The 1990-1991 declarations and the 1990-1992 war
Transnistria declared independence from the Moldavian SSR on 2 September 1990, and declared independence from the Soviet Union on 25 August 1991.[1]
The first fatalities in the conflict occurred on 2 November 1990 in Dubasari; the conflict escalated into full-scale war from 1 March to 21 July 1992, including fighting at Bender in June 1992 in which the Russian 14th Guards Army intervened on the Transnistrian side; estimates suggest close to 1,000 people were killed in total, with the wounded approaching 3,000.[2]
On 21 July 1992, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Moldovan President Mircea Snegur signed a ceasefire agreement in Moscow establishing a trilateral Joint Control Commission and peacekeeping force, ending large-scale fighting and leaving Transnistria under separatist control.[3]
· Other
Transnistrian War, 1990-1992
War between Moldovan government forces and Transnistrian separatists, aided by the Russian 14th Guards Army, that ended with a ceasefire leaving Transnistria under separatist control.
The 2006 referendum and ongoing negotiations
In September 2006, Transnistria held an unrecognized referendum in which a reported 97-98% of participants voted for independence with the option of future integration with Russia; the referendum was not observed or recognized by the OSCE, the European Union, the United States, Moldova or any international organization.[4]
The "5+2" negotiation format, involving Moldova and Transnistria as parties, the OSCE, Russia and Ukraine as mediators, and the United States and European Union as observers, began in 2005 to address the conflict's political settlement; talks have been repeatedly suspended and resumed in the years since.[5]
· Referendum or popular consultation
2006 Transnistrian independence referendum
An unrecognized referendum in which Transnistrian authorities reported overwhelming support for independence, but which received no international observation or recognition.
The 2018 UN resolution on Russian troop withdrawal
On 22 June 2018, UN General Assembly Resolution 72/282 was adopted by a vote of 64 in favour, 15 against and 83 abstaining, urging Russia to complete an unconditional and orderly withdrawal of its Operational Group of Russian Forces and armaments from Moldovan territory, and noting Russia's 1999 OSCE Istanbul summit commitment to complete such a withdrawal on a specific timetable.[6]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: Transnistria declared independence from the Moldavian SSR on 2 September 1990, and declared independence from the Soviet Union on 25 August 1991.
- Transnistria (Wikipedia) link, Declarations section. Source record
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2.
Claim: The first fatalities in the Transnistrian conflict occurred on 2 November 1990 in Dubasari; the conflict escalated into full-scale war from 1 March to 21 July 1992, including fighting at Bender in June 1992 in which the Russian 14th Guards Army intervened on the Transnistrian side; estimates suggest close to 1,000 people were killed in total, with combat deaths reported in ranges of roughly 279-324 for Moldovan forces and 364-913 for Transnistrian/Russian forces, and civilian deaths estimated at 316-637, with the wounded approaching 3,000.
- Transnistrian War (Wikipedia) link, Timeline and casualty figures sections. Source record
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3.
Claim: On 21 July 1992, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Moldovan President Mircea Snegur signed a ceasefire agreement in Moscow establishing a trilateral Joint Control Commission and peacekeeping force (five Russian, three Moldovan and two Transnistrian battalions), ending large-scale fighting and leaving Transnistria under separatist control.
- Transnistrian War (Wikipedia) link, Ceasefire agreement section. Source record
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4.
Claim: In September 2006, Transnistria held an unrecognized referendum in which a reported 97-98% of participants voted for independence with the option of future integration with Russia; the referendum was not observed or recognized by the OSCE, the European Union, the United States, Moldova or any international organization, and Moldova's Helsinki Committee for Human Rights reported irregularities including pressure on non-voters.
- 2006 referendum in Transnistria (Wikipedia) link, Results and non-recognition section. Source record
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5.
Claim: The "5+2" negotiation format, involving Moldova and Transnistria as parties, the OSCE, Russia and Ukraine as mediators, and the United States and European Union as observers, began in 2005 to address the Transnistrian conflict's political settlement; talks have been repeatedly suspended and resumed in the years since.
- 5+2 format (Wikipedia) link, Format and history section. Source record
-
6.
Claim: On 22 June 2018, UN General Assembly Resolution 72/282 was adopted by a vote of 64 in favour, 15 against and 83 abstaining, urging Russia to complete an unconditional and orderly withdrawal of its Operational Group of Russian Forces and armaments from Moldovan territory, and noting Russia's 1999 OSCE Istanbul summit commitment to complete such a withdrawal on a specific timetable; the resolution stressed that this Operational Group is not part of the peacekeeping-mandated Joint Control Commission established under the 1992 ceasefire agreement.
- United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly Resolution 72/282: Complete and unconditional withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territory of the Republic of Moldova (United Nations) link, Preamble and operative paragraphs 1-2. Source record
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