Supporting separatism is a dangerous tendency that threatens Europe, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine deputy (Petro Poroshenko Bloc) Iryna Friz, who chairs the parliament's subcommittee on state information system security, has said. Friz, a member of the Rada's national security and defense committee, was commenting on the situation that has developed in Transdniestria.

"Russia uses unrecognized Transdniestria to avoid sanctions. Russian goods arrive there on territory not controlled by Moldova and receive "Transdniestria origin stamps" before being exported to European Union member states. Tiraspol has received access to the Deep Free Trading Area (DFTA) as a part of Moldova, in order to ensure its reintegration with Moldova. Meanwhile, Transdniestria leaders continue discussing plans to integrate with Russia or set up their own independent state," Friz said.

Friz said the carrot and stick policy with Tiraspol is mistaken if a big stick is not used.

"While Transdniestria gives Russia the opportunity to use its access to EU markets, Tiraspol does nothing to demilitarize and remove Russia's occupation contingent from its territory," Friz said, adding that Russia's involvement in the peaceful regulation of conflicts it itself has created should be stopped.

"The expansion of separatism is a dangerous trend that threatens the whole of Europe," Friz said.