2006 Transnistrian independence referendum explained

Country:Transnistria
Do you think it is possible for the Moldovan Republic of Transnistria to renounce its independence and then join the Republic of Moldova?
Yes:10,308
No:294,253
Invalid:5,608
Electorate:394,861
Do you support the course for the independence of the Moldovan Republic of Transnistria and the subsequent voluntary accession of Transnistria to the Russian Federation?
Yes:301,332
No:5,905
Invalid:2,932
Electorate:394,861

A double referendum was held in Transnistria on 17 September 2006. Voters were asked whether they approved of the possibility of renouncing independence and integration with Moldova,[1] or alternatively independence and a possible future integration into the Russian Federation.[2]

The results of the referendum were not recognized internationally.[3]

Background

Pro-Moldovan organisations announced before the referendum that they would not recognise its results. Ballots for the referendum were reprinted three times, as the chairman of electoral commission, Piotr Denisenko, announced a shrinkage of electorate of 7% compared with the previous year.[4]

Results

Renouncing independence and potential future integration into Moldova

ChoiceVotes%
For10,3083.39
Against294,25396.61
Invalid/blank votes5,608–
Total310,169100
Registered voters/turnout394,86178.55
Source: Direct Democracy

Independence and potential future integration into Russia

ChoiceVotes%
For301,33298.07
Against5,9051.93
Invalid/blank votes2,932–
Total310,169100
Registered voters/turnout394,86178.55
Source: Direct Democracy

Of the total of 394,861 registered voters, the voter turnout was 78.6%,[5] substantially more than the 50%+1 required by law to validate the referendum.[6] [7] On the day of the referendum, no exit polling was allowed within 25 meters of polling stations, to prevent disruption of voting.[8]

Reactions

International organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,[9] European Union,[10] GUAM, and some other countries (Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, Norway, Iceland) did not recognise the referendum.[11] [12]

The representative of the Congress of Russian Communities from Moldova declared that the referendum was held according to international standards.[13] However, no internationally recognised monitoring organisations had observers present.

Viktor Alksnis, a deputy from the Russian party "Rodina" stated that referendum in Transnistria was held without any violations of legislation and democratic standards.[14] Viktor Alksnis is known to have previously described the Transnistrian Republic as the base from which the Soviet Union's restoration would begin.[15]

In the opinion of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, the situation in Transnistria failed to meet the conditions of a free will expression by citizens.[16]

According to the OSCE, the media climate in the Transdniestrian region is restrictive, as authorities there continue a long-standing campaign to silence independent opposition voices and movements.[17] Although the OSCE decided not to send any observers to monitor the referendum,[18] 130 observers from CIS and Europe and from eleven election monitoring organizations who did attend the referendum had different reactions.[19]

In contrast, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova (HCHRM) claims to have observed a series of infringements at the referendum:[20]

  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.
  4. "Electoral tourism" and multiple voting [21]

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.[22] 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.[23]

Victor Josu, deputy editor-in-chief of Russian-language Moldovan newspaper Moldavskiye Vedomosti, an accredited observer, described the referendum as a successful public relations action (regardless of violations and a lack of 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.[24]

Sergei Bagapsh, president of Abkhazia (Abkhazia claims independence from Georgia, but has a disputed status), has said his republic "supports the aspirations of Transniestria toward independence and its choice of unification with Russia."[25]

According to the results of a telephone survey on the morning of September 18, 63% of the listeners (782 people) of the Ekho Moskvy radio station were in favor of accepting Transnistria into Russia, while 37% (466 people) were against.[26]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Transnistrische Moldawische Republik (Moldawien), 17. September 2006 : Verzicht auf Unabhц╓ngigkeit - [in German] |publisher=Sudd.ch |date= 17 September 2006|accessdate=2015-02-26].
  2. Web site: Transnistrische Moldawische Republik (Moldawien), 17. September 2006 : Unabhц╓ngigkeitskurs und Beitritt zu Russland - [in German] |publisher=Sudd.ch |date= 17 September 2006|accessdate=2015-02-26].
  3. Kosienkowski . Marcin . 2024 . The Life after Life of the 2006 Transnistrian Sovereignty Referendum . Nationalities Papers . 1–22 . en . 10.1017/nps.2023.91 . 0090-5992.
  4. Web site: MOLDOVAN NGOs REGARD TRANSNISTRIAN REFERENDUM AS A FARCE. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005621/http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1392. 27 September 2007. 29 April 2007.
  5. Web site: Ольвия-Пресс. Olvia.idknet.com. 2015-02-26. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060234/http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol225-09-06.htm. 24 September 2015. dmy-all.
  6. Web site: Tiraspoltims.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929040524/http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/216. 29 September 2011. 19 February 2016.
  7. Web site: CHISINAU OFFICIALS DO NOT RECOGNISE TRANSNISTRIAN REFERENDUM'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005258/http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1443. 27 September 2007. 19 February 2016.
  8. Web site: Exit-polls can be held in Transdnestr not closer than 25 m to polling stations - Russian News - REGNUM . Regnum.ru . 2015-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930205653/http://www.regnum.ru/english/702851.html . 30 September 2007 . dead . dmy-all .
  9. Web site: OSCE will not recognize results of referendum in Transnistria. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927182318/http://www.azi.md/news?ID=38790. 27 September 2007. 19 February 2016.
  10. Web site: 2011-07-21 . EU@UN - EU Presidency Declaration on "referendum" in Transnistrian region . 2023-11-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721051118/http://www.europa-eu-un.org/articles/en/article_6257_en.htm . 21 July 2011 .
  11. Web site: Russia Blocked Council of Europe Declaration Regarding the Disapproval of Transnistria Referendum. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20071008232925/http://www.azi.md/news?ID=40985. 8 October 2007. 19 February 2016.
  12. Web site: Moldpres.md. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150227003650/http://www.moldpres.md/default.asp?Lang=en&ID=49678. 27 February 2015. 19 February 2016.
  13. Web site: International observer: Referendum in Transdnestr conforms to international norms - Russian News - REGNUM . Regnum.ru . 2015-02-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150227005720/http://www.regnum.ru/english/706298.html . 27 February 2015 . dmy-all .
  14. Web site: Ольвия-Пресс . Olvia.idknet.com . 2015-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071108033157/http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol176-09-06.htm . 8 November 2007 . dead .
  15. John Mackinlay and Peter Cross (editors), Regional Peacekeepers: The Paradox of Russian Peacekeeping, United Nations University Press, 2003, p. 137
  16. http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1483
  17. Web site: Osce.org. osce.org. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150909141956/http://www.osce.org/moldova/13427.html. 9 September 2015. 19 February 2016.
  18. Web site: Moldova's independence-seeking Transnistria region votes, but effect is uncertain. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080924051225/http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/17/news/moldova.php. 24 September 2008. 19 February 2016.
  19. Web site: Международные наблюдатели остались довольны ходом приднестровского референдума: Бывший СССР . Lenta.ru . 2006-09-18 . 2015-02-26.
  20. Web site: HCHRM CLAIMS A SERIES OF INFRINGEMENTS AT THE REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE IN TRANSNISTRIA. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005343/http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1448. 27 September 2007. 19 February 2016.
  21. Web site: IPN . Info-prim.md . 2015-02-26.
  22. Web site: Noticias.info. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110525065945/http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=220752&src=0. 25 May 2011. 19 September 2006.
  23. Web site: Жители Приднестровья выбрали Россию: Бывший СССР . Lenta.ru . 2006-09-18 . 2015-02-26.
  24. Web site: Ольвия-Пресс. Olvia.idknet.com. 2015-02-26. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060155/http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol178-09-06.htm. 24 September 2015. dmy-all.
  25. Web site: Interfax.ru. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120205211024/http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11589835. 5 February 2012. 19 February 2016.
  26. Web site: Ресурс заблокирован - Resource is blocked .

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