Transnistria

Transnistria (Russian Приднестровье, Ukrainian Придністров'я, Romanian Transnistria), in its proper name Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (abbreviated Pridnestrovie or PMR; Pridnestrovskaya Moldavskaya Respublika or Pridnestrovie for short), is a stabilized de facto regime located mainly east of the Dniester River. The territory, located entirely within the borders of the Republic of Moldova, is home to about half a million people.

The republic was created between 1990 and 1992 during the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the now "frozen" Transnistrian conflict by secession from the Republic of Moldova. Since 1990, it has been effectively independent of the central government in Chișinău and has, among other things, its own government, currency, administration and military. To date, however, no recognized state or international organization recognizes the territory as a sovereign state. Under international law, the region is therefore still considered part of the Republic of Moldova. Transnistria is therefore a founding member of the community of non-recognized states, which includes the equally disputed regions of Arzakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which support each other in their respective aspirations for sovereignty.

The area is under decisive Russian influence; for example, 1200 to 1400 soldiers of the Russian armed forces are stationed in Transnistria.

Geography

The area of the Transnistrian Moldavian Republic covers 3567 or 4163 square kilometres, depending on the definition, which corresponds to 10.5% or 12.3% of the area of Moldova. In terms of area, Transnistria is larger than Luxembourg.

The length from northwest to southeast is 202 kilometers. Transnistria is located in the lowlands, approximately 50 to 200 meters above sea level, between the territory of Moldova to the west and Ukraine to the east, along the eastern bank of the Dniester River. The capital, Tiraspol, has a population of about 150,000 and is located in the south of the country, roughly between Odessa (100 kilometers) and Chișinău (70 kilometers). West of the Dniester is the town of Bendery and some suburbs, as well as the village of Kizkany near Slobodzeja. Some villages in the Transdniestrian rayon of Dubossary east of the Dniester are under Moldovan government control but claimed by Transdniestria, as are the Moldovan government-controlled towns of Varnița and Copanca west of the Dniester.

The most important Transdniestrian cities, apart from the capital Tiraspol, are Bendery, Rybnitsa and Dubossary. In addition, Dnestrovsk, the site of an important power plant, and the district capitals of Grigoriopol, Kamenka and Slobodzeya are of certain regional importance.

The majority of the population lives in the southern rajons with the highest population density. Tiraspol, Bendery, Slobodzeja and some surrounding municipalities together form an agglomeration of almost 350,000 inhabitants and thus by far the largest urban area of the region, where most of the economy is concentrated.

The nearest international airport (KIV) is located outside Transnistria at Chișinău, 60 kilometres northwest of Tiraspol. There is a military airfield in Tiraspol, which is to be developed for passenger traffic.

Road map of Transnistria with adjacent areas


Political division of the country into rajons. Areas claimed but not held by the PMR are shaded.

Admin

Transdniestria is divided into a total of five rajons, and the two cities of Tiraspol and Bendery are independent administrative subjects (literally "cities of republican subordination").

Rajon	Russian term	Romanian name	Administrative headquarters
Kamenka Rajon	Каменский район	Raionul Camenca	Camenca (Kamenka)
Dubossary Rajon	Дубоссарский район	Raionul Dubăsari	Dubăsari (Dubossary)
Grigoriopol Rajon	Григориопольский район.	Raionul Grigoriopol	Grigoriopol
Rybnitsa Rajon	Рыбницкий район	Raionul Rîbnița	Rîbnița (Rybnitsa).
Slobodzeya Rajon	Слободзейский район	Raionul Slobozia	Slobozia (Slobodzeja)
City of Tiraspol	Тирасполь	Tiraspol	Tiraspol
City Bender	Бендеры	Bender	Bender (Bendery)