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Baptists in Tiraspol won a victory in their fight for greater religious freedom and freedom from government registration. After receiving numerous appeals on behalf of Baptists, Transdniestria's Presidential administration backed down and agreed to let the congregations meet without registration. On principle and religious grounds, Baptists believe that no registration is needed.

The 'de facto' independence of the Republic of Abkhazia will be recognized sooner or later. That is the view of its president, Sergei Bagapsh. In a just-published interview he says "we want a lawful state, independent and democratic."

Huge crowds stood in line in Tiraspol for the public opening of the city's new Zoo. The permanent facility is the latest attempt at turning Pridnestrovie's capital into a tourist attraction. Entrance is currently free for all ages.

Teen pregnancies which end in abortions have so far doubled in Pridnestrovie. In the first four months of 2008, five hundred girls between 15 and 19 had an unwanted pregnancy removed. On Monday a new civic project was launched to hold back the increase in abortions.

Stepping up the information war, Moldova has installed new equipment which interferes with Pridnestrovie-based broadcasts. Pridnestrovie's government protested the move in letters to Moldova, the OSCE and the two countries which will oversee and guarantee Pridnestrovie's legal status. No jamming takes place in Pridnestrovie against Moldovan radio or TV signals.

The government of Pridnestrovie has proposed a solution on Permanent Status Negotiations that will be based on consensus with Moldova. Its government sees little or no point in signing an unequal treaty which mostly favors just one of the sides, its Foreign Ministry said. The dispute over Pridnestrovie's territory has lasted almost 18 years.

A new report shows that Moldovan government officials are behind a booming trade in counterfeit cigarettes. The illegal tobacco smuggling targets the European Union via Moldova's shared border with Romania. Transdniestria is not named in the report and there have been no cases of any counterfeit cigarette smuggling on Transdniestria's borders.

On Tuesday British Ambassador John Beyer came to Tiraspol for an official visit to Transdniestria's Parliament. In return, head of Parliament Yevgeny Shevchuk, 39, will be in London next week. He will address a conference on Transdniestria which takes place in the British capital on May 7.

Moldova's 1992 war against Transnistria (Pridnestrovie) was provoked by Romania. This was publicly announced on national TV by Vladimir Voronin, Moldova's President. Romania also supplied troops, financing and weapons to carry out the war.

Moldova's President Vladimir Voronin blames Romania for lack of progress in "solving" Moldova's territorial claim to Transdniestria. "Every time relations improve between Transdniestria and Moldova, there are hysterics in Romania," he says. He also says Romania provoked Moldova into launching military attacks against Transdniestria in 1992.