Moldova does not recognise the legitimacy of privatisation transactions announced by the separatist authorities in Transnistria, and potential buyers risk losing their entire investment, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Valeriu Chiveri said on August 5, commenting on plans by the administration in Tiraspol to sell several industrial assets, according to NewsMaker.

Transnistria, a breakaway region that declared independence from Moldova in the early 1990s, is not recognised internationally. Chisinau maintains that all state-owned assets in the territory remain the property of the Republic of Moldova.

The announcement is a new step in the economic, fiscal and legal normalisation policy carried out by the central authorities in Chisinau across the country's regions with special regimes.

The planned sales reportedly include the Rybnitsa Cement Plant and the Bender River Port.

Transnistria is facing a difficult economic situation since Russia terminated direct free natural gas supplies, and the separatist regime has relied for the past months on public donations, mainly from the local dominant holding Sheriff, for financing its current expenses.

According to Chiveri, any privatisation carried out in violation of Moldovan legislation is legally invalid and will have no legal effect once the Transnistrian conflict is resolved, as the assets remain the property of the Moldovan state.

"We're not talking about the private property of ordinary citizens — apartments, houses or land. We're talking about assets put up for sale or included in the privatisation list, which are Moldovan assets," Chiveri said, urging potential investors to carefully assess the legal risks.

"I would recommend carefully weighing such steps, as they could be much more expensive than they seem at first glance," he added.

Asked whether the Moldavskaya GRES (MoldGRES) power plant was among the assets considered for privatisation, Chiveri said it was not, adding that he had referred to the facility only as an example.

The deputy prime minister also said that, as part of a future phased reintegration process, the Moldovan authorities could seek to return such assets to state ownership.

"During a phased reintegration, we can take steps to return these assets to state ownership," Chiveri said, while declining to comment on whether Moldova would pursue claims before international courts.