One day in Transnistria

In September 2006 I took a bus from Chisinau to Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, a region that broke away from Moldova after the collapse of the Soviet Union. A VERY interesting place: its sovereignty is not as far as I know recognised by any country in the world, yet it has its own stamps, money, government, army, etc. It's also an old-fashioned Soviet system of government, so it's something of a living museum for what life was like in Soviet Russia. It's quite pleasant to wander around as a tourist and I had coffee with some very friendly locals who told me all about the struggle for independence, but there appear to be significant issues with corruption, governance and human rights. Apart from anything else it has the reputation as being Europe's primary centre of illegal arms trafficking. All this and it still produces some of the best cognac outside of France...

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Tiraspol
• Pridnestrovye
• Transnistria
• PMR
• Приднестровье
• Приднестрóвская
• Молдáвская
• Респýблика
• ПМР
• Transdniester
• Moldova

[SuperRedNova]

You can't visit the place for more than 4 hours, right?

[AngFangIndustries]

@SuperRedNova Not when I was there. If I recall correctly, I think I was only allowed to stay one night.

[Nebelwerfer89]

Just curious, why are you as an Australian so curious about Transnistria ?

[AngFangIndustries]

@Nebelwerfer89 I am interested in micronations or unrecognised states, as well as soviet culture. Transnistria is a good example of both.

[feldmareschall]

@AngFangIndustries Do you speak romanian? it's awfully hard for foreigners to learn romanian, so, if you do speak romanian, you have my respect.

[AngFangIndustries]

@feldmareschall I was in Romania for a few weeks beforehand and picked a bit then. I couldn't speak well, but enough to get by.

[vicioba]

Too bad this video couldn't capture more supports of this ghost state: Russian tanks...

[BautyFolgore]

What about Sheriff company? I heard that Sheriff C.I. (owned by I.Smirnov's son) rule almost 90% of food sale, and absolutly dominated in electrotechnics, is that right? Other european company (tesco,kaufland etc.) are not interested in penetrating the local market and political situation that does not want. Sheriff company will have totaly monopoly post over a not soo long period.

[TaviYamato]

LOL FUCKYOU RUSSIAN IDIOTAS

[Hippophilee]

Yes, Transnistria is a dream state. Best cognak, perhaps, but I also have a bag of Transnistrian tea smuggled to Western Europe. And, last but not least, Transnistria has long been conducted by its beloved leader, whose very name is a winning program: President Igor Smirnoff !

[phobiazzzero]

i was there before the conflict...it was a nice place

now i bet its a shit hole

[k4siks]

Learn russian before visiting Transnistrian.

[NorthPro40]

In Transnistria- Moldovan wont help. You should know Russian.

[SparkRockCZ12]

One day in Trasnistria=big shit 

[cloop100]

чо за хуйня?