Transnistria Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Република Молдовеняскэ Нистрянэ (Romanian) Republica Moldovenească Nistreană Приднестровская Молдавская Республика (Russian) Pridnestrovskaja Moldavskaja Respublika Придністровська Молдавська Республіка (Ukrainian) Prydnistrovsĭka Moldavsĭka Respublika
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Мы славим тебя, Приднестровье (Russian) My slavim tebja, Pridnestrovje (transliteration) We sing the praises of Transnistria

Status	Unrecognised state Recognised by the United Nations as de jure part of Moldova
Capital and largest city	Tiraspol
Official languages	Russian^a Moldovan^b Ukrainian
Inter-ethnic language	Russian
Ethnic groups (2015 census)	33.8% Russians 33.2% Moldovans 26.7% Ukrainians 2.8% Bulgarians 1.2% Gagauzes
Demonym(s)	Transnistrian, Pridnestrovian
Government	Unitary semi-presidential republic

• President	Vadim Krasnoselsky
• Prime Minister	Aleksandr Martynov
• Speaker of the Supreme Council	Alexander Shcherba

Legislature	Supreme Council
Partially recognised state

• Independence from SSR of Moldova declared	2 September 1990
• Independence from Soviet Union declared	25 August 1991
• Succeeds the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic	5 November 1991
• Transnistria War	2 March – 21 July 1992
• Recognition	3 non-UN members^c

Area
• Total	4,163 km² (1,607 sq mi)
• Water (%)	2.35
Population
• 2018 estimate	469,000
• Density	114/km² (295.3/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2007 estimate
• Total	US$1.0 billion
• Per capita	US$2,000
Currency	Transnistrian ruble^d (PRB)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Calling code	+373^e
Internet TLD	none^f
Russian is the main official language. The Romanian language written in Cyrillic script is officially called Moldovan in Transnistria. Limited to the breakaway Republic of Abkhazia, Republic of Artsakh and South Ossetia (see Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations). Moldovan leu used in those areas under Moldovan control and in the security zone. +373 5 and +373 2. .md and .com are mostly used TLDs here, some companies use .ru as well.

Transnistria, also known as Pridnestrovie, is officially called the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR). It is a region in Eastern Europe that acts like an independent country. However, most countries in the world do not recognize it as a separate nation. Instead, they see it as part of Moldova.

Transnistria declared its independence from Moldova on 2 September 1990. With help from the Russian army, it won a conflict against the Moldovan army in 1992. This conflict is known as the Transnistria War.

Since 1992, there has been peace. But the Council of Europe still calls Transnistria a "frozen conflict" region. This means the disagreement over its status is not fully resolved.

In a vote on 17 September 2006, 97% of people in Transnistria voted to be independent from Moldova. Moldova does not accept this vote. It calls the area the "Territory of the Left Bank of the Dniester".

Transnistria is unique because it is the only place acting as an independent state that still uses the hammer and sickle symbol on its flag. This symbol was used by the Soviet Union.

About Transnistria
Images for kids
See also

About Transnistria

Transnistria is located in Eastern Europe. It is a narrow strip of land. The Dniester River runs along its western border. The capital city is Tiraspol.

What is a Partially Recognized State?

Transnistria is called a "partially recognized state". This means that only a few other regions, which are also not fully recognized as countries, see it as independent. These include Abkhazia, Artsakh, and South Ossetia. Most countries, including the United Nations, consider Transnistria to be part of Moldova.

Government and Leadership

Transnistria has its own government, president, and parliament. It acts like a separate country.

The current President is Vadim Krasnoselsky.
The Prime Minister is Aleksandr Martynov.
The parliament is called the Supreme Council.

People and Languages

The people living in Transnistria are called Transnistrians or Pridnestrovian. The main groups of people living there are:

Russians
Moldovans
Ukrainians

The official languages are Russian, Moldovan, and Ukrainian. Russian is the most used language for communication between different ethnic groups.

Symbols and Economy

Transnistria has its own currency, the Transnistrian ruble. It also has its own flag and coat of arms. The flag still features the hammer and sickle, a symbol from the Soviet era.

The economy of Transnistria is quite small. In 2007, its economy was about 1 billion US$.

Images for kids

General map of Transnistria
Moldavian ASSR (orange) and Romania, 1924–1940
Igor Smirnov, first president of Transnistria from 1991 to 2011
Soviet symbols are used in Transnistria.
Igor Smirnov with Vladimir Voronin and Dmitry Medvedev in Barvikha, 18 March 2009
Dniester River in Bender
Districts of Transnistria
Former President of Transnistria Yevgeny Shevchuk and Sabbas, a bishop of the Moldovan Orthodox Church
A Transnistrian passport
The Transnistrian parliament building in Tiraspol, with a statue of Vladimir Lenin
Tiraspol City Council
World War II-era Soviet T-34 tank in Tiraspol
Russian peace-keeping soldiers at the border between Transnistria and Moldova at Dubăsari
Transnistrian soldiers in 2013
Demographic evolution in Transnistria
Noul Neamț Monastery
Transnistria's central bank, the Transnistrian Republican Bank
Tiraspol, capital of Transnistria

Transnistria facts for kids

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