PMR President decorated with top Order ... for democracy, no less

Igor Smirnov, PMR's president, displays the new Order on his chest. He is only the 6th-ever recipient.

TIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - Is Igor Smirnov a democrat? Some people seem to think so ... and they just gave him an award to prove it.

Moscow decorated Pridnestrovie's President Igor Smirnov with the Dignity Order of the First Degree, given to him for strengthening friendship between peoples, developing democracy, consolidating Pridnestrovie's position on international arena and close relations between the people of the unrecognized country and the people of Russia.

The decoration has a diamond in the center and is considered the highest reward given for important contribution to the security and development of the society.

" - This one is going to produce a chuckle in some of the "echo chambers" here and there, especially around gravity centers such as Brussels and D.C.," believes a Western diplomat consulted by Tiraspol Times, and speaking on the condition of anonymity. "Conventional wisdom would like to believe that Smirnov is an autocrat, not a democrat. But here's what they should really do: Compare the actions of Igor Smirnov in Transdniestria with the actions of Vladimir Voronin in Moldova. Don't focus on what they say - words are cheap in this part of the world. Focus on what they do, and their commitment to follow through."

Comparisons with Moldova and Pridnestrovie

Although Pridnestrovie's record is not unblemished, defenders point out that there is freedom of press in the new and emerging country: No newspapers or other media outlets have been closed, and there is no state censorship. Pridnestrovie also has no journalists in jail.

By comparison, Moldova's Communist Party government under Vladimir Voronin closed the critical Kommersant newspaper which was forced to take its case to the European Court of Human Rights, and other newspapers have been bought up by an entourage close to the ruling elite in order to muffle their critical coverage.

Earlier this year, Moldova also closed two leading radio and TV outlets in an action which caused criticism from the European Union as well as from several Western embassies. Although Moldovan government spokesmen don't consider it important, it is a fact that it happened and that it was allowed to happen. It is also a fact that no such events have taken place in Pridnestrovie, where private TV and radio stations operate freely alongside state-run media without any fear of closure.

In the political sphere, opposition parties are free to register and operate in Pridnestrovie, and stand in elections even if they advocate unification with Moldova. Only one party currently does so, the Social Democratic Party of Pridnestrovie, but this - explain analysts - is simply because there is no popular support among voters for the idea of becoming part of Moldova. More than 9 out of 10 want independence, and this is reflected in the programs of majority the political parties operating in Pridnestrovie and spanning t
the spectrum from Communist to Conservative.

Moldova has thrown several opposition politicians in jail under what the victims call trumped-up corruption charges. In comparison, Pridnestrovie maintains that it no political prisoners, with not a single opposition politician in jail, although Moldova does not agree: It points to the imprisonment (until 2008) of Andrei Ivanţoc and Tudor Petrov-Popa, two political activists who favor a unified Romanian state "made up of joining three countries that should be one; Moldova, Romania and Transnistria" (referring to the latter by using its Romanian name instead of the official name Pridnestrovie).

Authorities in Tiraspol point out that the two pro-Romanian activists were members of a terrorist group and that they confessed to their participation in two murders near Tiraspol. They are now serving out their sentence, just like they would in any other country. The fact that their murders were politically motivated does not mean they don't have to serve them in jail. They are scheduled for release next year.

Smirnov's supporters: The proof is in the pudding

While critics claim that Igor Smirnov is not a model democrat, they are at loss to point out what he has done in recent year which would make him unfit for the just-bestowed award. Political freedom and press freedom is objectively better in Pridnestrovie than in neighboring Moldova, with no opposition journalists or politicians in jail and no censorship.

Regularly scheduled elections allow for the alternation of power, and a large opposition party - Renewal - is currently in control of Parliament. This is unlike neighboring Moldova, where the Communist dominated Parliament is beholden to Preident Voronin, or neighboring Ukraine, where the President closed down the opposition-controlled Parliament. In Pridnestrovie, there are no indications that Igor Smirnov wants to close down the opposition-led Parliament, as happened in Ukraine, just because it doesn't follow his wishes, as in Moldova.

By any objective measure, say his supporters, small and unrecognized Pridnestrovie is more democratic than its two neighbors. His supporters also refuse to engage in quick "soundbyte politics" and instead urge critics to bring facts and substance to the debate over democracy in Pridnestrovie.

" - Pridnestrovie is more democratic than Moldova and Ukraine, and this is in part because Smirnov is different than the presidents in those two states," argues Anna Tischenko, 29, a supporter. "If critics want to say otherwise, they must bring the proof. It is not enough to call the man a Communist, because he is not, or a Dictator, because he is not. Bring the facts, and then we can talk. But don't just call him names on a groundless basis."

Igor Smirnov himself also brushes off criticism with much the same nonchalance, adding that such unfounded allegations just form part of a barrage of propaganda against the unrecognized country which seeks to isolate and demonize Pridnestrovie in order to prevent it from becoming a member in good standing of the international community. He says that he will keep doing what he was elected to do: Work for the right to independence and self-determination.

" - This Order, given to the President, is also an Order given to the entire people of our small nation, for being faithful to its ideals," said Igor Smirnov at a public event in Tiraspol where he displayed the Dignity Order of the First Degree.

The order was awarded in accordance with a decision of the Presidium Board for civil decorations of Russia. The Board was established on the initiative of the Political Advisory Center and is a representative of a similar UN structure in the Russian Federation. The Board comprises members of various organizations, associations, and funds.

Igor Smirnov is only the sixth civilian ever to get such a distinction in the history of the Russian Federation. (With information from Basa Press)

See also:
» Igor Smirnov, Pridnestrovie's "Khozyain" President
» The man who wouldn't be king