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Tiraspol - Moldova - Mafia in Uniform
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Putin is in France for a two-day visit where he'll meet with Chirac and Angela Merkel. He told a news conference that the Transnistria issue is very
complicated and cannot be solved in a public discussion with the media...
RIA Novosti: Territorial integrity to be respected in Transdnestr settlement - Putin
22/ 09/ 2006
Russia's president called Friday for adhering to the principle of territorial integrity in the conflict resolution in Moldova's breakaway region but also urged to respect the opinion of common citizens. Vladimir Putin has arrived in France for a two-day official visit. He is set to meet with his French counterpart, Jacques Chirac, later this evening and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will join the two presidents for a trilateral meeting on Saturday.
[---]
President Putin told a news conference that this issue was very complicated and could hardly be solved in a public discussion with the media. "I would want very much to resolve this issue in a discussion with you, but I think we will not manage to do it," Putin said in response to a journalist's question about Transdnestr.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
RIA Novosti: Territorial integrity to be respected in Transdnestr settlement - Putin
22/ 09/ 2006
Russia's president called Friday for adhering to the principle of territorial integrity in the conflict resolution in Moldova's breakaway region but also urged to respect the opinion of common citizens. Vladimir Putin has arrived in France for a two-day official visit. He is set to meet with his French counterpart, Jacques Chirac, later this evening and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will join the two presidents for a trilateral meeting on Saturday.
[---]
President Putin told a news conference that this issue was very complicated and could hardly be solved in a public discussion with the media. "I would want very much to resolve this issue in a discussion with you, but I think we will not manage to do it," Putin said in response to a journalist's question about Transdnestr.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
OSCE is not so popular in Transnistria at the moment, and they're burning OSCE flags there. All of a sudden they claim that the September 17
referendum were recognized as democratic and legitimate by the whole world. If they chant it three times, maybe they believe this is true?
Regnum: Transdnestr burns OSCE flag
09/23/2006
“We voice a decisive protest against the statement of Mr. Louis O’Neill. According to this young American, on September 17, when referendum on the status of our state was held, Transdnestr residents were forced to come to ballot stations at the point of machine guns. We all know that observers from Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Israel, countries of Western Europe, including Moldova, monitored the all-national vote. They all recognized that the voting process was democratic and legitimate. What machine guns he is speaking of? To this, we can only say: ‘Shame to the US-styled democracy!’”
In the end of the rally, young people chanting “Shame!” and “No to OSCE double standards!” burned an improvised flag of the OSCE mission. Then a three-fold “Let it be so!” followed.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Regnum: Transdnestr burns OSCE flag
09/23/2006
“We voice a decisive protest against the statement of Mr. Louis O’Neill. According to this young American, on September 17, when referendum on the status of our state was held, Transdnestr residents were forced to come to ballot stations at the point of machine guns. We all know that observers from Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Israel, countries of Western Europe, including Moldova, monitored the all-national vote. They all recognized that the voting process was democratic and legitimate. What machine guns he is speaking of? To this, we can only say: ‘Shame to the US-styled democracy!’”
In the end of the rally, young people chanting “Shame!” and “No to OSCE double standards!” burned an improvised flag of the OSCE mission. Then a three-fold “Let it be so!” followed.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Remember Varnita, the port on Nistru seized by Transnistrian forces some time
ago?
Moldova Azi - Employees at Varnita Harbor Want Peacekeepers Out of Facility’s Territory
The employees of the “Moldeco-Nistru Fleet” Company, sited on the territory of the river port Varnita, intend to evacuate the representatives of the peacekeeping forces from the facility’s territory.
The harbor’s staff held a protest manifestation on Friday, September 22, claiming nothing has been done to settle concerning the facility, despite the 5 month period since its appearance.[..]
By noon, the protesters were visited by military observers. Belinschi said that the company’s staff and administration are determined to ban the access to the next shift of peacekeepers and to evacuate the present ones from the facility.
The new American chief of OSCE, Louis F. O'Neill, has been declared persona non-grata in Transnistria. They didn't like his criticism of the Sept 17
referendum...
Interfax: Transdniestrian NGOs declare head of Moldovan OSCE Mission persona nongrata
Sep 26, 2006
"We will insist on preventing Mr. O'Neil from staying in Transdniestria," the organizations said. The NGOs said they were appalled by O'Neil's criticism of the Transdniestrian referendum on September 17. The referendum cannot be recognized and will have no legal consequences, because it was held unilaterally, O'Neil said.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Interfax: Transdniestrian NGOs declare head of Moldovan OSCE Mission persona nongrata
Sep 26, 2006
"We will insist on preventing Mr. O'Neil from staying in Transdniestria," the organizations said. The NGOs said they were appalled by O'Neil's criticism of the Transdniestrian referendum on September 17. The referendum cannot be recognized and will have no legal consequences, because it was held unilaterally, O'Neil said.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Here's an interesting survey about small arms and light weapons in Moldova.
There are 106 638 legally owned arms in Moldova ( that has over 3 million inhabitants) and 129 694 weapons in Transnistria (that has 600.000 inhabitants)
There are 106 638 legally owned arms in Moldova ( that has over 3 million inhabitants) and 129 694 weapons in Transnistria (that has 600.000 inhabitants)
Israel is armed to the teeth as well. Maybe the amount of weapons is warranted by what is perceived as a credible threat from the surrounding enemy.
Whatever the deal is Transdniester is not giving in easily. I guess EU and NATO will just have to work around it.
Transnistria wants to be acknowledged as a sovereign independent state
Transnistria has asked Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and CIS to acknowledge the unrecognized republic as a sovereign independent state.
RIA Novosti: Transdnestr asks Russia, Ukraine to acknowledge its sovereignty
11/ 10/ 2006
Transdnestr's Supreme Council has asked Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly to acknowledge the unrecognized republic as a sovereign independent state.
"We ask the deputies of Russia's State Duma, Ukraine's Supreme Rada, Belarus' National Assembly and the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly to initiate the acknowledgement of the Transdnestr Moldovan Republic as a sovereign independent state," the address of the republic's parliament said.Moldovan authorities said they were willing to extend autonomy for the separatist region, which still has no international recognition, but brushed away the idea of granting it independence. The West has consistently refused to recognize Transdnestr's independence.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Transnistria has asked Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and CIS to acknowledge the unrecognized republic as a sovereign independent state.
RIA Novosti: Transdnestr asks Russia, Ukraine to acknowledge its sovereignty
11/ 10/ 2006
Transdnestr's Supreme Council has asked Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly to acknowledge the unrecognized republic as a sovereign independent state.
"We ask the deputies of Russia's State Duma, Ukraine's Supreme Rada, Belarus' National Assembly and the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly to initiate the acknowledgement of the Transdnestr Moldovan Republic as a sovereign independent state," the address of the republic's parliament said.Moldovan authorities said they were willing to extend autonomy for the separatist region, which still has no international recognition, but brushed away the idea of granting it independence. The West has consistently refused to recognize Transdnestr's independence.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
They had a meeting in Odessa today. They tried to restart talks between Chisinau and Tiraspol. However, it failed. On October 19-20 there will be a
meeting in Chisinau (without Transnistria's participation).
Moldova Azi: Mediators persuading Chisinau and Tiraspol to resume talks
October 18 2006
The delegations of Moldova and Transnistria have today begun in Odessa (Ukraine) official consultations with the international mediators to the Transnistrian conflict settlement - the representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Their objective is to persuade Chisinau and Tiraspol to restart the frozen negotiation process.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Moldpres News Agency: Transnistrian authorities oppose to resume negotiations on Transnistrian conflict settlement
Oct. 18, 2006
The mediators' and observers' separate consultations with Tiraspol and Chisinau focused on possibility to resume the negotiating process to settle the Transnistrian conflict have failed.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Moldpres News Agency: NATO officials to consider Transnistrian issue in Chisinau
Oct. 18, 2006
The Transnistrian issue will be considered in Chisinau on 19-21 October, within an international seminar, Moldova and the Euro-Atlantic Institutions: Joining Efforts.
Former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), member of the French delegation to the NATO PA Loic Bouvard; a member of Luxemburg's delegation to the NATO PA, Marc Angel; European Union's (EU) Special Representative for Moldova Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged; deputy head of the EU Border Assistance Mission for Moldova and Ukraine Joachim Haack; ambassadors Filip Teodorescu (Romania), Nikolay Ryabov (Russia), Petro Chaliy (Ukraine); Head of the OSCE Mission to Chisinau Louis F. O'Neill; members of the Moldovan government and Chisinau political analysts have announced their participation in the event.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Moldova Azi: Mediators persuading Chisinau and Tiraspol to resume talks
October 18 2006
The delegations of Moldova and Transnistria have today begun in Odessa (Ukraine) official consultations with the international mediators to the Transnistrian conflict settlement - the representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Their objective is to persuade Chisinau and Tiraspol to restart the frozen negotiation process.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Moldpres News Agency: Transnistrian authorities oppose to resume negotiations on Transnistrian conflict settlement
Oct. 18, 2006
The mediators' and observers' separate consultations with Tiraspol and Chisinau focused on possibility to resume the negotiating process to settle the Transnistrian conflict have failed.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Moldpres News Agency: NATO officials to consider Transnistrian issue in Chisinau
Oct. 18, 2006
The Transnistrian issue will be considered in Chisinau on 19-21 October, within an international seminar, Moldova and the Euro-Atlantic Institutions: Joining Efforts.
Former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), member of the French delegation to the NATO PA Loic Bouvard; a member of Luxemburg's delegation to the NATO PA, Marc Angel; European Union's (EU) Special Representative for Moldova Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged; deputy head of the EU Border Assistance Mission for Moldova and Ukraine Joachim Haack; ambassadors Filip Teodorescu (Romania), Nikolay Ryabov (Russia), Petro Chaliy (Ukraine); Head of the OSCE Mission to Chisinau Louis F. O'Neill; members of the Moldovan government and Chisinau political analysts have announced their participation in the event.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
They did some talking again and failed to solve the problem with a trilateral (Russian-Moldavian-Transdnestr) peacekeeping post at the dam of the
Dubossary water power plant (mentioned earlier in the thread). Transnistria accuses Moldova for sabotaging the peacekeeping operation. Moldova wanted
the post to be positioned some place where Transnistria didn't want it. At a place "where there is even no place for a toilet"...
Regnum: Transdnestr representative in Control Commission: Moldova sabotages the peacekeeping operation
10/20/2006
During its Oct 19 meeting in Bendery the United Control Commission (UCC) failed to solve the problem of establishing a trilateral Russian-Moldavian-Transdnestr peacekeeping post at the dam of the Dubossary water power plant, reports REGNUM correspondent.
On Oct 19, the Moldavian side insisted that the post be established right at the dam. “We strongly object,” says the chairman of the Transdnestr delegation to the UCC Alexander Porozhan. “First of all, this is impossible purely technically. It will be a post in an open area where there is even no place for a toilet. Besides, the Dniestr WPP is a guarded facility, and the post will be situated in the territory watched by other non-commission guards. This is inadmissible.”
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Regnum: Transdnestr representative in Control Commission: Moldova sabotages the peacekeeping operation
10/20/2006
During its Oct 19 meeting in Bendery the United Control Commission (UCC) failed to solve the problem of establishing a trilateral Russian-Moldavian-Transdnestr peacekeeping post at the dam of the Dubossary water power plant, reports REGNUM correspondent.
On Oct 19, the Moldavian side insisted that the post be established right at the dam. “We strongly object,” says the chairman of the Transdnestr delegation to the UCC Alexander Porozhan. “First of all, this is impossible purely technically. It will be a post in an open area where there is even no place for a toilet. Besides, the Dniestr WPP is a guarded facility, and the post will be situated in the territory watched by other non-commission guards. This is inadmissible.”
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Take a look on this site of the Romanian Centre for Investigative Journalism (in English). Its last
seven reports are about Transnistria.
Originally posted by taseg
Its last seven reports are about Transnistria.
Thanks taseg
I see that this report mentions the BoNYGate and Mogilevich...
Gangsta's Paradise
The mother company is in fact connecting two major episodes of the recent history of Russian mafia: the money laundry case involving the former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko and another money laundry case involving the Bank of New York. ICS Ltd was used both by Lazarenko's network as well as by Peter Berlin's network from the Bank of New York, to laundry large amounts of money. In the case of Lazarenko there were 100 million dollars, while Peter Berlin got to laundry billions of dollars from Russian mafia groups, especially from the Semion Mogilevich group, as well as from the Moscow group Solntsevo.
Transdniester has a lot of mafia activity no doubt. And surely it has creeped its way into its politics as well a great deal.
However nearly all of Eastern European governments (including pro-Western regimes) have had extensive relations with organized crime and other illegal activities- Moldova and Ukraine not the least. In fact if you know who Yulia Timoshenko is (Yuschenko's key ally during the Orange revolution, and a major political figure head in pro-Western Ukraine), you can do some easy research on her. She has been credibly accused on several occasions of high profile bribery, and illegal activities, as well as ties with less-than-legal figures. However she had political immunity, thanks to some loop holes. She is still known by some in Ukraine as a "criminal", but Yuschenko and his American and European buddies don't mind much do they?
[edit on 21-10-2006 by maloy]
However nearly all of Eastern European governments (including pro-Western regimes) have had extensive relations with organized crime and other illegal activities- Moldova and Ukraine not the least. In fact if you know who Yulia Timoshenko is (Yuschenko's key ally during the Orange revolution, and a major political figure head in pro-Western Ukraine), you can do some easy research on her. She has been credibly accused on several occasions of high profile bribery, and illegal activities, as well as ties with less-than-legal figures. However she had political immunity, thanks to some loop holes. She is still known by some in Ukraine as a "criminal", but Yuschenko and his American and European buddies don't mind much do they?
[edit on 21-10-2006 by maloy]
Originally posted by maloy
In fact if you know who Yulia Timoshenko is (Yuschenko's key ally during the Orange revolution, and a major political figure head in pro-Western Ukraine), you can do some easy research on her. She has been credibly accused on several occasions of high profile bribery, and illegal activities, as well as ties with less-than-legal figures. However she had political immunity, thanks to some loop holes. She is still known by some in Ukraine as a "criminal", but Yuschenko and his American and European buddies don't mind much do they?
Yulia "Stop contraband!" Tymoshenko
Yes, I know who she is. Mogilevich is annoyed by her. I bet Berezovsky is a fan of her.
www.abovetopsecret.com...
They were discussing frozen conflicts in EU today. EU will not get involved so much in the Georgian conflicts (Abkhazia & South Ossetia), but their
involvement in the Moldovan conflict (Transnistria) will remain strong. When Yanukovych became prime minister in Ukraine, EU was worried that Ukraine
might relax their controls on the Transnistrian border. However, Ukraine has assured they will not drop the border controls.
RFE/RL: EU: For Brussels, Not All Frozen Conflicts Are Alike
October 25, 2006
At a European Parliament debate on South Ossetia and Transdniester today, EU officials had two distinct messages. First, that the bloc’s involvement in Moldova will remain strong. Second, that Georgia's requests for greater EU involvement are "unrealistic."
Ferrero-Waldner said Russian calls for some form of international recognition of Transdniester would “complicate” attempts to resolve the conflict: “While we’re happy that high-level talks between Russia and Moldova have recently resumed, we have been concerned about Russia’s support to the Transdnistrian leadership," she said. "In a recent statement, [Russian Foreign] Minister Lavrov called for ‘political recognition’ of the results of the referendum in Transdniester which neither the European Union nor the OSCE have recognized. I think this could complicate finding a solution to this conflict.” Ferrero-Waldner said the EU also rejects Russia’s insistence on a Transdniestrian-Moldovan "transit protocol." She said saying Moscow’s attempts to win Transdniester recognition as an independent international actor are the main stumbling block in peace talks.
Ferrero-Waldner also said the EU had been worried after Viktor Yanukovych’s election as prime minister that Ukraine might stop enforcing strict controls on its border with Transdniester. However, the commissioner said, Kyiv has since given the EU express assurances it will not drop its border controls.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
RFE/RL: EU: For Brussels, Not All Frozen Conflicts Are Alike
October 25, 2006
At a European Parliament debate on South Ossetia and Transdniester today, EU officials had two distinct messages. First, that the bloc’s involvement in Moldova will remain strong. Second, that Georgia's requests for greater EU involvement are "unrealistic."
Ferrero-Waldner said Russian calls for some form of international recognition of Transdniester would “complicate” attempts to resolve the conflict: “While we’re happy that high-level talks between Russia and Moldova have recently resumed, we have been concerned about Russia’s support to the Transdnistrian leadership," she said. "In a recent statement, [Russian Foreign] Minister Lavrov called for ‘political recognition’ of the results of the referendum in Transdniester which neither the European Union nor the OSCE have recognized. I think this could complicate finding a solution to this conflict.” Ferrero-Waldner said the EU also rejects Russia’s insistence on a Transdniestrian-Moldovan "transit protocol." She said saying Moscow’s attempts to win Transdniester recognition as an independent international actor are the main stumbling block in peace talks.
Ferrero-Waldner also said the EU had been worried after Viktor Yanukovych’s election as prime minister that Ukraine might stop enforcing strict controls on its border with Transdniester. However, the commissioner said, Kyiv has since given the EU express assurances it will not drop its border controls.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is in Moscow right now for a two-day visit. Today he discussed the Georgia issue with Russia. Tomorrow they might discuss the
CFE Treaty, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. NATO will not ratify the amended CFE until all Russian troops are withdrawn from Moldova and
Georgia, and Russia is annoyed by this. Russia could choose to pull out of the agreement instead. If the amended CFE doesn't get ratified, there will
be no limits on the number of troops and armament deployed in Europe. The result might be an arms race, a buildup of troops and armaments on the
borders. Not good...
NATO, Russia Hold Tense Talks
October 26, 2006
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials at the Kremlin today as part of a two-day Moscow visit. The talks appeared aimed at ironing out growing tension between Moscow and the Western military alliance.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's Grushko, Putin also planned to express Moscow's irritation at the NATO's refusal to ratify an amended version of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty. This agreement set limits on the number of troops and armament deployed across Europe. NATO member states say they will not ratify the new version of the treaty, which addresses changes since the Soviet collapse, until Russia withdraws all troops from the former Soviet republics of Moldova and Georgia. Grushko said that Russia could choose to pull out of the agreement should NATO continue to drag its feet.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
NATO, Russia Hold Tense Talks
October 26, 2006
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials at the Kremlin today as part of a two-day Moscow visit. The talks appeared aimed at ironing out growing tension between Moscow and the Western military alliance.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's Grushko, Putin also planned to express Moscow's irritation at the NATO's refusal to ratify an amended version of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty. This agreement set limits on the number of troops and armament deployed across Europe. NATO member states say they will not ratify the new version of the treaty, which addresses changes since the Soviet collapse, until Russia withdraws all troops from the former Soviet republics of Moldova and Georgia. Grushko said that Russia could choose to pull out of the agreement should NATO continue to drag its feet.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Seems like train service between Chisinau (Moldova) and Moscow has been banned...
Itar-Tass: Russian Railways bans train from Chisinau to Moscow
31.10.2006
Train service Chisinau -Moscow has been cancelled on Tuesday because the JSC Russian Railways refused to admit the train, the state-run enterprise Moldovan Railways told journalists.
President of the JSC Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin warned a few days ago that regular train No. 47 Chisinau -Moscow would be cancelled unless an agreement on transit transportation across the Diester region was reached.
Train service across the Dniester territory was canceled after Ukraine had imposed a new Customs regime at Moldova’s request, that Tiraspol challenged as "an economic blockade."
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Political, Economic or Legal Measures Against Transnistria?
Moldova calls for sanctions against Transnistria for human rights violations.
Moldpres News Agency: Moldova calls for sanctioning human rights' violation in frozen conflicts regions
Oct. 31, 2006
Moldova's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York Alexei Tulbure has called on the international community to undertake political, economic or legal measures against perpetrators of human rights violations in frozen conflicts regions.
The Moldovan representative informed the international community about the flagrant violations of human rights in Moldova's breakaway Transnistrian region. He pointed up certain sectors in which the human rights have been always violated in the eastern districts of the country, and namely: the right to life, justice, assembly and expression, the right to education, the civil and political rights, etc
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Itar-Tass: Russian Railways bans train from Chisinau to Moscow
31.10.2006
Train service Chisinau -Moscow has been cancelled on Tuesday because the JSC Russian Railways refused to admit the train, the state-run enterprise Moldovan Railways told journalists.
President of the JSC Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin warned a few days ago that regular train No. 47 Chisinau -Moscow would be cancelled unless an agreement on transit transportation across the Diester region was reached.
Train service across the Dniester territory was canceled after Ukraine had imposed a new Customs regime at Moldova’s request, that Tiraspol challenged as "an economic blockade."
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Political, Economic or Legal Measures Against Transnistria?
Moldova calls for sanctions against Transnistria for human rights violations.
Moldpres News Agency: Moldova calls for sanctioning human rights' violation in frozen conflicts regions
Oct. 31, 2006
Moldova's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York Alexei Tulbure has called on the international community to undertake political, economic or legal measures against perpetrators of human rights violations in frozen conflicts regions.
The Moldovan representative informed the international community about the flagrant violations of human rights in Moldova's breakaway Transnistrian region. He pointed up certain sectors in which the human rights have been always violated in the eastern districts of the country, and namely: the right to life, justice, assembly and expression, the right to education, the civil and political rights, etc
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Apparently, Igor Smirnov is running for a fourth term as "President" of Transnistria.
Kyiv Post: Separatist leader to run for fourth term as Trans-Dniester president
Nov 03 2006
The leader of a pro-Russian separatist region in eastern Moldova has submitted his candidacy for a fourth term as Trans-Dniester president, officials said Friday. Igor Smirnov, who has run the province with an iron fist since 1991 when it declared independence from Moldova, said he "trusted in the people's will."
Smirnov, 65, is born in Russia and is a Russian citizen. He arrived in the former Soviet republic of Moldova in 1986 as director of a then-secret arms factory in Trans-Dniester's capital, Tiraspol. He was first elected as Trans-Dniester's president in 1991, and re-elected in 1996 and 2001.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Kyiv Post: Separatist leader to run for fourth term as Trans-Dniester president
Nov 03 2006
The leader of a pro-Russian separatist region in eastern Moldova has submitted his candidacy for a fourth term as Trans-Dniester president, officials said Friday. Igor Smirnov, who has run the province with an iron fist since 1991 when it declared independence from Moldova, said he "trusted in the people's will."
Smirnov, 65, is born in Russia and is a Russian citizen. He arrived in the former Soviet republic of Moldova in 1986 as director of a then-secret arms factory in Trans-Dniester's capital, Tiraspol. He was first elected as Trans-Dniester's president in 1991, and re-elected in 1996 and 2001.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
Originally posted by Hellmutt
Apparently, Igor Smirnov is running for a fourth term as "President" of Transnistria.
I wonder if he's going to get the traditional 103,2 % of votes
Well this guy is popular either way, and would likely win the election even if it was "free and fair". Of course people know little alternative
choices, but thats another matter (same with Belarus). But the fact that Belarus and Transniester keep electing these political dinosaurs, probably
means that people there are to some degree content with their standard of living- and thats what matters the most to them. The West is making such a
big deal about the absence and democracy there, and the absence of holy capitalism - but those countries survive and its not like they are starving to
death craving some burgers.
People criticize Putin for being "way too popular". Maybe whats wrong is that Western politicians like Bush and Blair have such a low levels of support (percentage-wise). Come to think of it, Reagan was probably the one US president in recent times who was supported by at least something close to 2/3 of the US citizens - but I am not sure about this. Who cares if Putin's opponents are left on the sidelines - it's not like they are persecuted or have no access to the media. Everyone adopts democracy the way it best fits into their culture and into established traditions. Why not have US worry instead about American elections which are turning into a circus, instead of being concerned for the poor people of Transdnniester.
People criticize Putin for being "way too popular". Maybe whats wrong is that Western politicians like Bush and Blair have such a low levels of support (percentage-wise). Come to think of it, Reagan was probably the one US president in recent times who was supported by at least something close to 2/3 of the US citizens - but I am not sure about this. Who cares if Putin's opponents are left on the sidelines - it's not like they are persecuted or have no access to the media. Everyone adopts democracy the way it best fits into their culture and into established traditions. Why not have US worry instead about American elections which are turning into a circus, instead of being concerned for the poor people of Transdnniester.
Guess who was born in Moldova, and is suspected of having ties to the Russian mafia:
www.abovetopsecret.com...
[edit on 7-11-2006 by Mdv2]
www.abovetopsecret.com...
[edit on 7-11-2006 by Mdv2]
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