Russia ready to recognize Pridnestrovie if Kosovo gets independence

Sergei Mironov, chairman of Russia's upper chamber of parliament, is now ready to consider formal recognition of Pridnestrovie

MOSCOW (Tiraspol Times) - Russia is preparing the groundwork for recognizing the 'de facto' reality of three already-sovereign, independent states in Eastern Europe if and when leading Western powers go ahead with an eventual recognition of Kosovo as an independent state, separate from Serbia. That was the message from one of the country's leading politicians, speaking to the press this week on what can happen if Kosovo declares independence and its independence declaration is recognized by others against the will of Serbia.

" - In case of the unilateral recognition of the independence of Kosovo, Russia will be entitled to change its approach to the so-called unrecognized republics in the post-soviet regions - South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Pridnestrovie," the chairman of the Council of the Federation (upper chamber of the Russian parliament), Sergei Mironov, said on Tuesday.

" - If countries start recognizing Kosovo randomly, this will be the first violent change of borders in Europe after World War Two, and the consequences will be unforeseeable,” Mironov warned at a press conference in Moscow.

According to the political leader, this will mark the beginning of a domino principle and then it will be possible to raise the issue of the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which broke away form Georgia.

" - In case of such a recognition of Kosovo, Russia will be able to say that it is free in its approach, including towards the so-called unrecognized republics of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Pridnestrovie,” Mironov said, using the official short-form name of the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica (PMR).

Lower house agrees

Sergei Mironov's public statement makes it clear that the upper house of Russia's parliament is on board for a future consideration of Pridnestrovie's independence, matching earlier statements to the same effect by the leader of Russia's lower house. During the first week of December, Boris Gryzlov, the leader of Russia's largest political party, announced that Russia will be ready for formal diplomatic recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in January. As head of the Duma, and its most powerful politician, his statement is now supported by the leader of the upper house as well.

Russia is formally opposed to independence for Kosovo, with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov having suggested that it would be better for the international community to first address conflicts that have existed for far longer periods than the Kosovar wish for independence. Such conflicts include the territorial dispute between Moldova, which declared independence in 1991, and Pridnestrovie, which declared independence one year before, in 1990.

Unlike Kosovo, Pridnestrovie - which is better known under names such as Transdniestria or Trans-Dniester - already complies with the requirements for statehood under international law.

The criteria for determining whether statehood has objectively been established include a reasonably well-defined territory, a permanent population, a stable government, the capacity to enter into relations with other states and substantial independence from other states, according to UN advisor James Crawford, author of The Creation of States in International Law.

The government of Ukraine reported recently that "though de jure this republic remains unrecognized by the international community, de facto Transdniestria possesses all the attributes which are inherent in independent states, such as a Constitution, national flag, anthem, coat-of-arms, bodies of state authority, army, national monetary unit, and so on."

Aid group "People in Need", an NGO, confirms in its 2006 report that Transdniestria "has all the attributes of an independent state: its president, parliament, elections, army (which is bigger than the Moldovan army), currency, custom services etc."

See also:
» Recognition of Abkhazia in January '08, with Transdniester to follow
» Konstantin Zatulin: "There exists a group of countries ready to recognize PMR"
» "Transnistria independence before Kosovo" says top Washington expert

Opinion & Commentary:
» Echoes from Kosovo reach Pridnestrovie, bringing new hope to status talks