The Multiethnic Republic

Living in Pridnestrovie means peaceful coexistence and an understanding of others. There is no other way to live in a country where 35 nationalities are represented and where even the largest ethnic group is a minority. In round numbers, a third speak Russian, another third speak Ukrainian, and a third Moldavian. But throughout history the country also received a fair share of immigration from Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Switzerland and lots of other places ... to the point where today, a total of 35 nationalities are represented in Pridnestrovie.

Throughout history, the region has always emphasized its openness to outsiders. In this, it follows the words of Simon Bolivar who said that the doors of the republic "are open to any person who comes in peace and with good will to help us build the future of our country, irrespective of his origin or nationality."

Pridnestrovie is considered a great melting pot; a free country which welcomes all. In its historic willingness to incorporate foreigners, Pridnestrovie has more in common with the United States than any other country in the world. It is also a country with strong Jewish roots: In 1897, before a Romanian/Moldovan invasion and extermination campaign, 27% of Tiraspol's population were Jews.

Open and tolerant, it is a multiethnic society with a cosmopolitan outlook. Intermarriage between ethnic groups is common: 15% live in mixed marriages and multilingual households. Xenophobia does not exist: There is no racism or fear of foreigners in Pridnestrovie - and in fact, from the top down, some of the country's leaders originally came from abroad. Pridnestrovie's Minister of the Internal Affairs was born in Poland. Others are ethnic Russians and one is from Ukraine. But in parliament and in the government ministries as a whole, the vast majority are locals, having been born in Pridnestrovie. The posts widely represent the country's varied minority groups. As the OSCE notes, many of the top leaders are ethnic moldavians.

Whether foreign-born or local, everyone who lives and works in Pridnestrovie today and holds a government position has Pridnestrovian citizenship. In that respect, Pridnestrovie is no different from other countries where foreign-born citizens are allowed legal entry and, later, allowed to stand in politics and hold public office. In the U.S., the governor of California originally came from Austria. In Holland, some members of parliament are African-born. For a globalized world, Pridnestrovie's rich tapestry of multi-ethnic cultures is said by many to be the model of the future.

The country's constitution, like that of the United States, permits double citizenship. According to the country's citizenship law, a citizenship of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic is obtained by one of two ways: Either by having been born in the country or of Pridnestrovian parents, or else by immigrating to the country and residing legally in the country for a specified period of time. Its laws on citizenship and passports are closely modelled on the similar laws of the United States of America, another country which historically has welcomed immigration and where newcomers — after complying with a time period of fixed and uninterrupted residence — have been able to opt for citizenship. Pridnestrovian passports are only available to citizens, and although double citizenship is allowed under the country's constitution, it is acquired under strict regulations on the basis on the law on residence and citizenship.

By law, Pridnestrovie affords equal treatment to speakers of all 3 official state languages: Russians, Moldavians and Ukrainians. To avoid a dominance of Russian, the Ministry of Education has made it compulsory for the country's Russian-language schools to also teach Moldavian and Ukrainian. Children studying in Pridnestrovie grow up with a working knowledge of all 3 languages and an understanding of the cultures behind them.

In terms of minority protection, Pridnestrovie has a model policy which accords full minority rights to its Moldavian and Ukrainian speaking minorities. Nearly 32% of the republic’s population is ethnic Moldavian and speak a dialect of Romanian. If these people have failed to flee this "Stalinist dictatorship" to join their ethnic brothers in Moldova proper it must be because they are treated well and because life is simply better in Pridnestrovie.

Even Pridnestrovie’s critics admit that few, if any, of its residents would opt for life in Moldova proper. A recent report by the International Crisis Group grudgingly admits that ”Due to the poor state of its economy and its political system, the Republic of Moldova has hardly any economic attraction to the Transdniestrian population”. There is more to it than that, of course. Almost everyone in Pridnestrovie, ethnic Moldavians included, have participated with blood and sweat and sometimes tears in building this country. It is a labor of love and there is a sense of brotherhood and fraternity which easily transcends ethnic lines.

Due to its historical and geographical origins as the frontline between Western and Eastern civilizations, Pridnestrovie is also religiously diverse. Here, a rich tapestry of faiths peacefully co-exist. Next to Orthodox temples you can easily find Catholic churches or Jewish synagogues. There is no religious or racial discrimation between groups in Pridnestrovie. The rate of interfaith marriages is the highest in South East Europe, as are the number of marriages between ethnic groups. This fact alone sets Pridnestrovie apart from next-door neighbor Moldova. Whereas Pridnestrovie is diverse and tolerant, Moldova, on the other hand, has organized its state along ethnic lines.

Elected leaders in Pridnestrovie welcome and encourage the multiethnic composition of the republic which in many ways considers itself an example of the new face of Europe.

" - To be a person thinking in a pan-European manner it is not enough to beat one’s breast and claim so, as our neighbors in Moldova do," says Igor Smirnov, Pridnestrovie's current president.
" - It is not enough to demonstrate self-castigation. Rather, it is about the right attitude and outlook. The Pridnestrovians have for centuries formed views on life which are about diversity. They hold true and clear for any civilized society."

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