1. Conflict in Transnistria
Moldova
Conflict in Transnistria
Peter Peterson, Geography of Russia & Eastern Europe (GEOG 308)

2. Where is Transnistria Borders with Ukraine and Dniester River
Formed its own government in 1991 which has not been recognized by any other world government
Government Seat located in Tiraspol

3. Ethnicities in Moldova
Romanian/ Moldovan-65%
Ukrainian-14%
Russian-13%
Gagauz-4%
Other-4%

4. Ethnicities in Transnistria
Romanian/ Moldovan-40%
Ukrainian-28%
Russian-25%
Other-7%
This makes the Slavs a 53% majority

5. History of the region
Region called Moldavia or Bessarabia has been tossed between Russia and Romania since the early 1800s
In WWII, Transnistria was a location of Romanian Nazi concentration camps where over 40,000 people were murdered Dec , 1941
1950 – Russian doctors, teachers, engineers brought to Moldavia and the alphabet was changed to Cyrillic

6. History of the region Late 1980s saw national liberation movements
August 1989 – Official language is now Moldovan
August 1991 – Moldova gains its independence
The Gagauz also declared its own independence from Moldova at this time as did Transnistria
Transnistria called themselves the “Dnestr Moldavian Republic” (DMR)
Fear a repeat of WWII and a annexation by a Greater Romania

7. Civil War December 1991 Igor Smirnov elected president of DMR
From 1991 to 1992 Transnistria and Moldova engaged in civil war
50,000 Moldovan Nationalists marched on Transnistria
Bloodshed ended by Russian 14th Army led by General Alexander Lebed

8. Civil War
July 21st, 1992 – Moldovan President Mircea Snegur signed peace agreement with Russia (Boris Yeltsin), but Transnistria was not involved
Peace agreement very favorable to Russians
In 1994, General Lebed was released from his position in the 14th Army

9. Civil War
Transnistrian city of Bender devastated, thousands fled the region
Over 300 people died in the conflict, 1,000 injured

10. Reasons behind the war Not entirely an ethnic conflict
Leaders of Transnistria feared the reform led by Yeltsin and wanted to return to the Stalinist days of the Soviet Union
General Lebed assisted the Transnistrian separatists, providing arms and assisting in the fighting
Lebed refused to “abandon” the ethnic Russians in Transnistria

11. Reality Moldova and its regions are in abject poverty
Much of the governments are run by organized crime
Transnistria is the only place in the former USSR where the Soviet Era is still going on. Soviet symbols and statues can still be found here.
Igor Smirnov “owns everything of value in Transnistria”
Transnistria is a haven for drug-runners, black-marketeers, and a supply of illegal arms
The Gagauz region in southern Moldova has the same appearance as Transnistria

12. Reality This area will be a hotspot of conflict for many years to come
A cease fire might be in effect, but the corruption, mistrust, ethnic violence must end before any conclusion to the conflict can occur

13. Useful Resources
Moldova Country Guide (Library of Congress) -
The Eurasian Politician -
Collection of interviews on Transnistria -
Journal (Transdnister – the kolkhoz of smugglers ) -
Science Daily Magazine -
Moldova Country Guide -
Moldova Country Study -
allMoldova Information Website -
Moldova Maps -
Holocaust information -
Civil War Monument background picture -

14. Questions?