Putin Overestimates Moldovan Exports to Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday gave inflated figures for Moldova-Russia trade during a meeting at the Kremlin with his Moldovan counterpart Igor Dodon.

The Russian leader said that exports of Moldovan goods to the Russian market grew by 14 per cent in the first half of this year, although statistical data shows that they actually decreased by 8 per cent.

"Thanks to your personal efforts, the situation is changing, particularly in the sphere of trade and economic relations; a significant number of wine-making, fruit and vegetable enterprises and agricultural raw materials are supplying the Russian market," Putin told Dodon.

Moldova sent 67 per cent of its exports to the EU in the first half of 2018, and only 16.3 per cent to Commonwealth of the Independent States countries including Russia, according to internal statistics in Moldova and European Commission data.

The balance of exports switched towards the EU after Russia imposed an economic embargo on Moldovan wines, fruits and vegetables in 2013.

At present, only certain companies from Moldova, some close to Dodon's pro-Russian Socialist Party, are allowed to export to Russia.

Dodon wrote on Facebook that he and Putin and discussed the possibility for Russia to eliminate taxes for Moldovan goods exported to Russia from January 1, 2019.

He also said that he asked Putin to declare 2019 'the year of Moldova' in Russia in order to boost pro-Russian forces in Moldova's parliamentary elections in February 2019.

Dodon further asked Putin for a pardon for Moldovan immigrants who are living illegally in Russia without the correct papers.

"I assured the president of the Russian Federation that the absolute majority of Moldovan citizens support the policy...