Tiraspol Times & Weekly Review - democracy

Transdniester Parliament seeks open dialogue with Moldova

Karen Ryan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:23:34 -0500

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.

Opposed to Transdniestria, OSCE acts anti-democratic says sovereignty expert

Times staff — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:17:22 -0600

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.

Voter turnout strong in Transdniestria, but hampered in Moldova

Karen Ryan — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:38:10 -0600

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-led Parliament squares off against President Smirnov

Jason Cooper — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:17:46 -0500

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.

Ukraine voters denounce lack of polling stations, political discrimination

Karen Ryan — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 14:39:30 -0500

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.

Ukraine voters not allowed to cast their ballots in Pridnestrovie

Times staff — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:14:18 -0500

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.

OSCE petitioned for help in freeing Moldova political prisoner

Karen Ryan — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 01:10:55 -0500

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.

Trans-Dniester gets its 10th political party

Jason Cooper — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:16:50 -0500

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.

Freedom report: Democracy in danger in Moldova, transition stagnating

Times staff — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:25:54 -0500

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.

U.S. refuses to call Moldova's elections free or fair

Times staff — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:24:01 -0500

Censorship, voting irregularities, improper campaigning, and misuse of administrative resources. These are a few of the reasons why the United States is not calling Moldova's latest election free or fair. In an official statement, the US Embassy also complained that candidates had been intimated.