RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Transdniestr, a Forgotten Problem

The demarcation line between the territory controlled by the legitimate authorities in Chisinau and Transndiestr is looking increasingly like a border between different civilisations. While the EU aspiring Moldova is trying to adopt and comply with democratic standards, the separatists are still employing Soviet-era practices systematically violating elementary human rights. In a clear attempt to consolidate their split from Chisinau, they are now even denying children in Romanian language schools run by the Moldovan authorities the right to education.

Transdniestr, a Forgotten Problem
Transdniestr, a Forgotten Problem

, 17.01.2014, 13:27

The demarcation line between the territory controlled by the legitimate authorities in Chisinau and Transndiestr is looking increasingly like a border between different civilisations. While the EU aspiring Moldova is trying to adopt and comply with democratic standards, the separatists are still employing Soviet-era practices systematically violating elementary human rights. In a clear attempt to consolidate their split from Chisinau, they are now even denying children in Romanian language schools run by the Moldovan authorities the right to education.



In a latest move, the accounts of the Lucian Blaga High School in Tiraspol, the capital of the break-away region, have been blocked, a measure which may block the school’s activity, according to its director Ion Iovcev. Last month, the school was searched by so-called Transnistrian prosecutors, and Iovcev and his deputy interrogated. The separatist leader Evgeny Shevchuk also threatened to close down all Romanian language schools if they refuse to be subordinated to the Transdniestr authorities. The move has caused unanimous outrage. In Bucharest, the president of the neighbouring Romania, Traian Basescu, said the “repressive and provocative actions against teachers, parents and children show the constant violation of human rights in the break-away region.” In Brussels, European officials have expressed deep concern for the latest developments in Transdniestr and have condemned the methods used by the Transdniestr authorities, which hinder the education process. They say such unilateral action cause tension and slow down negotiations aimed at solving the Transdiestr conflict.



The abusive actions targeting the Romanian language school in Tiraspol came at a time when many were speaking about the relaxation of the situation. According to commentators, Moldova’s embarking on the path to Europe may also benefit the business community and ordinary citizens in Transdniestr. Moreover, the change of the province’s top leadership led to expectations of a different approach. Two years ago, the relatively young Evgeny Shevchuk replaced Igor Smirnov, the former leader of the 1992 rebellion that eventually brought about Transdniestr’s de facto split with Chisinau, following an armed conflict in which hundreds of people were killed. Finally, the latest actions of the break-away authorities in Transdniestr are even more surprising as Moldova’s pro-western prime minister Iurie Leanca recently proposed the separatists wide autonomy based on the Catalan model in Spain.

European Commission (photo: © European Union - Source: EC - Audiovisual Service / Photographer: Christophe Licoppe)
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

Political agreement on the new European Commission

    The leaders of the three major political groups in the European Parliament have given the green light to the members of the next...

Political agreement on the new European Commission
Photo: aep.ro
Today in the News Thursday, 21 November 2024

13 for Romania

    In Romania, presidential elections usually spark the greatest interest and emotions. Even more so this year, when the two rounds of the...

13 for Romania
Gas consumption in the EU (Credits: magnascan-pixabay-com)
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading

On Tuesday, the Romanian company Romgaz launched its first issue of bonds on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, worth 500 million EUR. Romgaz is the...

Romania’s natural gas, available for trading
Photo: roaep.ro
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania ahead of the presidential election

Next month, President Klaus Iohannis will end his second and last five-year term in office according to the Romanian Constitution. The so-called...

Romania ahead of the presidential election
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels

NATO welcomes Romania’s continuous efforts and its significant contribution to strengthening the Alliance and Euro-Atlantic security, NATO...

Romania’s Prime Minister on a visit to Brussels
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

Downward forecast from the European Commission

Romania’s economic growth estimate has been recalculated by the European Commission (EC), at a value well below the initially established...

Downward forecast from the European Commission
Today in the News Monday, 18 November 2024

35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall

The fall of the Berlin Wall, 35 years ago, represented for Romanians an encouragement in their fight for freedom, and the removal of the Iron Curtain...

35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall
Today in the News Friday, 15 November 2024

European minimum wage in Romania

The law on the introduction of the European minimum wage in Romania was promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has...

European minimum wage in Romania

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company