Grassroots organizers want increased independence

In Tiraspol, a civil society activist speaks out against unification with Moldova

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - 660 elected representatives from all walks of life celebrated democracy in Pridnestrovie in March and April, 2006, when the country held its 6th National Congress of Deputies from all levels.

The congress, which opened in Tiraspol on March 31, 2006, brought together elected officials from all over the republic and from all levels: Village councils, town and "raion"-councils, and the 43 elected congressmen from the national parliament.

A total of 660 legislators took part in this "Democracy Fest", with equal voting rights and equal time for everyone, all of them as representatives at either the national level or district- and municipal administrations.

More Moldovans than Russians

Of the 660 delegates of this Sixth congress, 307 deputies represented urban- and district councils while 353 came from the villages and rural councils. Women, minorities and youth were strongly represented, too. Ethnic Russians made up a distinct minority. Of the three major ethnic groups in PMR, the Russians were represented with just 137 deputies. There were 232 ethnic Ukrainians and 250 Moldovans. The remaining 41 deputies were Jews, Bulgarians, Gagauz, Poles, Tatars and representatives of the many other nationalities which make up multiethnic Pridnestrovie, the young country which shows that "Power to the People" is not just a hollow propaganda phrase but a real way of life here.

Despite their differences in race, background and languages, all stood united behind a single goal which, in the words of one Moldovan representative, is described as "Freedom".
" - We who are born here just ask for the freedom to determine our own future. We don't want to be part of any other country; be it Moldova, Ukraine or Russia. We just want the right to freely decide how to live our own lives, under our own rules and our own government. Is that too much to ask?"

In the breakup of the Soviet Union, Pridnestrovie - also known as Transnistria or Transndnestr - declared its independence in 1990. It was not formally part of Moldova when the latter declared its own independence in 1991. Pridnestrovie meets the requirements for statehood under international law but the young nation has not yet been recognized by the international community.