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For the region during the Second World War, see Transnistria (World War II).

Transnistria
Pridnestrovie

Anthem: Anthem of Transnistria
Location of Transnistria
Capital
and largest city
 Tiraspol
Official languagesMoldovan, Russian, Ukrainian
GovernmentSemi-presidential
• President
Igor Smirnov
Independence 
from Moldova
• Declared
September 2 1990
• Recognition
unrecognized
• Water (%)
2.35
Population
• 2005 estimate
555,000 (166)
• 2004 census
555,347
CurrencyTransnistrian ruble (PRB)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+3 (EEST)
Calling code373 5
+373 2
Internet TLDnone1
1 .ru and .md sometimes used.

Transnistria (also Pridnestrovie) is a de facto independent republic[1] within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova in Eastern Europe. Transnistria declared independence on September 2, 1990 (as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic) and subsequent to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the separatist forces have exercised de facto control over most of the Transnistria region, located between the Dniester River and Ukraine. The "capital" city is Tiraspol.

During the Moldavian conflict (1991-1992), the 14th Russian Army in Transnistria fought on Transnistrian separatist side. Russian authorities contributed both military and political to the creation of a separatist regime in Transnistria, a region which is part of Moldovan territory. Even after the July 21 1992 armistice, Russia continued to sustain military, politically and economically the separatist regime, thus allowing it to survive, strengthening and obtaining certain autonomy from Moldova. Russia continues to maintain illegally troops in Transnistria, breaking the July 21 1992 agreement. This ensemble of elements is liable to prove that "PMR" continues to be under the effective authority or at least decisive influence of Russia and that anyhow "PMR" survives owing to the military, economical, financial and political support which Russia is offering.[2]

Names

Main article: Names for Transnistria

The name Transnistria is most commonly used, and does not imply the status of Transnistria: region of Moldova or independent state.

The name used in the Constitution of Transnistria is Pridnestróvskaia Moldávskaia Respública (Moldovan: Republica Moldovenească Nistreană, Template:Lang-ru, Template:Lang-uk). This is abbreviated PMR.A short form of this name is Pridnestrovie (transliteration of the Russian "Приднестровье").[3]

Several other names are also in common use, all meaning "beyond (the river) Dniester".

Political status

Main article: Disputed status of Transnistria

Transnistria is internationally recognised as being a legal part of the Republic of Moldova. Prior to unification with Moldova in 1940, Tiraspol was the capital of MASSR, an autonomous republic which existed from 1924 to 1940.

It's considered as an autonomous territorial unit within the Republic of Moldova since the Moldovan government passed the "Law on Basic Provisions of the Special Legal Status of Localities from the Left Bank of the Dniester" on July 22, 2005. The law was passed without any prior consultation with Transnistria, whose government felt that it was a provocation and has since ignored it.

There are unsettled border issues between the PMR and Moldova. Some villages from the Dubăsari district, including Cocieri and Doroţcaia which geographically belong to Transnistria, have been under the control of the central government of Moldova after the involvement of local inhabitants on the side of Moldovan forces during the War of Transnistria. These villages along with Varniţa and Copanca, near Tighina, are claimed by the PMR. Tense situations have periodically surfaced due to these territorial disputes, for example in 2005, when Transnistrian forces entered Vasilievca,[4] in 2006 around Varniţa, and in 2007 in Dubăsari-Cocieri area, when a confrontation between Moldovan and Transnistrian forces occurred, however without any casualties.

14th Soviet Army

During the conflict in the Republic of Moldova on 1991 – 1992, forces of the 14th Army stationed in Transnistria (belonging successively to the USSR, the CIS and Russia) fought with and for the Transnistrian separatist forces. Important amounts of weapons from the arsenal of the 14th Army were deliberately transferred to the separatists who, moreover, were able to get other weapons without any obstacle from the Russian soldiers. Thus, the Russian authorities have contributed both military and politically to the creation of a separatist regime in the region of Transnistria who is part of the territory of the Republic of Moldova”.

Geography

Transnistria is landlocked and borders Bessarabia (for 411 km) to the West and Ukraine (for 405 km) to the East. It is a narrow valley stretched in the North-South direction along the banks of the Dniester River, which forms the natural boundary along the most part of the border with Moldova. Nevertheless, not all PMR territory lies in Transnistria, and some locations on the left bank of the Dniester are controlled by the Moldovan government. Tighina (Bender) and its surrounding area on the river's west bank is controlled by Transnistria, while some villages near Dubăsari on the east bank are under Moldovan control.

Tiraspol, the "capital", is Transnistria's largest city with 159,163 inhabitants.

See also:

Administrative regions

Transnistria is divided into seven administrative regions (raions). Russian names are listed in parentheses:

Political status

Main article: Disputed status of Transnistria

Transnistria is internationally recognised as being a legal part of the Republic of Moldova, although de facto control is exercised by its internationally unrecognised government which declared independence from Moldova as the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica or Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), in 1990 with Tiraspol as its declared capital. Prior to unification with Moldova in 1940, Tiraspol was the capital of MASSR, an autonomous republic which existed from 1924 to 1940.

Although exercising no direct control over the territory, the Moldovan government passed the "Law on Basic Provisions of the Special Legal Status of Localities from the Left Bank of the Dniester" on July 22, 2005, which established an autonomous territorial unit in Transnistria within the Republic of Moldova. The law was passed without any prior consultation with Transnistria, whose government felt that it was a provocation and has since ignored it. There are unsettled border issues between the PMR and Moldova. Some villages from the Dubăsari district, including Cocieri and Doroţcaia which geographically belong to Transnistria, have been under the control of the central government of Moldova after the involvement of local inhabitants on the side of Moldovan forces during the War of Transnistria. These villages along with Varniţa and Copanca, near Tighina, are claimed by the PMR. Tense situations have periodically surfaced due to these territorial disputes, for example in 2005, when Transnistrian forces entered Vasilievca,[5] in 2006 around Varniţa, and in 2007 in Dubăsari-Cocieri area, when a confrontation between Moldovan and Transnistrian forces occurred, however without any casualties.

Internal politics

Main article: Politics of Transnistria
The Transnistrian parliament building in Tiraspol. In front is a statue of Lenin
Tiraspol city hall

Transnistria has a multi-party system and a unicameral parliament named the Supreme Council. Its legislature has 43 members elected by proportional representation.[6] The president is elected to a five year term by popular vote.

Igor Smirnov has been the President of Transnistria since the declaration of independence in 1990 and he is currently serving his fourth mandate after being reelected in December 2006.

In the latest parliamentary election in December 2005, the opposition Renewal movement won an overall majority and its leader Yevgeni Shevchuk became speaker of parliament.[7]

There is disagreement as to whether elections in Transnistria are free and fair.[8] A list published by the European Union bans travel to the EU of some members of the leadership of Transnistria.[9] The EU imposed this restriction because of what it considers "insufficient cooperation in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process.". Following the resolution of a key dispute, the ban has been lifted on education officials.[10]

According to official PMR data, only 15 members of the parliament out of 43 were born on the territory of Transnistria (12 in Transnistria proper, 3 in Bessarabian area of Bender-Chiţcani which is controlled by Transnistria), 4 were born in Bessarabia, part never claimed by Transnistria, 9 were born in the Russian Federation, 8 in Ukraine, 2 in Kazakhstan, 1 in Germany, 1 in Belarus, and 3 did not declare it.[11]

In 2001 in one region it was reported that Igor Smirnov collected 103.6% of the votes.[17] Nevertheless, some organizations, such as CIS-EMO, have participated and have called them democratic.

Transnistria has acceded to international pressure and has announced that it will introduce the proportional representation vote counting system in its next elections in replacement of its current first past the post system. The move, if honoured, will give minority parties favouring reunification with Moldova a greater number of seats in the parliament.

See also:

2006 independence referendum

A referendum was held on 17 September 2006 asking voters:

  1. Do you support the course towards the independence of the PMR and subsequent free association with the Russian Federation?
  2. Do you consider it possible to renounce the PMR's independent status and subsequently become part of the Republic of Moldova?

Russia's Duma[18] recognized the vote but the OSCE and many countries[19] did not, dismissing the poll as illegitimate.[20]

According to the Transnistrian government, 78.6 percent of the registered voters of Transnistria voted in the referendum. 97.1 percent of voters supported the first point, while 2.3 percent did not support it. 3.4 percent of voters supported the second point, while 94.6 percent did not support it.[21][22]

Main article: Transnistrian referendum, 2006

International relations

Ukraine-Transnistria border customs dispute

Main article: Ukraine-Transnistria border customs conflict

On March 3, 2006, Ukraine introduced new customs regulations on its border with Transnistria. Ukraine declared it will only import goods from Transnistria with documents processed by Moldovan customs offices, as part of the implementation of the joint customs protocol between Ukraine and Moldova on December 30, 2005. Transnistria and Russia termed the act an "economic blockade". Moldova announced that it created favorable conditions for registration of Transnistria-based businesses: to obtain a 6-month export license is a half-hour simplified procedure and granted tax breaks and duty exemptions to Transnistria-based companies.[23]

The United States, the European Union and OSCE approved the Ukrainian move, while Russia saw it as a means of political pressure and claims that "Russia's interests are directly affected" as well..

On March 4, Transnistria responded by blocking the Moldovan and Ukrainian transport at the borders of Transnistria. The Transnistrian block was lifted after two weeks.

In the months following the regulations, exports from Transnistria nosedived. Transnistria declared a "humaniatarian catastrophe" in the region, while Moldova called it "deliberate misinformation".

History

Main article: History of Transnistria

Antiquity and Middle Ages

In the early Middle Ages, the Tivertsi (Slavs),[24] and the Vlachs are mentioned as living in Transnistria. Turkic nomads such as the Petchenegs[25] and Cumans were present in 11th-13th centuries, having controlled the territory especially from the military point of view (see Cumania). Following the Mongol invasion of Europe (1241), for a period of time, the territory was under Mongol control, and later under the Crimean Khanate, one of the five successors of the Golden Horde Empire. Genoese traders opened colonies on the shore of the Dniester around 1300, having to pay tribute for that to the Tatars. From the 15th century, parts of what today consists Transnistria was briefly ceded by the Tatars to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, when they were called Dykra. The territory was conquered by the Ottoman Empire around 1700 , becoming part of the Yedisan province. By that time the population was composed of Moldovans and Tatars.[26][27][28][29][30][31]

Russian Empire

The statue of Alexander Suvorov, founder of modern Tiraspol.

In 1792 the region became part of the Russian Empire as a result of sixth Russo-Turkish War. In that year, the general Alexander Suvorov founded modern Tiraspol as a Russian border fortress.[32][33] Until the Russian Revolution of 1917, the current Transnistria was divided between imperial guberniyas of Podolia, Kherson, and Bessarabia. The territory which now is Transnistria was part of the larger New Russia region, hence it witnessed a strong colonization process, with a multitude of ethnies being settled: lands were given to enserfed peasantry from Russia and Ukraine (see also Nova Serbia), and Jews and Germans were brought to facilitate economic development.

Soviet Union

Main articles: Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic and Moldavian SSR
Moldavian ASSR (in orange) and Romania, 1924-1940

In 1792 the region was ceded by the Ottoman to the Russian Empire as a result of sixth Russo-Turkish War. In that year, the general Alexander Suvorov founded modern Tiraspol as a Russian border fortress.[34][35] Until the Russian Revolution of 1917, the current Transnistria was divided between imperial guberniyas of Podolia, Kherson, and Bessarabia. The territory which now consist the Transnistria region, were part of the larger New Russia region, hence it witnessed a strong colonization process, with a multitude of ethnies being settled: lands were given to enserfed peasantry from Russia and Ukraine (see also Nova Serbia), and Jews and Germans were brought to facilitate economic development. Nonetheless, by the beginning of the 20th century, the vast majority of the inhabitants was constituted by ethnic Romanians (Moldovans) (See also[36]).

Secession to the present

Soviet tank monument in Tiraspol

Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of perestroika in the Soviet Union allowed political liberalisation at a regional level in 1980s. On 2 September 1990, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed as a Soviet republic by the "Second Congress of the Peoples' Representatives of Transnistria". On 22 December 1990, Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of USSR, signed a decree that declared the decisions of this congress legally void. Nevertheless, neither the USSR, nor Moldova, a Soviet Socialist Republic at the time, took any significant practical action, hence the new authorities in Transnistria slowly got control over the region.

The War of Transnistria involved armed clashes on a limited scale that broke out between the Transnistrian separatists and the Moldovan police as early as November 1990 at Dubăsari. On 2 March 1992, Moldovan President Mircea Snegur authorized concerted military action against rebel forces which had been attacking Moldovan police outposts on the left bank of the Dniester, and on a certain smaller section of the right bank in the southern city of Tighina. The rebels, aided by contingents of Russian Cossacks and the Russian 14th Army, consolidated their control over most of the disputed area, but by no means over all of it, as later testified by Moldovan police and volunteer forces in battles at Tighina and Varniţa, at Cocieri-Dubăsari and Coşniţa-Doroţcaia plateaus. As a result of this civil war, hundreds of people were killed, and thousands were forced to leave Transnistria as refugees. Throughout 1992 fighting intensified, until a ceasefire was signed on 21 July 1992 which has held ever since.

The OSCE is trying to facilitate a negotiated settlement. Under OSCE auspices, on 8 May 1997, the Moldovan President Petru Lucinschi and the Transnistrian president Igor Smirnov, signed the "Memorandum on the principles of normalizations of the relations between the Republic of Moldova and Transnistria", also known as the "Primakov Memorandum", sustaining the establishment of legal and state relations, although the memorandum's provisions had diverging legal and political interpretations in Chişinău and Tiraspol.

In November 2003, Dmitry Kozak, a counselor of the Russian president Vladimir Putin, proposed a memorandum on the creation of an asymmetric federal Moldovan state, with Moldova holding a majority and Transnistria being a minority part of the federation.[37] Known as "the Kozak memorandum", it did not coincide with the Transnistrian position, which sought equal status between Transnistria and Moldova, but Transnistria nevertheless agreed to sign it. Vladimir Voronin was initially supportive of the plan, but refused to sign it after Russia had endorsed the Transnistrian demand to maintain a Russian military presence for the next 20 years as a guarantee for the intended federation, as well as due to pressure from the OSCE and US.[38] The refusal by the Moldovan side resulted in the sudden and long-term cooling of relations between Moldova and Russia, and halted further progress in the settlement negotiations.

Population

File:Transnistria ethnicity.jpg
Ethnicity map, based on data released by Transnistrian authorities

At the census of 1989, the population was 679,000. At the time of the 2004 census, the population was 555,347."[39][40]

Recently, there has been a substantial emigration due to economic hardships and uncertain political situation.[citation needed] A large part of the population is past the age of retirement.

64.2% of the population are Slavs (30.4% ethnic Russians and 28.8% Ukrainians, with 5% among minorities of Bulgarians, Belorusians and Poles), making up an absolute majority. Ethnic Moldovans compose the single largest minority with 31.9%. Smaller numbers of Germans, Jews, Gagauz and others make up the rest, totaling 3.9%.

Moldova does not include demographic statistics from Transnistria as part of Moldova's overall statistical publications.[41]

See also:

Economy

File:Transnistria rubla.jpg
The Transnistrian ruble shows Alexander Suvorov, founder of modern Tiraspol.

Transnistria has a mixed economy. Following a large scale privatization process, most of the companies in Transnistria are now privately owned. The economy bases on a mix of heavy industry (steel production), electricity production and manufacturing (textile production), which together accounts about 80% of the total industrial output.[42]

Transnistria has its own central bank, which issues Transnistrian currency, the Transnistrian ruble. It is convertible at a freely floating exchange rate.[43]

History of the economic development

After World War II, Transnistria was heavily industrialised, to the point that in 1990, it was responsible for 40% of Moldova's GDP and 90% of its electricity[44] despite the fact that it accounted for only 17% of Moldova's. population. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Transnistria wanted to return to a "Brezhnev-style planned economy",[45] however, several years later, it decided to head toward a market economy.

Current situation

Macroeconomics

In 2005, the GDP of Transnistria was about $517.5 million and the GDP per capita was $844. The GDP increased 11.8% and inflation rate was 10.8%.[46] However, in the first half of 2006 Transnistrian economy decreased 11.5% compared with the same period of 2005.[47] The industrial production decreased even 32.8%.[48]

Transnistria's government budget for 2007 is US$246 million, with an estimated deficit of approximately US$100 million[49] which the government plans to cover with income from privatizations.[50]

Transnistria has debt of $1.2 billion (two thirds of which are with Russia), which is per capita approximately 6 times higher than in Moldova (without Transnistria).[51]

External trade

In 2005, Transnistria's trade export was $579.7 million and import $855.6 million. The trade deficit reached $275.9 million.[46] In the first half of 2006 Transnistrian export decreased 49.0% and import decreased 15.9%.[48] Over 50% of export goes to the CIS, mainly to Russia. The main exports are steel, cognac and wine, textile and mineral products. The CIS accounts for over 60% of the imports, while the share of the EU is about 23%. The main imports are non-precious metals, food products and electricity.[42]

Economic sectors

The leading industry is steel, due to the MMZ steel factory (part of the Russian Metalloinvest holding) in Rîbniţa (Rybnitsa), which accounts for about 50% of the budget revenue of Transnistria. The largest company in the textile industry is Tirotex, which claimed to be the second largest textile company in Europe.[52] The energy sector is dominated by the Russian companies. The largest power company Moldavskaya GRES (Cuchurgan power station), which is located in Dnestrovsk, is owned by Inter RAO UES, the joint subsidiary of RAO UES and Rosenergoatom,[53] and the gas transmission and distribution company Tiraspoltransgas is probably controlled by Gazprom, although Gazprom has not confirmed the ownership officially. The banking sector of Transnistria consists 8 commercial banks, including Gazprombank. The oldest alcohol producer Kvint, located in Tiraspol, produces and exports brandy, wines and vodka.

Human rights

Main article: Human rights in Transnistria

According to an U.S. Department of State report referring to year 2006, The human rights record of the Transnistrian authorities remained poor. The right of citizens to change their government was restricted and authorities interfered with the ability of residents to vote. Authorities reportedly continued to use torture and arbitrary arrest and detention.[...]Authorities limited freedom of speech and of the press.[...]Authorities usually did not permit free assembly.[...] In the separatist region of Transnistria the authorities continued to deny registration and harassed a number of minority religions groups.[...]The separatist region remained a significant source and transit area for trafficking in persons.[...] Homosexuality was illegal, and gays and lesbians were subject to governmental and societal discrimination.[54]

In the best-known such case, Ilie Ilaşcu, a politician in favour of Moldovan union with Romania, was sentenced to death by Transnistrian authority. The other three politicians from his group were sentenced to terms of 12 to 15 years’ imprisonment, and confiscation of their property. Ilaşcu was released in 2001 amid international pressure, but two other members of his group remain imprisoned to this day.

Several alleged crimes by the paramilitary forces of the Transnistrian government remained uninvestigated. According to the Moldovan Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, 20 people were killed in the village of Chiţcani, 5 km south of Tiraspol, between 1996 and 2000. No government authority investigated these deaths. Moldova declared that it has no access to the village, and Transnistrian authorities do not wish to investigate.[55]

The 2007 Freedom in the World report published by the US-based Freedom House described Transnistria as a "non-free" territory, having an equally bad situation in both political rights and civil liberties. On the other hand, right-bank Moldova was found to be "partly-free".[56]

According to OSCE, the media climate in Transnistria is restrictive. Authorities continue a long-standing campaign to silence independent opposition voices and groups.[57]

Transnistrian local authorities insist that public education for ethnic Moldovans in their mother tongue is done using the Soviet-originated Moldovan Cyrillic, having restricted the usage of the Latin script (the norm) for the Moldovan language to only 6 schools. In the summer of 2004, this issue sparked into yet another political conflict between Chisinau and Tiraspol. Four schools (of the remaining six) that taught the Moldovan language using the Latin script were forcedly closed by the authorities, who claimed this was due to the refusal of the schools to apply for official accreditation. The schools were later reopened amid pressure from the European Union, but as private institutions.

In November 2006 the European Court of Human Rights has accepted to examine the claims submitted by 3 Moldovan schools in Transnistria (from Tighina, Rîbniţa and Grigoriopol) regarding the violation of their right to education and right to work in condition of non-discrimination. The 3 schools concerned regard Russia and Moldova as responsible for violation of their rights.[58]

In November 2006, Luis O'Neill, head of the OSCE mission to Moldova, has urged local authorities in the Transnistrian city of Rîbniţa to return a confiscated building to the Moldovan Latin-script school located in the city. The building was built by the Chişinău government and was almost finished in 2004, when the Transnistrian militia took it by force, during the school crisis.[59]

According to the Moldavian and Romanian presses, in February 2007, Transnistrian authorities destroyed and profaned the Dragalina cemetery in Tighina (also known as The Romanian cemetery), thus violating the Geneva Convention.[60] The Transnistrian authorities did not exhume the bodies; they only removed the crosses and leveled the terrain with bulldozers. According to the Romanian edition of Deutsche Welle, the Transnistrian authorities announced that the crosses would be smashed up with explosives, mixed with asphalt, and used to repair the roads of the city. However, according to PMR News, the authorities in Transnistria are to re-bury the exhumed soldiers outside of the city and they have taken steps to ensure that the identities of exhumed soldiers are not lost. 319 identified Romanian and 14 unidentified soldiers, as well as 13 Soviet prisoners were buried at this cemetery.[61]

In March 2007 several opponents of Transnistrian regime were arrested as they made public appeals for a protest rally against the Tiraspol regime's policy[62]. In 19 March 2007 Transnistrian authorities arrested also Ştefan Urîtu, leader of Moldovan Helsinki Comitee for Human Rights, and other two local political activits. They were released later[63]

Transnistrian residents with automobiles registered in Moldova had seen their cars confiscated by transnistrian authorities[64]

See also:

Crime

Main article: Crime in Transnistria

Arms control and disarmament

Following the collapse of the former Soviet Union the Russian 14th Army left behind 40,000 tonnes of weapony and ammunition. In the subsequent years there were concerns that the Transnistrian Authorities may try to sell these stocks internationally and intense pressure was applied to have have these removed by the Russian Federation.

In 2000 and 2001, the Russian Federation withdrew by rail 141 self-propelled artillery and other armoured vehicles and destroyed locally 108 T-64 tanks and 139 other pieces of military equipment limited by the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE)[citation needed]. During 2002 and 2003 Russian military officials destroyed a further 51 armoured vehicles, all of which were types not limited by the CFE Treaty[citation needed]. The OSCE also observed and verified the withdrawal of 11 trains with military equipment and 37 trains loaded with more than 22,000 tons of ammunition.[citation needed] However, no further withdrawal activities have taken place since March 2004 and a further 20,000 tons of ammunition, as well as some remaining military equipment are still to be removed.

In the Autumn od 2006 the Transnistria leadership agreed to an OSCE inspectorate examine the munitions and further access agreed moving forward. The onus of responsibility rests on the Russian Federation to remove the remainder of the supplies.[citation needed]

Analysts have expressed concern regarding potential threats posed by this large deposit of weapons, and the potential of their unauthorized sale. Nevertheless, this view has been challenged by other experts and organizations, as well as by the government of the PMR. Oxford scholar Mark Almond stated that accusations of state-sponsored weapons smuggling in the PMR appear to be groundless and politically motivated, rather than based on any verified facts.[65] Foreign experts working on behalf of the United Nations confirm that there is currently transparency and good levels of co-operation with Transnistria in the field of weapons control.[66] Recent weapons inspections permitted by Transnistria and conducted by the OSCE reflect this transparency and co-operation[67][68]

In 2002, the European Parliament's delegation to Moldova named Transnistria "a black hole in which illegal trade in arms, the trafficking in human beings and the laundering of criminal finance was carried on".[69] In 2005, The Wall Street Journal called Transnistria "a major haven for smuggling weapons and women".[70]The OSCE and European Union officials state that there is no evidence that Transnistria has ever, at any time in the past, trafficked arms or nuclear material. An EU official working in Kiev said illegal Russian exports from Transdniester would be impossible to detect, since Ukrainian border guards lack the necessary equipment.[71] The latest research published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) indicates that Transnistria is not involved in arms production or trafficking.[66] The United Nations says that the evidence for the illicit production and trafficking of weapons into and from Transnistria has in the past been exaggerated, and affirms that although the trafficking of light weapons is likely to have occurred before 2001 (the last year when export data showed US$ 900,000 worth of ‘weapons, munitions, their parts and accessories’ exported from Transnistria. However, it is also possible that these exports included old weapons from former Soviet stocks, withdrawal of Russian ammunition or the export of weapon parts, rather than newly produced goods),[66] and there is no reliable evidence that this still occurs. The report also states that the same holds true for the production of such weapons, which is likely to have been carried out in the 1990s primarily to equip the local forces but which are no longer produced. These findings echo previous declarations by Transnistria that it is not involved in the manufacture or export of weapons.[72]

The situation has been summed up by OSCE mission spokesman Claus Neukirch who cautioned: "There is often talk about sale of armaments from Transnistria, but there is no convincing evidence."[73]

Antisemitic incidents

Since 2001, there have been three isolated antisemitic incidents in Transnistria.

  • 14-15 April 2001 During the night, three neo-Nazi skinheads placed a homemade pipe bomb near one of the synagogue windows in Tiraspol. The building was damaged, but the guard was not hurt.[74] Transnistria charged the three perpetrators with illegal weapons possession and with inciting ethnic hatred, and sentenced them to prison for their involvement. One is currently serving a six year sentence, while two others received three years each.[75]

13-30 March 2004 Over 70 tombstones in the Jewish cemetery of Tiraspol were vandalized[76] According to Transnistrian press, the local rabbi provided photos of Tiraspol's authorities assisting in the restoration effort.[77] According to Jewish Journal, local community leaders said the authorities refused to help clean up the anti-Semitic graffiti painted over the tombstones.[78]

  • 4 May 2004 Vandals failed in an attempt to set fire to the synagogue in Tiraspol, placing a Molotov Cocktail and flammable liquid near its door.[78] No damage was done, and passers-by extinguished the fire. Transnistria's authorities believed the same neo-Nazi group to be behind the attempt, and announced initiation of investigations.[79]

Killings

  • In July 2006, a bomb killed eight in a Tiraspol minibus.[80]
  • In August 2006, a grenade explosion in a Tiraspol trolleybus killed two and injured ten.[81]
  • In March 2007, Victor Neumoin, a local politician was shot dead[82]

Certain countries, including the United States,[83] the United Kingdom[84] and Australia[85] announced travel warnings for its citizens traveling to Transnistria.

References

  1. ^ Barry Bartmann, Tozun. Bahcheli (2004). De Facto States: The Quest for Soverignty. Routledge. ISBN 0714654760.
  2. ^ European Court of Human Rights: Template:Ro iconHotararea Marii Camere in afacerea Ilaşcu şi alţii contra Moldova şi Rusia
  3. ^ Pridnestrovie.net: "Pridnestrovie" vs "Transnistria" Pridnestrovie.net. Retrieved 2006, 12-26
  4. ^ Moldova AZI, Transnistrian Militia Withdrew Its Posts from Vasilievca, accessed 2006-10-18
  5. ^ Moldova AZI, Transnistrian Militia Withdrew Its Posts from Vasilievca, accessed 2006-10-18
  6. ^ PMR Supreme Council (Parliament of Transnistria's official website)
  7. ^ BHHRG: Transnistria 2006: Is Regime Change Underway?
  8. ^ (Some) international observers call elections free, democratic Pridnestrovie.net. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  9. ^ Council Decision 2006/96/CFSP of 14 February 2006 implementing Common Position 2004/179/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against the leadership of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova European Union Law- Official Journal. Feb 2, 2006. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  10. ^ European Union extends sanctions against Transnistrian leaders for one year more Moldpres. Feb 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007, 2-22
  11. ^ PMR Supreme Concil: Members of Parliament Supreme Council of the PMR. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  12. ^ In Transdniester, presidential candidates disagree on common state with Moldova Tiraspol Times. Dec. 3, 2006. Retrieved 2007, 2-19
  13. ^ Transdnestr Central Election Commission announces final results on presidential election Regnum News Agency. Dec 13, 2006. Retrieved 2007, 2-19
  14. ^ Transnistria: New Social Democratic party wants union with Moldova Tiraspol Times. Feb. 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007, 2-19
  15. ^ Man and His Rights (in Russian)
  16. ^ Ţăranu, A; Grecu, M. The policy of linguistic cleansing in Transnistria page 26-27 Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  17. ^ US Department of State, Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Moldova - 2003
  18. ^ Ryan, Karen. Russia's parliament recognizes PMR's independence referendum Tiraspol Times. Oct. 11, 2006. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  19. ^ Ukraine Calls Transnistrian Referendum Illegitimate Conflict.md from Infotag. Sep. 20, 2006. Retrieved: 2006, 12-25
  20. ^ Trans-Dniester backs Russia union BBC. Sep. 18, 2006. Retrieved: 2006, 12-27
  21. ^ Landslide win for independence vote in Pridnestrovie's referendum Tiraspol Times. Sep. 18, 2006. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  22. ^ Ustimenko, Irina. PMR CEC Announces Final Referendum Results Olvia Press. Sep. 25, 2006. Retrieved 2006, 12-27Template:Ru icon
  23. ^ Transnistrian companies can extend licenses easily
  24. ^ The Laurentian Codex of the Primary Chronicle ([1]) contains the following lines (translated): Ulichi, Tivertsy lived along the Dniester; a lot of them settled on the Danube; settled along the Dniester down to the sea, their cities can be found unto this day.
  25. ^ Porphyrogenitus, Constantine. De Administrando Imperio ca. 950. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  26. ^ Nicolae Dabija - "Moldova de peste Nistru, vechi pămînt strămoşesc / Zadnestrovscaia Moldova, isckonnaia naşa zemlia", Hyperion Publishing Press, Chişinău 1990
  27. ^ George Reichersdorf: "Moldaviæ quæ olim Daciæ pers, chorographia, Georgio a Reichersdorf Transilvano auctore", Viennæ 1541.
  28. ^ Bronovius and Georg Werner: "Transylvania, Moldavia and Chersonesus Tauricæ'". Published by Arnold Mylius, Cologne, 1595.
  29. ^ Antonio Bonfini (1434 - 1503): "Rerum Ungaricarum decades quatuor cum dimidia"
  30. ^ Giovanni Botero (1540-1617): "Relazioni universali", Venice, 1591
  31. ^ Giovanni Antonio Magini (1555-1617): "Geographie universae", Venice, 1596.
  32. ^ Averko, Michael. Russia's Stance on Disputed Territories: Just How "Hypocritical" is it? The American Journal of Russian and Slavic Studies. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  33. ^ About Transdnistrea World Window NGO. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  34. ^ Averko, Michael. Russia's Stance on Disputed Territories: Just How "Hypocritical" is it? The American Journal of Russian and Slavic Studies. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  35. ^ About Transdnistrea World Window NGO. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  36. ^ Clark, Charles Upson. Bessarabia: Russia and Roumania on the Black Sea- Ch. XXIX: The Moldavian Soviet Republic 1927. Available via Washington University Electronic Archive. Retrieved 2006, 12-27
  37. ^ http://isd.georgetown.edu/smith_ac_moldova.pdf
  38. ^ Netherlands Institute of International Relations - The OSCE Moldova and Russian diplomacy 2003 page - 109
  39. ^ Official data from 2004 census and comparison with the 1989 census, by Olvia Press
  40. ^ Pridnestrovie.net: "2004 Census: PMR urban, multilingual, multicultural" from http://www.pridnestrovie.net retrieved 2006, 2-24
  41. ^ [2]
  42. ^ a b Transnistria, Center for Economic Polices of IDIS “Viitorul”
  43. ^ Pridnestrovie's own currency, Pridnestrovie.net
  44. ^ John Mackinlay and Peter Cross (editors), Regional Peacekeepers: The Paradox of Russian Peacekeeping, United Nations University Press, 2003, ISBN 92-808-1079-0 p. 135
  45. ^ John B. Dunlop, "Will a Large-Scale Migration of Russians to the Russian Republic Take Place over the Current Decade?", in International Migration Review, Vol. 27, No. 3. (Autumn, 1993), pp. 605-629, citing Russian Radio, September 21, 1992 in Russia and CIS Today, WPS, September 21, 1992, p. 976/16.
  46. ^ a b СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ РАЗВИТИЕ ПРИДНЕСТРОВСКОЙ МОЛДАВСКОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКИ 2005, statistical service of the Ministry of Economy, Tiraspol 2006
  47. ^ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ РАЗВИТИЕ ПРИДНЕСТРОВСКОЙ МОЛДАВСКОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКИ 2006 statistical service of the Ministry of Economy, Tiraspol 2006
  48. ^ a b Основные направления денежно-кредитной политики ПРБ на 2007 год, Transnistrian Republican Bank 2006
  49. ^ Transnistrian parliament adopts region's budget for 2007
  50. ^ Privatization will solve the budget problem PMR News, February 21, 2007
  51. ^ Democracy in Secessionism: Transnistria and Abkhazia’s Domestic Policies, by Nicu Popescu, International Policy Fellowship Program 2005/2006
  52. ^ Tirotex official website
  53. ^ Annual Report of Inter RAO UES
  54. ^ United States Department of State: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2006
  55. ^ Interview on Transnistria with Stefan Uritu, reporter Mrs Sara Еngstrum, Sweden Angstorm
  56. ^ Freedom House, http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/press_release/fiw07_charts.pdf 2007 "Freedom in the World" report]
  57. ^ OSCE - Media in Transdniestria
  58. ^ ECHR to consider claims lodges by Moldovan schools in Transnistria
  59. ^ Rîbniţa's authorities must return the confiscated school building, says OSCE Mission Head
  60. ^ The Geneva Convention requirs that the "dead are honorably interred, if possible according to the rites of the religion to which they belonged, that their graves are respected, grouped if possible according to the nationality of the deceased, properly maintained and marked so that they may always be found."
  61. ^ Template:En iconZiua:Tyraspol officials bulldoze Romanian soldiers' remains
    Ziua:immages with the cemetery
    Template:Ro iconDeutsche Welle article: Soldiers Cemetery profaned by the separatist regime
    Template:Ru iconPRM News [3]
    Slate article: What are the rights of dead people?
  62. ^ TRANSNISTRIAN POWER WIELDING FORCES HOLD OVER TEN OPPONENTS OF BREAKAWAY REGIME
  63. ^ Separatiştii transnistreni l-au arestat pe Ştefan Urîtu şi doi membri ai unui ONG local
  64. ^ Transnistrian residents say militia have confiscated automobiles registered in Moldova
  65. ^ Mark Almond: Kafka and the Arms Smugglers
  66. ^ a b c UNDP: 2006 Small arms and light weapons survey of Moldova, SEESAC 1 July 2007, ISBN 86-7728-014-6
  67. ^ UN Report clears Transdniester of weapons smuggling; Praises transparency and co-operation Tiraspol Times. Oct 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007, 2-21
  68. ^ Confidence-building visit: OSCE delegation inspects Kolbasna military depots Tiraspol Times. Nov 13, 2006. Retrieved 2007, 2-21
  69. ^ European Parliament, "Chairman's Report—Ad Hoc Delegation to Moldova", 5–6 June 2002
  70. ^ The Wall Street Journal, "Moldova's Ruling Communists Are Leading a Swing to the West, Marc Champion in London and Alan Cullison in Moscow. March 4 2005. pg. A.13
  71. ^ RFE/RL: Western Diplomats Say Reports Of Smuggling From Transdniester Likely Exaggerated
  72. ^ PMR doesn't make weapons, experts admit
  73. ^ Dumitru Lazur, “Tiraspol rockets for Chechens”, Jurnal de Chisinau, Chisinau (Moldova), 28 May 2004
  74. ^ Anti-Semitic Incidents - April 2001 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Apr. 1, 2001.
  75. ^ Tiraspol Skinheads Sentenced For Synagogue Bombings, Cemetery Desecration Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union. Jun. 4, 2003. Retrieved 2007, 2-25
  76. ^ Mass Vandalism of Tiraspol Jewish Cemetery Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union. Apr. 22, 2004. Retrieved 2006, 12-24
  77. ^ Jewish communities support Pridnestrovie's independence Tiraspol Times. Jul. 8, 2006. Retrieved 2007, 2-25
  78. ^ a b Briefs: Synagogue in FSU Hit with Arson Jewish Journal. May 14, 2004. Retrieved 2006, 12-24
  79. ^ Report on Global Anti-Semitism U.S. Department of State. Jan. 5, 2005. Retrieved 2006, 12-24
  80. ^ Trans-Dniester blast kills eight BBC
  81. ^ Grenade exploded in Tiraspol trolley bus
  82. ^ Trans-Dniester politician close to separatist leader's son shot dead (Associated Press)
  83. ^ U.S. State Department travel warning for Moldova
  84. ^ "United Kindom Foreign and Commonwealth Office" - Travel Advice
  85. ^ Australian Government - Travel advisories
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