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20190902-2062-Edit
For those that are not familiar with Transnistria (AKA Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) is a self-declared but unrecognised independent state with a population of around 470,000 that lies sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine. The capital is Tiraspol with a population of around 130,000). Around 34% are Russian, around 27% Ukrainian and around 33% are Moldovan.
Transnistria declared independence from what at the time was the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic 2 September 1990 as communism was collapsing and Moldova was showing signs of both declaring independence from the USSR and reconnecting with its Romanian heritage (there was even talk of a union with Romania at the time). The Russian/Ukrainian majority in Transnistria wanted to stay closely aligned with the USSR.
Unfortunately for Transnistria the USSR itself did not survive the collapse of Communism which left them in a rather awkward situation… instead of sharing a border with a powerful state they could remain a part of, they found themselves 100s of miles from what was now their closest ally, the Russian Federation.
A couple of years of sporadic fighting intensified into civil war in 1992 with Moldova supported by Romania and Transnistria supported by Russia. A ceasefire in July 1992 brought the fighting to an end after somewhere between 1000 and 2000 deaths among combatants and civilians.
But the ceasefire agreement failed to clearly establish the status of Transnistria, resulting in the current peaceful but tense situation. Transnistria is a de facto independent state with its own government, army and currency (the Transnistria Ruble), but no recognition from any UN member states (though they receive significant economic support from Russia).
Today Transnistria is probably most famous for it’s nostalgic insistence on keeping it’s symbols of Soviet power… Tiraspol’s main street is called 25 October Street, there is an enormous statue of Lenin outside the parliament building, and there is a hammer and sickle on their flag and coins.
On 2 September each year Transnistria celebrates it’s self-declared independence with a military parade followed by an enormous party. I was lucky enough to be in Tiraspol on that date in 2019 and it was a hoot and a half! Transnistria may be a small country, but boy do they know how to throw a party! The day begins at 9am sharp with a military parade, followed by a street party that lasts all day and into the night. I hope I captured a little of the atmosphere in these photographs.
20190902-2062-Edit
For those that are not familiar with Transnistria (AKA Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) is a self-declared but unrecognised independent state with a population of around 470,000 that lies sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine. The capital is Tiraspol with a population of around 130,000). Around 34% are Russian, around 27% Ukrainian and around 33% are Moldovan.
Transnistria declared independence from what at the time was the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic 2 September 1990 as communism was collapsing and Moldova was showing signs of both declaring independence from the USSR and reconnecting with its Romanian heritage (there was even talk of a union with Romania at the time). The Russian/Ukrainian majority in Transnistria wanted to stay closely aligned with the USSR.
Unfortunately for Transnistria the USSR itself did not survive the collapse of Communism which left them in a rather awkward situation… instead of sharing a border with a powerful state they could remain a part of, they found themselves 100s of miles from what was now their closest ally, the Russian Federation.
A couple of years of sporadic fighting intensified into civil war in 1992 with Moldova supported by Romania and Transnistria supported by Russia. A ceasefire in July 1992 brought the fighting to an end after somewhere between 1000 and 2000 deaths among combatants and civilians.
But the ceasefire agreement failed to clearly establish the status of Transnistria, resulting in the current peaceful but tense situation. Transnistria is a de facto independent state with its own government, army and currency (the Transnistria Ruble), but no recognition from any UN member states (though they receive significant economic support from Russia).
Today Transnistria is probably most famous for it’s nostalgic insistence on keeping it’s symbols of Soviet power… Tiraspol’s main street is called 25 October Street, there is an enormous statue of Lenin outside the parliament building, and there is a hammer and sickle on their flag and coins.
On 2 September each year Transnistria celebrates it’s self-declared independence with a military parade followed by an enormous party. I was lucky enough to be in Tiraspol on that date in 2019 and it was a hoot and a half! Transnistria may be a small country, but boy do they know how to throw a party! The day begins at 9am sharp with a military parade, followed by a street party that lasts all day and into the night. I hope I captured a little of the atmosphere in these photographs.