18 years of 'de facto' independence was celebrated in Pridnestrovie on 2 Sep 2008. The republic declared independence one year before Moldova.

It doesn't matter to the West who rules Transdniestria, as long as the territory's future is democratically decided by the people who live there. What matters far more is the future of geopolitical relations and the worldwide partnership with Russia, as U.S. military strategist Thomas P.M. Barnett points out.

One of Singapore's foremost political strategists says that the West needs to recognize reality. This means accommodating Russia in a win-win partnership as well as taking into account the number of new nations, such as Pridnestrovie, who want to become “responsible stakeholders” within the international community.

Let the people of Abkhazia and South Ossetia decide their own future in plebiscites conducted by the United Nations or the OSCE. That is the opinion of former White House insider Pat Buchanan who also says that "who rules Abkhazia and South Ossetia is none of our business."

Former US presidential candidate Pat Buchanan doesn't understand why some show indignation over the fact that Abkhazia and South Ossetia need independence. If anything, he argues that support for the independence and sovereignty of "breakaway provinces" would be in line with Western foreign policy.

In the aftermath of a sweeping ban of "pro-separatist" media, journalists at The Tiraspol Times are weighing their options and seeking legal advice. On 5 June 2008, Moldova outlawed newspapers whose articles can be interpreted as positive coverage of Transdniestria. Moldova's legal authority over Transdniestria is in doubt but the country can enforce its laws internationally.

Moldova's Parliament has passed a sweeping law banning newspapers which "instigate territorial separatism". The ban applies to The Tiraspol Times and a number of other publications. Journalists can now be prosecuted for merely reporting the views of politicians and community leaders who are in favor of Transdniestria's independence.

On 5 June 2008, Moldova's Parliament passed a law banning all publications whose content could be construed as a call to "territorial separatism." Journalist and newspaper publisher Des Grant of The Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review warns that this law is in breach of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Disappointed with what it sees as too little support from Russia, Transdniestria is showing itself to be increasingly more independent and is adopting a "multi-vector" foreign policy which includes closer ties with the European Union. Here, renowned American analyst Paul Goble says that makes Transdniestria less subject to Moscow’s diktat.

The pace of economic reform is speeding up in Pridnestrovie with measures to boost local manufacturing and small businesses. Registration time for new firms is cut in half. New companies are also given a three year tax free "no tax holiday."