 | DEMILITARIZATION IS NEEDED to repair the strained relations between Moldova and Pridnestrovie. A look back at history shows how lasting peace can become a reality. [more] |  | | |  | MOLDOVANS IN PMR don't want to join with Moldova. Most of them prefer an independent Pridnestrovie. What's wrong with this picture? [more] |
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Independence supporters from civil society and churches march in Tiraspol
An estimated 4,000 people took to the streets of Tiraspol this weekend in favor of independence from Moldova. The march called for "Slavic Unity" between churches and local civil society organizations. Unlike Pridnestrovie, Moldova is not majority Slavic and friendship - but not unity - is sought with Moldova. 
Some 4,000 church members and civil society activists came together for the Slavic Unity march in the streets of TiraspolTIRASPOL (Tiraspol Times) - Religious leaders from Pridnestrovie's leading Slavic churches took to the streets this weekend to advocate "Slavic unity", as part of one of the opening events in a program of Slavic Days in Pridnestrovie. They were joined by a number voluntary civic and social organizations and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society.
An estimated 4,000 people participated in the march which was led through the streets of Tiraspol by Bishop Justinian, the country's highest ranking Russian Orthodox religious authority. A number of local political parties, including Breakthrough ("Proriv," in Russian), People's Will, along with the Liberal Democrats and the Patriotic Party of Pridnestrovie, also fielded supporters and participants.
By calling for Slavic unity the groups also spoke up for the independence of Pridnestrovie which within its current territorial borders is mostly delimited with Moldova by the Dniester river. The river forms the ethnic border between majority Slavic Pridnestrovie, to the east, and Moldova to the west which is made up in its majority of the non-Slavic Moldovans (ethnic Romanians).
Slavs make up more than two-thirds of Pridnestrovie's population of 550,000 people. They seek common ground with fellow Slavs in Ukraine and Russia and reject unification with Moldova, which is ethnically and linguistically different and with which Pridnestrovie has almost no common history.
- No support for Moldova land claim from Romania's church
Although Moldova still maintains an 18 year old territorial claim to the 'de facto' independent territory, which is known as "Transnistria" in the Moldovan language, church leaders in neighboring Romania know that the claim is based on flimsy legal and moral grounds.
" - Transnistria was never part of Moldova," says a leading representative of the Romanian church. Romanian patriarchal bishop Vincenţiu Ploieşteanu, interviewed by Romanian newspaper „Gardianul“, added that "Transnistria is not Moldovan and it never belonged to Stefan cel Mare." Bishop Ploiesteanu believes that a solution to the Pridnestrovie/Moldova conflict must be grounded in historical reality and that the historical reality shows that "Transnistria was a creation of Stalin."
Bishop Justinian says that it is necessary to "recognize the people’s self-expression and will."
" - Talks are needed to make Chisinau look more soberly at the aspirations of the Pridnestrovian people and realize that it has to talk with people who have expressed their opinion in this way," said Bishop Justinian a week after the voters overwhelmingly approved independence in a referendum with a 97% majority.
Since Pridnestrovie declared independence in 1990, a spiritual revival has followed religious freedom. Today a total of 114 different church groups are already legally registered in Pridnestrovie, which is five times as many as in Moldova where just 23 groups are allowed to operate. In contrast to the more free and open Pridnestrovie, Moldova is singled out as a country where free religious choice is curtailed and freedom of religious is under attack. (Photos: Rodion Kalinkin)
See also:
» In Pridnestrovie, five times more religions than Moldova
» Transnistria was never part of Moldova says Romanian Bishop
» Bishop Justinian: "We have to recognize the people’s self-expression and will"
Bishop Justinian. To the right, sporting his shades and participating in the march for Slavic Unity: Stepan Beril, an ethnic Moldovan who is the rector of Pridnestrovie's State University.
Bishop Justinian led the Slavic Unity March through the streets of Tiraspol. To the left, in dark suit and a purple shirt: Alexander Korolev, Pridnestrovie's Polish-born Vice President.
Cosplay: Some of the civil society groups participating in the march in Tiraspol donned folkloric gear and period costumes.
Onlookers were invited to join in the march as it went through the leafy streets of Pridnestrovie's capital, led by church officials and escorted by unarmed police in summer uniforms.
Ethnic Slavs make up more than two-thirds of Pridnestrovie's population of 550,000 people. They seek common ground with fellow Slavs in Ukraine and Russia and reject unification with ethnically different Moldova.
Religious leaders from Pridnestrovie's leading Slavic churches took to the streets this weekend to advocate a "Slavic unity", in which PMR independence was the subtext.
Pridnestrovie's capital city of Tiraspol was founded in 1792, when the territory was part of Russia. It has well-kept clean and leafy streets and does not appear to be as poor as neighboring Moldova.
Vox populi, vox Dei - Bishop Justinian and other local church leaders have repeatedly said that it is necessary to "recognize the people’s self-expression and will" with regards to sovereign, independent statehood.
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Local Jehovah's Witnesses say that registrations for some of their communities have been held up by slowmoving bureaucracy in Transdniestria. Although they are already registered in Tiraspol and Rybnitsa, paperwork for other parts of the country is stalled. A recent ruling by the Supreme Court says no registrations are needed for religious meetings. . . 
