Breakaway region favors tie to Russia

[Flash Walken]

MOSCOW — Voters in Trans-Dniester, a rebellious Russian-speaking Balkan enclave, have challenged Europe's post-Soviet status quo by overwhelmingly supporting independence from Moldova and eventual unification with Russia.

While Sunday's referendum in the obscure, Rhode Island-size territory of 550,000 was ignored by the European Union and bitterly denounced by Moldova, it resonated in Moscow, where many hope it may signal a wider process of reshaping the former Soviet space in Russia's favor. Two breakaway provinces in Georgia — Abkhazia and South Ossetia — are also petitioning Moscow for unification.

...

Officials in the republic's capital of Tiraspol said Monday that 97.1 percent of voters reaffirmed their 16-year-old bid for independence from ethnically Romanian Moldova and backed negotiations to join Russia.

"Trans-Dniester's integration into Russia will proceed in several phases, and it may take five to seven years," the Interfax news agency quoted the republic's foreign minister, Valery Litskai, as saying. "Russian society is now ready to expand beyond the ... borders it has been forced into," he added. "The expansion process has begun."

Emphasis mine.

[FlamesAddiction]

I've seen some pictures of Trans-Dneister, and it is pretty crazy. They still fly the old Soviet symbols. Personally, I don't think Russia would even want them anymore. It's also become a global hub for arms and people trafficing.

[JimmytheT]

I read in the Economist, the the poll showing that most Trans-Dniestans [sp?] want to reunite with Russia is more than likely a phony poll. This region is as corrupt as they come.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by JimmytheT

I read in the Economist, the the poll showing that most Trans-Dniestans [sp?] want to reunite with Russia is more than likely a phony poll. This region is as corrupt as they come.

This is true.

In the article I linked, it says that 97% voted for reunification. To me that sounds like an absurd number for a soviet satellite state, especially in the country of moldova, where I'm pretty sure most people identify either as romanian or moldovan. Their official language is even Romanian. I know we're talking about a small province of half a million, but I find it hard to believe that 97% would be in favour, even if they were Russian speaking. I may be wrong, but I believe there is also a significant Ukrainian population in Moldova. Would they be so into the idea of rejoining Russia? I don't think so.

To Flames Addiction, why don't you think Russia would want it back? I don't really know much about the region, so excuse my ignorance, but is there some real significant reason the Russian's would decline a non-violent territory grab? I don't think they are particularly opposed to arms and people trafficing, and we all know how much the russian empire enjoys territory.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

To Flames Addiction, why don't you think Russia would want it back? I don't really know much about the region, so excuse my ignorance, but is there some real significant reason the Russian's would decline a non-violent territory grab? I don't think they are particularly opposed to arms and people trafficing, and we all know how much the russian empire enjoys territory.

Because having a stronger pro-Soviet voice in Russia would be a threat to the current regime's power.

[Flash Walken]

hmm, you might be right. That's something I didn't think of.

Interesting politics there.