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Deputy from the ]n party "]" Viktor Alksnis stated that referendum in Transnistria was held without any violations of legislation and democratic standards.<ref>http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol176-09-06.htm</ref> Deputy from the ]n party "]" Viktor Alksnis stated that referendum in Transnistria was held without any violations of legislation and democratic standards.<ref>http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol176-09-06.htm</ref>


In the opinion of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, "the situation in Transnistria fails to meet the conditions of a free will expression by citizens". <ref></ref> The media climate in Moldova including Transdnistrian region is restrictive. Authorities of both banks of Dniester continue efforts to silence their respective opposition.<ref></ref> In the opinion of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, "the situation in Transnistria fails to meet the conditions of a free will expression by citizens". <ref></ref> The media climate in the Transdnistrian region is restrictive. Authorities there continue a long-standing campaign to silence independent opposition voices and movements on the left bank of the Dniestr/Nistru River, in particular through attempted closure of independent local newspapers and through restrictions on other media.<ref></ref>


The OSCE gave its verdict on the referendum in advance of the voting, and decided not to send any observers to monitor it. <ref></ref> 130 CIS and observers from Europe and from eleven election monitoring organizations who did attend the referendum had different reactions. <ref></ref> The representative of the Congress of Russian Communities from Moldova declared that the referendum was held according to international standards.<ref></ref> The OSCE gave its verdict on the referendum in advance of the voting, and decided not to send any observers to monitor it. <ref></ref> 130 CIS and observers from Europe and from eleven election monitoring organizations who did attend the referendum had different reactions. <ref></ref> The representative of the Congress of Russian Communities from Moldova declared that the referendum was held according to international standards.<ref></ref>
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] (Chairman of the ]) expressed an opinion about the "lack of basic requirements for free and fair elections, such as freedom of the media, freedom of assembly and political pluralism, in the region pre-determined the results" and argued that the questions in the referendum are suggestively worded.<ref></ref> In a possible manipulation of the public opinion, people are asked to choose between ''freedom'' ("free association") and ''loss of independence'' ("renounce the Transnistria's independent status"), between ''reality'' ("support the course") and ''possibility'' ("consider it possible") This formulation could have resulted in a ]. <ref></ref> ] (Chairman of the ]) expressed an opinion about the "lack of basic requirements for free and fair elections, such as freedom of the media, freedom of assembly and political pluralism, in the region pre-determined the results" and argued that the questions in the referendum are suggestively worded.<ref></ref> In a possible manipulation of the public opinion, people are asked to choose between ''freedom'' ("free association") and ''loss of independence'' ("renounce the Transnistria's independent status"), between ''reality'' ("support the course") and ''possibility'' ("consider it possible") This formulation could have resulted in a ]. <ref></ref>


Victor Josu, deputy ] of Russian-language Moldovan newspaper '']'', an accredited observer, described the referendum as a successful ] action (regardless violations and non-recognition) and reported favorably on a comparison between "recognized Chişinau" and "unrecognized Tiraspol" in an article which emphasized the openness, transparency and ] of the referendum process.<ref></ref> Olvia Press, the official Transnistrian news agency, report that Victor Josu, deputy ] of Russian-language newspaper '']'', an accredited observer, described the referendum as a successful ] action (regardless violations and non-recognition) and reported favorably on a comparison between "recognized Chişinau" and "unrecognized Tiraspol" in an article which emphasized the openness, transparency and ] of the referendum process.<ref></ref>


== See also == == See also ==

Revision as of 01:32, 27 September 2006

Politics of Transnistria
Constitution
Executive
LegislatureSupreme Council Speaker
Alexander Korshunov
Political parties
Elections
Administrative divisions
  • Five Raions
  • One Municipality
Foreign relations
Diplomatic missions of / in Transnistria

The 2006 referendum in Transnistria took place in Transnistria on 17 September 2006. On that date, Transnistria voted to continue its de facto independence and seek closer ties with Russia.

Official Results

Data issued by Transnistrian authorities show of the 555,500 inhabitants, a total of 394,861 were registered to vote, down 5.6% from a year earlier.

The referendum asked voters:

  1. Do you support the course towards the independence of Transnistria and the subsequent free association with the Russian Federation?
    Yes: 97.2% - No: 1.9% - Invalid/undecided: 0.9%
  2. Do you consider it possible to renounce Transnistria's independent status and subsequently become part of the Republic of Moldova?
    Yes: 3.3% - No: 94.9% - Invalid/undecided: 1.8%

Turnout was 78.6% of the electorate, substantially more than the 50%+1 required by law to validate the referendum. On the day of the referendum, no exit polling was allowed within 25 meters of polling stations, to prevent disruption of voting.

Reactions

International organisations, such as the OSCE, European Union, GUAM, and some other countries (Bulgaria, Norway, Romania, Ukraine, Turkey, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia, Iceland, Norway) did not recognize the referendum.

According to RIA Novosti, more than 130 international observers monitored the referendum and reported that "they did not register any procedural violations during the secret balloting", however no international monitoring organizations sent any observers to it.

Deputy from the Russian party "Rodina" Viktor Alksnis stated that referendum in Transnistria was held without any violations of legislation and democratic standards.

In the opinion of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, "the situation in Transnistria fails to meet the conditions of a free will expression by citizens". The media climate in the Transdnistrian region is restrictive. Authorities there continue a long-standing campaign to silence independent opposition voices and movements on the left bank of the Dniestr/Nistru River, in particular through attempted closure of independent local newspapers and through restrictions on other media.

The OSCE gave its verdict on the referendum in advance of the voting, and decided not to send any observers to monitor it. 130 CIS and observers from Europe and from eleven election monitoring organizations who did attend the referendum had different reactions. The representative of the Congress of Russian Communities from Moldova declared that the referendum was held according to international standards.

In contrast the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova (HCHRM) claims to have observed a series of infringements at the referendum:

  1. Groups of activists going into people’s homes, especially in Tiraspol and Bender districts, asking why they did not come to the referendum, and threatening that after the referendum they will be forced to look for a new home in Romania.
  2. At some voting stations agents dressed in civil or militia uniforms forcing the observers from outside the sections to stay at a distance of 200-250 meters far from these places.
  3. "Cleaning" of the list of voters by excluding some citizens who previously boycotted elections and referendums held in Transnistria.

No evidence has been presented to substantiate any of these accusations in the press-release. No other sources have so far expressed similar accusations or given any indications to believe that the statements of HCHRM are true.

Sergei Bagapsh, president of the unrecognized breakaway republic of Abkhazia, has said his republic fully supports the aspirations of the self-proclaimed republic of Transdniestria toward independence and integration with Russia.

Karel De Gucht (Chairman of the OSCE) expressed an opinion about the "lack of basic requirements for free and fair elections, such as freedom of the media, freedom of assembly and political pluralism, in the region pre-determined the results" and argued that the questions in the referendum are suggestively worded. In a possible manipulation of the public opinion, people are asked to choose between freedom ("free association") and loss of independence ("renounce the Transnistria's independent status"), between reality ("support the course") and possibility ("consider it possible") This formulation could have resulted in a response bias.

Olvia Press, the official Transnistrian news agency, report that Victor Josu, deputy editor-in-chief of Russian-language newspaper Moldavskiye Vedomosti, an accredited observer, described the referendum as a successful public relations action (regardless violations and non-recognition) and reported favorably on a comparison between "recognized Chişinau" and "unrecognized Tiraspol" in an article which emphasized the openness, transparency and glasnost of the referendum process.

See also

References

  1. PMR CEC announces final referendum results (in Russian)
  2. Landslide win for independence vote in Pridnestrovie's referendum
  3. Regnum.ru news agency: “Exit-polls can be held in Transdnestr not closer than 25 m to polling stations”, September 11,2006
  4. OSCE will not recognize results of referendum in Transnistria
  5. Russia Blocked Council of Europe Declaration Regarding the Disapproval of Transnistria Referendum
  6. Turkey, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Bosnia, Serbia Iceland and Norway positions
  7. Transdnestr for independence, union with Russia - referendum
  8. http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol176-09-06.htm
  9. Ukraine calls Transnistrian referendum illegitimate
  10. OSCE - Media in Transdniestria
  11. International Herald-Tribune: "Moldova's independence-seeking Transnistria region votes, but effect is uncertain"
  12. Lenta.ru: "International observers were satisfied with the process of voting in Transnistria" (in Russian)
  13. International observer: Referendum in Transdnestr conforms to international norms
  14. HCHRM press release
  15. Agencia Internacional de Noticias
  16. Lenta.ru Editorial
  17. View from Moldova

External links

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