FEDERALIZATION AND SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CASE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA. IMPLICATIONS OF THE KOZAK MEMORANDUM

The article examines the process of federalization of the Republic of Moldova within the historical and political context that led to the drafting of the Kozak Memorandum in 2003. The analysis begins with the geopolitical circumstances preceding the Transnistrian conflict and the political realities of the early years of independence, obtained din 1991. The Transnistrian conflict reflects ethno-linguistic divisions, disputes over the country’s political orientation, the opposition of the Tiraspol authorities to integration into the new national structure, as well as the influence of external actors on internal affairs. The 1992 military intervention and the continued presence of Russian troops in the region consolidated the separatist regime, creating a persistent political deadlock in the Republic of Moldova’s development as an independent state. The Kozak Memorandum, proposed by the Russian Federation’s representative Dmitry Kozak, envisaged the political reorganization of the state into an asymmetric federation, in which Transnistria and Gagauzia would have benefited from extensive autonomy and the right to veto fundamental decisions, including those related to foreign policy and security. There provisions would have compromised the Republic of Moldova’s ability to pursue and independent foreign policy, increasing the Russian Federation’s influence over the decision-making process. Reactions ranged from viewing federalization as a potential solution for territorial reintegration to perceiving it as a threat to the sovereignty and independence of the state. The study concludes that the Kozak Memorandum constitutes a pivotal moment in the negotiation process of the Transnistrian conflict, illustrating the role of external actors in shaping internal policies and highlighting the geopolitical constraints on the exercise of sovereignty, as defined by the principles set out in the 1933 Montevideo Convention.