life in Pridnestrovie

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 authorities of Pridnestrovie (Transdniester) has handed over fugitive Mihail Mocanu, 41, to Moldova. The arrest came after the bank robbery suspect had fled to Pridnestrovie thinking it was a safe haven. A top Washington-based expert now says that other nations need to forge effective partnerships with Pridnestrovie to fight trans-border crime.

A new law in Pridnestrovie will boost the privacy of internet users by making it a crime to release the content of private communications. With a double-layer system of safeguards, data secrecy protection can not be lifted unless there is both a court order and approval by a prosecutor. The law brings Pridnestrovie in compliance with the European Commission's directive on data privacy.

The Eurasian monitor project praises the language policy of Pridnestrovie (Transdniester). Sociologists from Russia and Ukraine say that "Pridnestrovie demonstrates an optimal solution" and "a good example". The unrecognized country has three official languages: Russian, Moldovan and Ukrainian.

The people of Pridnestrovie (Transnistria), represented by a joint coalition of civil society NGOs and political parties, appealed to the international community for a chance to be heard. They want recognition of their country's nearly 18 years of 'de facto' independence. UN, OSCE and the Council of Europe are urged to not pursue a policy of double standards that will lead to failure and increased tension in the region.

On an official visit to Tiraspol, EU representative Kalman Mizsei urged Moldova and Pridnestrovie to re-open free railroad traffic links. Pridnestrovie (also known as Transdniester) has been the target of a Moldovan railroad blockade since 2004. The Chamber of Commerce calculates losses at $17M per year.

The government of Pridnestrovie and the United Nations Children’s Fund plan to fight child abuse together. Problems include parents who abandon children in foster homes and drug abuse during pregnancy. "UNICEF will do everything to improve the situation," said UNICEF head Ray Torres during a meeting with health ministry officials in Tiraspol.

Christmas came early to prisons, hospitals and orphanages in Pridnestrovie. For the past two weeks, American volunteers from a Protestant charity have been distributing aid in the unrecognized country. They represent Children's Emergency Relief International (CERI) which has helped Pridnestrovie on a regular basis for the past six years.

Boosted by increased buyer confidence in Pridnestrovie's future, real estate prices in Rybnitsa have nearly doubled this year. Even so, real estate prices are still a lot lower than in neighboring Ukraine. A one bedroom apartment in the best part of the city costs less than $20,000.