Transnistria

Transnistria or Transdniester (Russian: Pridnestrov'e, Romanian Transnistria, referred to as Stānga Nistrului (Left Bank of the Nistru) by official Moldovan sources). Transnistria is a region in eastern Europe. The name comes from it being the area of Moldava east of the river Nistru (Dniester).

Table of contents

1 Political Status 2 History 3 The fights of 1990 3.1 2004 crisis 4 Human rights 5 Population 5.2 Ethnicity 6 External links

Political Status

It is considered internationally to be part of Moldova, and previously part of the Moldavian SSR, but has declared independence as the Transdniestrian Moldovan Republic, with a capital at Tiraspol. The region has a Slavic-speaking majority, who fear unification with Romania, but with a large minority of 43% of the population that speaks Romanian.

History

The area had been controlled by the Ottoman Empire and was ceded to the Russian Empire in 1792. It was later organised as the 'Moldavian Autonomous Oblast' in the Ukrainian SSR. Romanian speakers made up the majority of inhabitants of the regions.

After World War II, it was included with Bessarabia into the Moldavian SSR in exchange for the Southern Bessarabia ("Bugeac"), which was included in the Ukrainian SSR.

During the Soviet era, Transnistria suffered changes both in its demographic structure, as many Romanian-language Moldovians were forcely moved to Siberia and Kazakhstan and Ukrainians and Russians were colonized, but also in its economy. Most of the industry that was built in the Moldavian SSR was concentred in Transnistria, while the rest of Moldova was used only for agriculture. In 1990, Transnistria accounted for 40% of Moldova's GDP and 90% of its electricity.

The fights of 1990

Also, the Russian 14th army was based here, to prevent any attempt of unification with Romania. In 1989, the Moldovans in Chişinău; declared Moldovan (Romanian) official language and there was some talks about unification with Romania. The Slavs on the left bank of the Nistru declared their own "Soviet Republic" on September 2, 1990. The fights that followed claimed almost 1000 lives.

(more on the fights needed)

In July 2004, a Transnistrian separtist leader declared that soon the separatist government is going to organize a referendum in the automn of 2004 on whether Transnistria should become part of Russia.

2004 crisis

The separatist Slavic Transnistrian militias began forcibly closing schools that used Romanian language in Latin script and several teachers and parents that opposed were arrested. The Moldovian government decided that if these actions continue, they are going to create an blockade that will isolate the autonomous republic by the rest of the country.

Human rights

The type of separatist government of Transnistria is largely a dictatorship and the personal rights record of the people is very poor. The 2001 presidential elections were not free, parties and publications being banned just before the elections. The results were rigged, as in some regions it was reported that Igor Smirnov collected 103.6 percent of the votes.

The authorities have the arbitrary right to arrest and torture. The right of free assembly or association is not respected and religious freedom is restricted, by not allowing registrations of religions, such as Baptists or Methodists.

Population

Population of the region is 633,600 (2001) note, some 2/3 of the population are past the age of retirement.

Ethnicity

• Moldovans (Romanians): 43%
• Ukrainians: 28%
• Russians: 25%

• Area: 3,567 km²

• Transnistria: relic of a bygone era (newspaper article)
• Presidential website
• Transnistria photo gallery
• Flagspot
• BBC report: Moldovan republic faces blockade
• Country Reports on Human Rights Practices