Politics of Transnistria: Difference between revisions
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In August 2006, one month before [[Transnistrian referendum, 2006|the referendum]] against reintegration in Moldova, 4 members of pro-Moldovan NGO "Dignitas" from [[Slobozia, Moldova|Slobozia]] were brought in for questioning by Transnistrian law enforcement as part of an investigation into a bus explosion which had taken place three days earlier and which killed two people. They were released after few days in custody, no charges being made against them <ref>[http://azi.md/news?ID=40625 Transnistria Special Forces release members of organization Dignitas]</ref>. |
In August 2006, one month before [[Transnistrian referendum, 2006|the referendum]] against reintegration in Moldova, 4 members of pro-Moldovan NGO "Dignitas" from [[Slobozia, Moldova|Slobozia]] were brought in for questioning by Transnistrian law enforcement as part of an investigation into a bus explosion which had taken place three days earlier and which killed two people. They were released after few days in custody, no charges being made against them <ref>[http://azi.md/news?ID=40625 Transnistria Special Forces release members of organization Dignitas]</ref>. |
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In November 2006 transnistrian authorities closed and sealed the office of Rîbniţa district comitee of the Communist Party in Transnistria<ref>[http://azi.md/news?ID=41904 PCRM indignant at Tiraspol’s decision to hinder Transdniestrian Communist Party’s work]</ref>. |
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==Participation of Transnistrians at Moldovan elections== |
==Participation of Transnistrians at Moldovan elections== |
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Revision as of 03:25, 18 November 2006
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| Constitution |
|} Politics of Transnistria, a de facto independent region of the Republic of Moldova in Eastern Europe, takes place in a framework of a presidential republic, whereby the President of Transnistria is both head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. Formally, Transnistria has a multi-party system and an unicameral parliament, called Transnistrian Supreme Soviet. The president is elected by popular vote. The latest parliamentary elections were held in December 2005; however, they were not monitored by international organizations such as Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which has expressed doubts about the level of democracy in the region, and were not recognized by other countries.
Political parties from Moldova don't recognize the secessionist government and don't participate at elections organized by it.
Political parties and elections for secessionist authorities
Template:Transnistrian presidential election, 2001 Template:Transnistrian legislative election, 2005
| Votes | % | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unity (Yedinstvo) | . | 9 | |
| Renewal (Obnovleniy) | . | 7 | |
| Power to the People (Vlast Narodu) | . | 1 | |
| Non-partisans | . | 25 | |
| vacant | 1 | ||
| Total (turnout ? %) | 43 |
- Source: Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Electorate shrinkage
As shown by census results, between 1989 and 2004 the population in Transnistria decreased by 18% [1]. This is significantly higher than the decrease of population in the Republic of Moldova (which was 6%, for the same period [2]).
Data issued by Transnistrian authorities show that of the 555,500 inhabitants, a total of 394,861 are registered to vote, down 5.6% from a year earlier.[3]
Political freedom in Transnistria
There is disagreement as to whether elections in Transnistria are free and fair. Western organizations, such as the OSCE, have declared that no democratic elections can take place in the region under the present circumstances and have refused to even monitor them. Some parties and publications were banned.
People's Power Party led by Supreme Soviet member Alexander Radchenko was banned in May 2001; after an appeal the ban was lifted but was reintroduced in December 2001, again the ban was lifted to be reintroduced in August 2002 and confirmed by the "Supreme Court" in December 2002.[4].
"Power to the People" Party led by Nicolae Butchatsky was banned in February 2002 [5].
On November 14, 2001, the Transnistrian customs service banned the distribution of the publication "Glas Naroda", as it contained Radchenko's electoral platform. Radchenko said in a press conference that "Glas Naroda" has been published outside Transnistria because all the printing houses had refused to print it after having discussed the issue with representatives of the Ministry of State Security [6].
Ellection results are suspicious, as in 2001 in one region it was reported that Kamchatka-raised former metalworker Igor Smirnov collected 103.6% of the votes. Nevertheless, some organizations, such as CIS-EMO, have participated and have called them democratic.
In August 2006, one month before the referendum against reintegration in Moldova, 4 members of pro-Moldovan NGO "Dignitas" from Slobozia were brought in for questioning by Transnistrian law enforcement as part of an investigation into a bus explosion which had taken place three days earlier and which killed two people. They were released after few days in custody, no charges being made against them [7].
Participation of Transnistrians at Moldovan elections
Despite the fact that the majority of transnistrians hold Moldovan citizenship, secessionist authorities from Tiraspol didn't allow the participation of inhabitants at Moldovan elections. Polling stations were organised only in those areas of Transnistria under Moldovan government control. Special polling stations were organised in those areas for transnistrians who live under secessionist occupied territory but want to vote.
Political parties from Moldova have organisations in Transnistria[8] but refuse to participate at elections for secessionist government, they participate only in legitimate elections of the Republic of Moldova.
In 2005 Moldovan parliamentary elections nine special polling stations were organised on the right bank of the Dniester river for transnistrians, where around 8000 citizens voted. They were included in suplimentarry voter rolls. In those special polling stations results were: 30% for Communist Party (compared with 46% in entire Moldova), 50% for Democratic Moldova Bloc (28,5% in entire Moldova), 8% for Christian-Democratic Party (9,1% in entire Moldova) and 6% for each Social Democratic Party and Patria-Rodina Bloc. Due to large turnout of transnistrian voters queues were formed and some voters didn't managed to vote. As claimed by the Coalition for Free and Democratic Elections, many transnistrian voters were not informed properly about the place of the voting and some owners of Soviet passport which don't bear the mention "citizen of Moldova" were not allowed to vote[9].
References
- ^ Census results of 2004 and comparation with census of 1989, by Olvia Press
- ^ Results of 2004 census in the Republic of MoldovaTemplate:Ro icon
- ^ PMR CEC announces final referendum results Template:Ru icon
- ^ Mihai Grecu, Anatol Ţăranu - The policy of linguistic cleansning in Transnistria, page 26-27
- ^ Mihai Grecu, Anatol Ţăranu - The policy of linguistic cleansning in Transnistria, page 27
- ^ Mihai Grecu, Anatol Ţăranu - The policy of linguistic cleansing in Transnistria, page 27
- ^ Transnistria Special Forces release members of organization Dignitas
- ^ Position of transnistrian structures of "Our Moldova" Alliance
- ^ e-democracy report about 2005 Moldovan election
See also
External links
- Russian organizations in Transnistria campaign for a second Kaliningrad, Vladimir Socor, Eurasia Daily Monitor, 11 August 2006
- Russia’s Business to Vote for President of Transdniestria, Kommersant, 1 November 2006
- Experts: Challenge underway from PMR's opposition-controlled parliament, Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review, 8 July 2006