Dmitry Soin: “PRORIV!” hears the heart of Great Russia!

-How do you estimate hearings held in Russian State Duma dedicated to the problem of unrecognized states?

-These hearings are positive because representatives of Pridnestrovie, Abkhazia and South Osetia have an opportunity to talk to people from Duma tribune about urgent problems that “unrecognized” countries face today.

Russian politicians, deputies of State Duma, experts took active part in the hearings and it is not accidental. Today, external powers try to limit Russia’s opportunities in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Three states which are the closest ones to Russia fought for their lives in these conditions. They are not recognized, but taking into account modern world order, it is not that important. What is important – Russia may rely on them when conducting its external policy.

That’s why Hearings in State Duma play a great role both for Russia and unrecognized republics.

-Dmitry Yurievich, why, still, State Duma decided to start the procedure of step-by-step recognition of Abkhazia and South Osetia, but as for Pridnestrovie, Duma gave recommendations to continue negotiations with Moldova?

-Our conflict may look not that unsolvable as Georgian-Osetian or Georgian-Abkhazian ones. There exists an opinion that ethnic and religious components cannot be found in Moldo-Pridnestrovian conflict. Thus, it can be regulated on the basis of mutual compromises. But civilization indications of Moldo-Pridnestrovian conflict are not taken into account: Moldova is mostly orientated on Romania and Europe while Pridnestrovie looks to the East, to the Ukraine and Russia.  What is more, Russia is a dominating civilization factor in the minds of Pridnestrovian people.

Different elites, new generation of people who have never lived in united Soviet Moldavia grew during 18 years in Moldova and Pridnestrovie, new economic and political systems were formed. Somebody tries to unite these things today. As far as my opinion is concerned, it is almost impossible. But I do not deny the variant of regulating Moldo-Pridnestrovian relations in several phases. This will need much time and hard work. The success is possible only if both sides are equal in the negotiation process, without ambitions, double standards and forbidden methods.

But if one returns from conflictology to real politics, such Duma’s position is a serious bell for Pridnestrovie. PMR has recently been leader if speaking about state building and it was the first to get legal status. The situation has changed today. Osetins and Abkhazians bypassed us. We are happy for them and we should think about the reasons of our backlog.

I suppose we face today the attempt to pay people’s attention on the most unimportant things. There are such departments and people in Pidnestrovie who didn’t do anything to save Russian priorities in Pridnestrovie. I’d like to give examples speaking about my activity. In 2007 “PRORIV!” appeals to the President and Parliament with a proposal to declare 12 June – the Day of Russia – state holiday in Pridnestrovie. The motive is understandable – there are results of the Referendum where people showed their will to be with Russia. But our appeal wasn’t supported.

The automobile race dedicated to this holiday and conducted by “PRORIV!” was shown a bit on TV and that’s it. But local national TV-channel didn’t stop on that – on the Day of Russian flag the whole central square of Tiraspol was decorated with national Russian flags. Still, local Media didn’t show it anywhere.  A sort of conspiracy of silence, you know. If you don’t like “PRORIV!” – do not show its actions. But what about Russia? Wouldn’t it be better to do everything the other way round – to show how Pridnestrovian young people support pro-Russian ideology.

Somebody tries to make us think that Russia must help us even if we don’t do anything. But this won’t happen! Moscow will help Tiraspol only when ruling class together with the majority of population will turn to Russia. There are no other variants. We need to listen carefully the heart-beating of Great Russia, to catch thoughts and ideas of its leaders and to correct our own policy.

Only in this case the result will appear soon. Our elite have to understand – only Russia’s support is our only real guarantee of safety. Of course, we should be friends with the Ukraine as well. We have common border and common centuries-old history. We can’t refuse to increase links with Europe, but Russia should be number one in developing political system and Pridnestrovie’s economics.

-“PRORIV!” has always been the most consistent pro-Russian organization. It had done a lot for Pridnestrovie during the blockade, during the referendum and in many other situations. The organization managed to give the young people access to such values as patriotism and self-perfection. Why is “PRORIV!” silent now? One can hardly see your actions on TV, sound program “Info-PRORIV!” does not exist anymore on the air. In general, strange things happen.

- “Why is “PRORIV!” silent?”-this question is popular among people of different age, from young to elderly people, among representatives of other social organizations and journalists, and they ask me. This question is especially interesting in the light of the fact that International Youth Corporation and People’s Democratic Party “PRORIV!” holds practically every day different actions: humanitarian, scientific and educational, social and political. The pace of our work only increased throughout 2007. And the same tendency continues.

Our guys go out in the streets of Pridnestrovian towns practically every day and distribute the newspaper “Russian PRORIV!”, calendars, booklets. They communicate with Pridnestrovian people face to face and explain our political stand to them, including the problem of profound cooperation between Russia and Pridnestrovie. We were the first to protest against price increase on essential goods, public services, and transport fare. “PRORIV!” supported the struggle of certain social groups for their rights. But everything is under information ban. In journalist community there are gossips that minister Belyaev received an order from above to suppress “PRORIV!” and to promote other parties, funds, persons. In these journalist circles they say how Belyaev instructed “poor” TV editor Sazonov on this matter. And journalists believe that Belyaev is a negative character and Sazonov is a victim. I will not comment on the journalist tales, but “PRORIV!” is really suppressed.

It’s a pity that propagandistic experiments are conducted on population at the expense of citizens- taxpayers. In this case the Constitution, Mass Media law and other rules of political game are broken. In the end there arises the question – everybody pays taxes, but only narrow circles are shown. Of course, “PRORIV!” suffered from the lack of television contact with our fellow citizens, but at once it found alternative kinds of work. It is the direct communication with people. Pridnestrovian people like “sunny” young people of “PRORIV!” and they noticed our isolation. They sympathize with us. “PRORIV!” becomes stronger. Anyway, information mafia will sooner or later suffer a defeat. “Glam political party” promoted by the mafia has no prospects of success.

Today programs connected with sociology, psychology, journalism, management and marketing, that are interesting for young people develop in “PRORIV!”. Young people of Pridnestrovie are with us. This is the guarantee of success for “PRORIV!”.