 | AFTER MOLDOVA'S ATTACK on Transdniestria in 1992, the local population strengthened its struggle for independence. A look back at the roots of the conflict helps provide a glimpse of what the future could bring. [more] |  | | |  | NEVER A NATION, the Moldavian SSR was always just an administrative entity within the Soviet Union. Today, it has effectively broken in two. [more] |
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Transdniester's Parliament behind "de-Sovietization" changes
For 2008, Parliament plans a series of laws aimed at purging the last remaining items of Soviet-style legislation. The Code of Administrative offenses is one of the items being overhauled, due to the fact that it still contains Soviet norms. Other reforms include support for private home owners associations and an innovative program for amnesty involving victim compensation by convicted criminals. 
In Pridnestrovie's Parliament, the opposition-led majority plans a series of sweeping reforms aimed at "de-Sovietization"TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - Pridnestrovie's Parliament has started the 2008 legislative agenda with an ambitious program of reforms aimed at removing the last remains of Soviet-style laws from the republic's legislation.
According to the parliamentary press service, the Presidium chaired by Vice-Speaker Anatoly Kaminski met on Tuesday to approve the agenda for the next plenary meeting, due to take place on 23 January 2008. Parliament is to consider the Home Owners Associations Bill, the Amnesty Bill and amendments to the Code of administrative offenses, the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal procedure.
The plenary will see debates on the draft Code of Administrative offenses of the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (PMR), also known unofficially as Transdniester or Transnistria.
Vice-Speaker of Parliament Anatoly Kaminski aims to push through changes which will remove the last remnants of Soviet norms from Pridnestrovie's legislation.
The current Code still contains Soviet norms, and Pridnestrovie has moved forward since it declared independence in 1990, one year earlier than Moldova. Now, as Pridnestrovie has modernized, Parliament wants to update its legislation to reflect the country's current reality.
- Private home owner associations
The rise of private property is another area where decidedly un-Soviet laws are now needed. Today, more than three out of four homes in Tiraspol are owner-occupied and in private hands. This is a distinct move from the time of the Soviet Union, where private HOAs (home owner associations) were not demanded by the population.
The legislation about home owners associations will see second reading. The new Bill defines a home owners association as a non-profit organization of people living in apartment houses, members of housing cooperative societies and other associations of home owners. The bill also stipulates the procedure for foundation of home owners' associations, rights and duties of home owners and members of home owners associations.
" - We believe this will give a boost to civil society and neighborhood associations," says a condo board president from the Kirovski area of Tiraspol who supports the new law.
- Amnesty with victim restitution
Also on the list of reforms: A law on amnesty in commemoration of the 12th anniversary of adoption of the PMR Constitution.
Member of Parliament Andrey Sipchenko is one of the sponsors of an amnesty law which includes a victim compensation program.
Parliamentary Speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk tasked legislators to draft the Resolution to commemorate the 12th anniversary of adoption of Pridnestrovie's current Constitution. This Constitution was approved in 1995 and entered into force in 1996, taking over from PMR's previous Soviet-style Constitution.
According to MP Andrey Sipchenko, there will be an individual approach to each prisoner subject to amnesty. Among the plans: The decidedly non-Soviet concept of victim restitution, whereby criminals reimburse their victims or their victim's families for whatever damage has been done.
" - There are certain innovations, I may say. I think the convicts who collaborated with the criminal investigation department on crime detection will be subject to amnesty. So those who are on trial, I think, they are motivated to offer their help and to refund losses caused by their actions. That will be one of the grounds for granting amnesty."
Since 2005, Pridnestrovie's Parliament has been in control of the country's largest opposition party, Obnovlenie ("Renewal"), whose leader Yevgeny Shevchuk is considered the main rival to incumbent PMR President Igor Smirnov. Parties supporting the Smirnov make up a minority in Parliament.
See also:
» After freedom and reform, Pridnestrovie says it is no longer Communist
» Transdniester middle class voters form Home Owners Associations
» Transdniestria law boosts private homeownership, gives legal title to the poor
On the web:
» Pridnestrovie's 1995 Constitution
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The government of Pridnestrovie has proposed a solution on Permanent Status Negotiations that will be based on consensus with Moldova. Its government sees little or no point in signing an unequal treaty which mostly favors just one of the sides, its Foreign Ministry said. The dispute over Pridnestrovie's territory has lasted almost 18 years. . . 
