Moldovan breakaway region appeals to Russia as a spat with the pro-Western government worsens

Officials in Moldova’s Russia-backed breakaway region of Transnistria have appealed to Moscow for protection as tensions escalate with the pro-Western government. Moldova is a candidate to join the European Union. The government imposed new customs duties at the start of the year on goods going in and out of Transnistria which borders Ukraine. Transnistria isn't recognized by any U.N. member countries including Russia which maintains close ties to the region. Members of the Transnistrian congress used a rare meeting on Wednesday to ask the Russian Duma to “implement measures for defending Transnistria." They pointed out that more than 220,000 Russian nationals live in the region. Russia stations about 1,500 troops in Transnistria as so-called peacekeepers.