TIRASPOL -- In Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester, the ruling Obnovlenie (Renovation) party appears to have won a landslide victory in general elections that were held on November 29.
According to preliminary results issued on November 30 by Transdniester's de facto Central Election Commission, Obnovlenie party candidates were leading the vote count in 20 of 43 single-mandate constituencies.
Final official results are expected to be announced by December 1.
The de facto Central Elections Commission said overall voter turnout was more than 47 percent of eligible voters.
Obnovlenie represents the interests of Transdniester’s largest business structure, Sherif, and is known as a major opponent of the breakaway region's de facto president, Yevgeny Shevchuk, who has been in office since 2011.
The Moldovan government considers the elections illegal.
Pro-Russian Transdniester declared independence from Moldova in 1990 and fought a separatist war in 1992.
Transdniester's independence has not been recognized by any state.
Russia maintains about 1,200 troops in the separatist region, despite Moldova's repeated request that they be withdrawn.
Obnovlenie has been Transdniester's ruling party since 2005.
