Stânga Nistrului (Transnistria)

The Transnistrian region, also known as the Left Bank of the Dniester, is a region in the east of the Republic of Moldova which, de jure, forms part of Moldovan territory, but which, de facto, lies outside the control of the constitutional authorities, being administered by a self-proclaimed separatist structure that is not recognised internationally, with its administrative centre at Tiraspol. Its status remains an unresolved issue, addressed within various negotiations and international formats.

Geography

The region forms a narrow strip of territory situated for the most part on the left (eastern) bank of the Dniester river, bordering Ukraine to the east along a long stretch of frontier. It also includes some settlements on the right bank, among them the town of Bender (Tighina). The relief is a plain, part of the plateau of eastern Moldova and of the steppes near the Dniester, the river playing an essential role both geographically and economically.

Population and ethnic groups

At the 2004 census (organised by the local administration), the region had around 555,000 inhabitants. The ethnic composition is balanced between three main communities: Moldovans (about 32%), Russians (over 30%) and Ukrainians (almost 29%), alongside Bulgarians and other nationalities, which gives the region a pronounced multi-ethnic character, reflected in its cultural and linguistic life.

Towns and economy

The main towns are Tiraspol, Bender (Tighina) and Rîbnița. The economy is based on industry, the region concentrating an important share of the industrial capacity inherited from the Soviet period: the metallurgical works at Rîbnița and the thermal power plant at Cuciurgan are among the largest enterprises, with a significant role in the production of metals, energy and light industry goods.

History

Tensions escalated at the beginning of the 1990s, in the context of the break-up of the USSR. On 2 September 1990 a separatist republic was unilaterally proclaimed, and in 1992 an armed conflict broke out which left over a thousand victims. Since then a ceasefire has held, with Russian troops present in the region, and the situation remains unsettled, being monitored within international negotiation formats.