On the streets of Pridnestrovie, Russian is the dominant language, while in Moldova the most widely used language is Moldovan -a dialect of Romanian according to linguists, even if some people claim they are different languages.Īccording to Cenusa, “it is highly unlikely that the breakaway region will come again under Chisinau’s control.” Tiraspol has already been willing to adopt Russian laws as their own, and could in the future become a Russian enclave like Kaliningrad. While in Chisinau you can see Western and local companies, in Transnistrian cities mainly Russian and Transnistrian companies can be found. Despite the fact that only 70 kilometres separate Chisinau and Tiraspol, differences are clearly visible. Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Transnistria had never existed as a state or as an administrative region of another country.Īlmost all of Transnistria’s symbols borrow from USSR paraphernalia: sickles and hammers, red stars, golden spikes, a Russian-language anthem, Lenin monuments, and so on.
In fact, when the battles were over, they used to go for a drink together, regardless of which side they were fighting on,” explains Tiraspol resident Tim. To gain independence from Moldova, Transnistria fought until 1992 in a war that claimed the lives of more than a thousand people. Transnistrian and Russian flags are flown together in several government buildings. Think Tank Expert Group political analyst Dionis Cenusa explains: “For the last 30 years (the years since Pridnestrovie has been functioning as a state), the Transnistrian separatist regime has invested in propagating a socio-political and geopolitical identity separate from that of the constitutional territory.” Cenusa further says that, “in addition to praising the Soviet past, Transnistria’s identity is based on reaffirming its affinity with Russia.” Chisinau has now turned towards Brussels under current Moldovan president Maia Sandu’s PAS government. But the situation allows Moscow to put pressure on the Moldovan government, especially not to move closer to the West.
Not even Tiraspol’s closest ally -Russia- recognises Transnistria as an independent country, and officially claims it is a part of Moldova. In the centre of Transnistrian capital Tiraspol, all these flags can be seen flying over the De Wollant Park. All three are in a similar situation and are part of the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations. Currently it is only recognised as such by Artsakh -internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but inhabited and controlled by Armenians-, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia -both recognised as part of Georgia. But it lacks legitimisation from other states. It has almost everything that is expected of a state: a controlled territory, defined borders, a stable population, its own passport, currency. Author: Àlex Bustos The Moldovan Republic of Pridnestrovie, also known as Transnistria, is the epitome of the unrecognised state. Lenin monument in front of the Transnistrian Parliament building.
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