The Transdniestrian Opposition held the largest protest rally in the last decade. The rally was staged by the Transdniestrian Communist Party and the Social-Democratic Party of Transdniestria in Tiraspol on May 17.

According to REPORTER.MD’s correspondent in Tiraspol, the rally participants, mostly elderly people, protested against the rise in the prices of food products and public utilities and against the extremely low salaries and pensions. Between 1,000 and 3,000 people took part in the protest, according to different sources.

The protesters demanded that all the political parties and social movements are allowed access to the press controlled by the Tiraspol administration, that Igor Smirnov and the government resign and that early legislative elections are held according to party lists. They addressed a statement to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, informing them about the critical situation of the population in Transdniestria and seeking support from them.

During the protest, the leader of the Transdniestrian communists Oleg Horjan accused the Tiraspol authorities and the allied commercial organizations of worsening the living standards of the Transdniestrian people.

Recently, representatives of the Communist Party of Transdniestria, which is also in the Opposition, accused the region’s administration of incompetence and of increasing the number of civil servant posts, fact that has led to an uncontrolled and extremely high inflation rate.

According to an opinion poll carried out in Transdniestria this March, the rise in prices and the unemployment are the most worrisome problems for the Transdniestria residents, despite the optimistic reports of the region’s economy ministry and the official figures.

The poll carried out by the Sociological Center “S-Centr” shows that the living conditions in Transdniestria are worsening, while the population cannot even afford basic necessities. Some 21% of those questioned said that the economic crisis and the low standards of living are the most serious problems in the region, 19% indicated the rising prices, while 16.5% - the high unemployment rate. Among other problems faced by the Transdniestrian residents are corruption and the arbitrariness of the civil servants // Reporter.MD


Publication date: 19 May 2008   

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