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Breakaway Moldovan Region Of Transdniester Celebrates 30 Years Of 'Independence'

Transdniester, which declared independence from Moldova in 1990 amid fears that Chisinau would seek reunification with Romania as the Soviet Union fell apart, is marking the 30th anniversary of that declaration on September 2.

The conflict has been frozen since Russian troops stationed there during the Soviet era intervened on the side of the separatists in 1992 after a war in which about 1,000 people were killed.
On September 2, 1990, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian S.S.R. -- also known as Transdniester -- was proclaimed as a Soviet republic by an ad hoc assembly. This followed moves by Moldovan nationalists who had taken power in the first free elections in 1989 to make Romanian the only official language, sidelining Russian, which was the lingua franca of much of Transdniester's mixed ethnic population.
1 On September 2, 1990, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian S.S.R. -- also known as Transdniester -- was proclaimed as a Soviet republic by an ad hoc assembly. This followed moves by Moldovan nationalists who had taken power in the first free elections in 1989 to make Romanian the only official language, sidelining Russian, which was the lingua franca of much of Transdniester's mixed ethnic population.
Occupying a narrow strip of land between the River Dniester and the Ukrainian border, Transdniester has been recognized only by three other mostly nonrecognized post-Soviet states: the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan.
2 Occupying a narrow strip of land between the River Dniester and the Ukrainian border, Transdniester has been recognized only by three other mostly nonrecognized post-Soviet states: the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan.
Transdniester has never been recognized by any other state, not even by Russia, which still has troops on the territory guarding a warehouse with 20,000 tons of obsolete weaponry.
3 Transdniester has never been recognized by any other state, not even by Russia, which still has troops on the territory guarding a warehouse with 20,000 tons of obsolete weaponry.
Tiraspol hosted a military parade on September 2 featuring local troops, as well as Russian troops from the force stationed there. The parade was to include more than 1,200 soldiers and 150 pieces of heavy equipment.
4 Tiraspol hosted a military parade on September 2 featuring local troops, as well as Russian troops from the force stationed there. The parade was to include more than 1,200 soldiers and 150 pieces of heavy equipment.
In June 2018, the UN General Assembly backed a call from Britain, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, and seven other countries for Russia to withdraw its troops from Transdniester. The nonbinding resolution was adopted by a vote of 64-15, with 83 abstentions in the 193-nation assembly.
5 In June 2018, the UN General Assembly backed a call from Britain, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine, and seven other countries for Russia to withdraw its troops from Transdniester. The nonbinding resolution was adopted by a vote of 64-15, with 83 abstentions in the 193-nation assembly.
Moldova has called repeatedly for Russia to remove its troops from Transdniester, which Russia has resisted, citing the munitions depot in Cobasna.
6 Moldova has called repeatedly for Russia to remove its troops from Transdniester, which Russia has resisted, citing the munitions depot in Cobasna.
Bilateral consultations have taken place in the so-called "5+2 format," which has shaped international efforts to settle the dispute over the years. The format also includes the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and the European Union.
7 Bilateral consultations have taken place in the so-called "5+2 format," which has shaped international efforts to settle the dispute over the years. The format also includes the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and the European Union.
The OSCE mission in Moldova has sought to facilitate a settlement of the conflict since 1992, with little progress evident.
8 The OSCE mission in Moldova has sought to facilitate a settlement of the conflict since 1992, with little progress evident.
Separatist leader Vadim Krasnoselsky (center) and the first leader of the breakaway region, Igor Smirnov (third from right), attend a military parade on September 2, 2019. Smirnov lost an election in 2011 to Yevgeny Shevchuk, whom Krasnoselsky defeated in a 2016 vote.
9 Separatist leader Vadim Krasnoselsky (center) and the first leader of the breakaway region, Igor Smirnov (third from right), attend a military parade on September 2, 2019. Smirnov lost an election in 2011 to Yevgeny Shevchuk, whom Krasnoselsky defeated in a 2016 vote.
Transdniester head Krasnoselsky (left) met with Moldovan President Igor Dodon at his official residence in the village of Condrita on July 28. Dodon is seen as pro-Russian and has said that talks on a settlement of the frozen conflict are going in the right direction.
10 Transdniester head Krasnoselsky (left) met with Moldovan President Igor Dodon at his official residence in the village of Condrita on July 28. Dodon is seen as pro-Russian and has said that talks on a settlement of the frozen conflict are going in the right direction.
A crowd watches the military parade in central Tiraspol on September 2.
11 A crowd watches the military parade in central Tiraspol on September 2.
This year, the separatist region's economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and the de facto government said in early summer that the budget deficit was so large that wages would not be paid until the fall.
12 This year, the separatist region's economy has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and the de facto government said in early summer that the budget deficit was so large that wages would not be paid until the fall.
A massive exodus of able-bodied people over the years has led to the aging of the region, and to the impoverishment of the remaining population. Transdniester runs an annual budget deficit of over 50 percent, even though it doesn't pay for the natural gas supplied by Russia, a debt borne by Moldova.
13 A massive exodus of able-bodied people over the years has led to the aging of the region, and to the impoverishment of the remaining population. Transdniester runs an annual budget deficit of over 50 percent, even though it doesn't pay for the natural gas supplied by Russia, a debt borne by Moldova.
A marble statue of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin stands in front of the central administration building in Tiraspol. Public funds pay for the upkeep of Soviet monuments in the breakaway region.
14 A marble statue of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin stands in front of the central administration building in Tiraspol. Public funds pay for the upkeep of Soviet monuments in the breakaway region.
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