democracy

Protesters supporting two left-wing parties in Pridnestrovie demand the early resignation of President Igor Smirnov. They blame Smirnov for an increase in food prices and disagree with his government's economic policies. The demand came at a protest rally held in Tiraspol, which was billed as the largest opposition rally in the young country's 18 year old history.

Reaching out to Moldova for friendship and cooperation, Transdniester's Parliamentary Speaker wants to open direct channels of communication with the neighboring country. Yevgeny Shevchuk seeks dialogue with Moldova's Parliamentary Speaker to solve a series of shared problems faced by both sides. However, it is out of the question to give up Transdniester's 18 year old de-facto independence.

An Oxford scholar who holds a post-doctoral degree on sovereignty in international relations says that the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) "turned against democracy completely" in Transdniestria. John Laughland cites the organization's refusal to send observers to last year's democratic referendum. He also highlights what he sees as "breathtaking double standards" in other nearby countries.

Transdniestrians with double Russian citizenship voted massively in Duma elections throughout the length of the unrecognized country. Voting took place at 24 polling stations despite Moldovan attempts to prevent a free election from taking place. In Moldova, restrictions against voting centers forced most members of the Russian minority to stay home.

Transdniestria's opposition-controlled legislature is increasingly facing off against President Igor Smirnov by refusing to pass laws initiated by the executive. In a surprise victory in December 2005, the opposition won a majority in Parliament. The latest standoff took place this week when Parliament rejected changes to the unrecognized country's tax laws.

Nearly 100,000 ethnic Ukrainians from Transdniestria faced a total absence of local polling stations in Ukraine's parliamentary elections. They point to political discrimination as evidence that Ukraine under Yushchenko has worsening democratic standards. Georgia is also backsliding, and "things are even worse in Moldova" says a political expert from Kiev.

Ukrainians who live in Pridnestrovie can not participate in Ukraine's parliamentary elections in September. Despite a long precedent of allowing democracy for its Pridnestrovie-based voters, Ukraine is now refusing to open polling stations in the area. The right to vote was taken away following election results which did not favor the current President.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe opened the door to representatives from Pridnestrovie's civil society in the Ivan Burgudji case. OSCE was asked for help in freeing Burgudji, a human rights activist who is currently jailed on trumped-up charges in Moldova. He can no longer walk and is considered a political prisoner.

A new political party, "Fair Pridnestrovie", has been registered in Pridnestrovie and will compete in the next elections. Three sitting members of Parliament joined the party during its founding congress. With the new party, the total number of political parties in Pridnestrovie now reaches ten.

Moldova’s transition is stagnating. Moldova has lost ground since 2001, when the Party of Moldovan Communists (PCM) came into power. That is the conclusion of the Freedom House organization's annual report “Nations in Transit,” BBC reports.