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Peoples and nations today: Transnistria

DOSSIER. According to maps of Eastern Europe, the Dniester River divides Moldova and Ukraine. It rises in the Carpathians and flows into the Black Sea. Yet atlases do not show that there is a stripe of land forming a new State along the west bank of the river, which is called Transnistria. However, it is not recognized by any other government or international institution.

The existence of an independent Transnistria dates back to September 1990, when the Moldavian Transnistrian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed as a response to a feared union of Moldova and Romania. Tension between Moldavian and Russian communities escalated and ultimately the War of Transnistria broke out between pro-independence supporters, backed by Russian and Ukrainian volunteers, and Moldovans. A cease fire was signed in July 1992.

It is considered that Transnistria has enjoyed a de facto independence ever since, as it provided itself with State bodies such as an executive government and a Parliament, called Supreme Council, in a multi-party system. Even though elections are regularly held, irregularities have been detected and disagreement as to whether elections are free and fair remains. Igor Smirnov has been the president of Transnistria since the declaration of independence and is now serving his fourth mandate.

In spite of this, the State lacks international recognition, a fundamental feature of any independent country. No world State has acknowledged the existence of Transnistria, not even the Russian Federation. In fact the country has only been recognized by two other non-recognised countries: Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

There is a distinct lack of ties between Transnistria and Moldova. It is not clear, though, whether the country is fully autonomous, particularly if one takes into account the 1,200- Russian military contingent deployed in Transnistria.

There is currently a round of talks among Russia, Ukraine and Moldova with the mediation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) aiming at find a settlement for Transnistria. In the meantime, the country is too often referred as a paradise for international Mafia and corruption.

Further information on Transnistria can be found in special articles issued by BBC, Gara, and Vilaweb, as well as the article in Wikipedia.