Proud Transdniestria Has Military Parade, Makes Moldova Government Nervous

Moldova’s government said on Wednesday it was concerned about the military parade held in Tiraspol in Transdniestria on Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the unrecognized republic’s independence.

“Propaganda of hatred and demonstration of power and military capabilities are on the rise in Transdniestria,” the Moldavian government’s reintegration bureau said in a statement.

Transdniestria’s military parade became the largest in the history of the unrecognized republic.

“Transdniestria is celebrating the 25th anniversary as a full-fledged state. We have everything that is needed to ensure the republic’s security and intend to defend our right to its further development,” Transdniestria Head Yevgeny Shevchuk said.

Shevchuk said at a press conference on Tuesday he had ordered to augment the defense potential of the republic due to the concentration of Ukrainian troops on the borders. He also accused Moldova and Ukraine of conducting “coordinated actions aimed at stifling Transdniestria economically.”

The left bank of the Dniester River, which is home mostly to the Russian-speaking population, was proclaimed the Transdnietrian Republic on September 2, 1990 after the rise of the national movement in Moldova, which proclaimed reunification with Romania as its goal.

After the break-up of the Soviet Union, the confrontation between Transdniestria and Moldova in 1992 took the form of an armed conflict, which was stopped thanks to the efforts of the Russian peacekeepers.

Since 1993, Chisinau and Tiraspol have been holding negotiations to settle the conflict. Moldova offers Transdniestria a “special autonomy status”. Tiraspol’s authorities insist on the republic’s independence and closer relations with Russia, saying this was the wish of 97% of local residents at the 2006 referendum.