The Parliament Speaker on the history of the creation of the republic and the PMR Supreme Council: "It was necessary to make very quick and correct management decisions"

On November 29, The PMR Supreme Council – the highest representative and only legislative body of power in Pridnestrovie – turned 34 years old. The PMR Supreme Council Chairman Alexander Korshunov spoke about the work of the Supreme Council, about legislative activity, about direct communication with voters, about young people and their interest in parliamentary activity in an interview of the week for the "The Results. How It Was" project on the First Pridnestrovian TV Channel.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: One of the topics of the week is that the Supreme Council is 34. The first meeting of the Pridnestrovian Parliament was held on November 29, 1990. This is a reason to remember how our republic was created, what role the deputies of the first convocation played and, of course, to learn about how laws are written. This is the interview of the week, and our guest is the Chairman of the Supreme Council Alexander Korshunov today. Good afternoon, Alexander Viktorovich.

Alexander Korshunov: Good afternoon, Anastasia.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: Congratulations on the holiday, and to the Supreme Council deputies in your person. The date is really big and important, but now I suggest we dive into history and go back 34 years. Perhaps we should start with September 2, because it is the desire of the Pridnestrovian people to live in a free country, regardless of the nationalism that was in Moldova at the time, to create their own country, and these are the deputies who have a huge responsibility for creating the young republic. They proclaimed the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic at that time, on September 2, and created the Provisional Supreme Council headed by Igor Nikolaevich Smirnov. Now it is very difficult to imagine how difficult it was for the deputies of the first convocation and this first Provisional Supreme Council to make history, write the Constitution, create laws. All this really happened under enormous pressure and the threat of arrests, there was pressure from Moldova, we all know that it was constantly present in life. How do you think, to what extent did this time play a role in creating people who made history and created our republic in spite of everything.

Alexander Korshunov: The events developed rapidly, nationalistic trends developed under external influence in my opinion. It is necessary and important to understand that state structures in the sense that we understand them, did not exist then and, accordingly, the structures could not protect our citizens from physical violence neither in Tiraspol, nor in Rybnitsa, nor in the city of Bendery. According to those speeches of the nationalists of the People's Front everything indicated that our citizens were becoming second-class citizens at that time. It was necessary to make very quick, correct management decisions and, accordingly, it was necessary to be both morally and professionally prepared for this. This is what our politically educated citizens, headed by Igor Nikolaevich Smirnov, showed - they united our citizens in this impulse. Why? Because all people and the whole society protects themselves, their children, their loved ones. Deputies of all levels at the congress generally spoke about this, and in connection with this, a decision was made that it is necessary to form our own government bodies, our own law enforcement agencies. 

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: All management functions fell on the shoulders of the Provisional Supreme Council until November 25. The first meeting of the parliament took place on November 29, where the chairman of the republic was elected. That was such an interesting position – Igor Nikolaevich Smirnov became. This was until the presidential elections, then he headed our young republic. 60 resolutions adopted by the Provisional Supreme Council were confirmed at that time, active work was already underway on the Constitution, on all these laws, on state authorities. What were the most important decisions made at that very first meeting back then, on November 29 in your opinion? 

Alexander Korshunov: Naturally, the first decision that the Supreme Council had to make was to form its structure, to form the rules of procedure for the Supreme Council. Two chambers were created. The Council of the Republic adopts laws, and the Council of Nationalities controls, that is, the chamber just above controls, so that in our multinational state these or those rights of this or that nationality or ethnic group are not violated.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: This bicameral system continued to exist until 2000. It is unicameral and the number of deputies has decreased at present.

Alexander Korshunov: The deputy corps of the previous VI convocation decided that 33 deputies of the Supreme Council will work in the VII convocation and represent the interests of 500 thousand citizens of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: An interesting fact that all the Presidents of Pridnestrovie were previously Chairmen of the Supreme Council. Do you think this will continue?

Alexander Korshunov: Yes, an interesting observation, but I want to say that not all Chairmen of the Supreme Council became presidents. I do not think that this is a rule. Practice has shown in this case that people with experience in politics, people with professional experience in public administration, knowledge of the power bloc, for a number of reasons were more liked by our citizens than other candidates. The choice of our citizens in general in this regard.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: The President has the right of legislative initiative, and Vadim Nikolaevich is active in this matter, very consistent. There is an understanding that when the President's initiative comes, it must be accepted, and this law must be adopted or not? How does it work?

Alexander Korshunov: We understand perfectly well that the President represents all citizens of Pridnestrovie and his legislations are very important and necessary. , They are adopted by the Supreme Council in the overwhelming majority of legislations somewhere with amendments, somewhere with adjustments, somewhere without it.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: You have been a deputy of the Supreme Council since 2010, the chairman of the parliament since 2019. Of course, a huge number of laws have been adopted during this time. Is there a favorite or favorites?

Alexander Korshunov: Very important documents were adopted while working in the Committee on Economic Policy. This is the law on the republican budget, the Concept of budget and tax policy. We had to develop and adopt legislative initiatives aimed at supporting the real sector of the economy during Covid. Of course, the law on the Fund for Voters' Instructions. A very interesting and important law-in-draft related to the work of individual entrepreneurs, when we developed a single fair system of "simplified taxation system" working in all corners of our republic with the business community. I can honestly say that I have not received a single negative appeal yet.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: There is also feedback and a new format of communication with voters. If earlier you had to write a letter, wait for an official response and you understand whether your question has progressed or not, now the methods of communication are as simple as possible – everyone has a phone in their hands, there is a Viber community, a Telegram community. Probably, it was you who became the legislator of this trend, this direction during the times of covid. The Viber community «Солнечные Бендеры» (Sunny Bendery) is still active, and other deputies have already followed your example. You can see someone on Facebook, someone is actively maintaining Instagram. You can subscribe and send all your questions, as a voter, directly and receive an answer as quickly as possible. What is the point of this format, and how much does it simplify the work and promotion of certain issues? 

Alexander Korshunov: Most citizens want to hear an answer today, right now. Of course, they contacts their deputy via social networks, this connection is the fastest, this connection does not require regulatory procedures and, accordingly, a colleague-deputy, if he knows the answer, if he does not know, then he can clarify, he gives a quick reaction, a quick response to the citizens' requests. This is very impressive, it inspires faith and approval in the deputy of the corresponding level and, accordingly, the dialogue takes place very quickly and effectively.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: Elections to the Supreme Council next year. What are the plans of this convocation before the end of the term, what legislations are you currently working on, in what important areas?

Alexander Korshunov: Of course, the main task will be the consideration and adoption of the law "On the Republican Budget", in which we must forecast both the revenue side of our budget and correctly distribute those small resources that we have in the republican budget, first of all, even according to the current legislation and in the positions of senior officials, this is the coverage of social security items. I think, we will come close to reviewing the Urban Development and Budget Codes next year.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: You manage to hold competitions for young people in addition to this complex main work. Now the deadlines have been extended, again at the request of citizens, because not everyone managed to submit. What is the competition? Submit your idea for a legislative initiative, it will then be included in the collection, perhaps even become a law. The conditions are very simple – from 14 to 35 years and state everything in clear, accessible language. Tell us about this, what are the conditions, why is this being done? And who else has time?

Alexander Korshunov: The conditions are simple. The project is aimed specifically at our young people trying themselves in lawmaking, generating a certain idea, and putting it into a legislative initiative. We see that the ideas are interesting, creative, and that our youth really want to change our republic, make it more comfortable, more attractive for young people. It makes us happy that our youth loves Pridnestrovie.

Anastasia Chernyatinskaya: Thank you very much for your work, and we hope that each of your laws will be for the benefit of our Pridnestrovian people, especially since next year is the Year of the Pridnestrovian People. Thank you.