanding debts with the government in Chisinau, the same day a major gas transit agreement between Moscow and Kyiv to pipe gas across Ukraine ended.

Moscow says Moldova and Ukraine are at fault, citing the unpaid debts and accusing Kyiv of "cynically" ending gas transit through its territory.

But the EU and Moldova blame Moscow for the crisis. Chisinau says Gazprom is blowing the debt issue out of proportion and that it can still pump gas to Transnistria through a route that runs through the Balkans.

The crisis has caused an almost total shutdown in industry in the breakaway state, while tens of thousands have lost jobs.

Internationally recognised as part of Moldova, Transnistria declared independence at the end of the Soviet Union and has been reliant on Moscow's financial support ever since. Russia has around 1,500 troops stationed there.

The rest of Moldova has been spared for now, able to secure power imports from neighbouring Romania.

N.Shalabi--SF-PST