The Transnistrian conflict

The Transnistrian conflict is a confrontation that started between Moldova and Transnistria, which is an unrecognized state entity on its territory. Under the control of this independent republic is the entire left bank of the Dniester, where ethnic Russians and Ukrainians live.

The Transnistrian conflict arose in 1989, and in 1992 a military confrontation began, which, of course, led to numerous victims from both sides.

Let's go back to the distant 1988. In Moldova, calls are often heard to unite with Romania. At a regular session of the Moldovan Supreme Soviet, a law is passed, according to which the Latin script was to function in the republic, infringing the rights of all residents of non-Moldovan nationality.

The policy of Chisinau caused protests, mainly in two regions: in the south of Moldova, where Gagauzes live, and in Transnistria. It is here that in many enterprises Soviets start to be created from labor collectives, and then their joint congress is convened.

It was on him in 1990 that the question of creating an independent state, called the Republic of Transnistria, is being decided.

This decision was justified by the fact that in 1940, when creating the Moldavian SSR in the territory of the present Transnistria, there already existed an autonomous republic that was part of Ukraine.

However, the official Chisinau canceled the decision of the congress.

In fact, the Transnistrian conflict began in the autumn of 1990, when the Moldovan OMON tried to liquidate all self-governing bodies in the unrecognized republic.

In its most active phase, the war in Transdniestria moved in March-July 1992, when the conflicting parties moved to the most real military operations. In the Bender and Dubossary districts, a full-scale war began, in which tanks and artillery participated. It was after this that the confrontation was called a conflict.

Now this strip of land on the left bank of the Dniester, where in 1992 it was so hot - the unrecognized Transnistrian republic.

And only Russia's intervention could stop further bloodshed. The fourteenth Russian army, commanded by the legendary General Lebed, took the position of "armed neutrality", which put an end to the process of further escalation.

Like any military action, the Transnistrian conflict also caused the death of people: in 1992, about 300 servicemen and nearly 600 civilians were killed.

The Transnistrian issue is especially relevant for the Russian side, as the people of this unrecognized entity have clearly decided to close the alliance with it, as expressed in the plebiscites. At the same time, the republic positively regards the preservation and even the consolidation of the Russian military presence on its territory.

Among the reasons that gave rise to the Transnistrian conflict, there are historical, and economic, and ideological, and ethnopolitical, and the positions of none of the opposing sides can not be unambiguously estimated.

Today, there are peacekeeping forces of Transnistria, Moldova and Russia, as well as Ukrainian military observers. However, even after repeated negotiations, during which the OSCE, as well as Russia and Ukraine, were present as mediators, it was not possible to reach a final agreement on the status of the unrecognized Transdniestria.

Relations between the opposing sides are still strained to this day, and even going into the stage of an unarmed, peaceful settlement, this conflict, along with the Karabakh conflict, is one of the most complicated in the territory of the post-Soviet space.