20190902-1997-Edit - a photo on Flickriver

20190902-1997-Edit

            For those that are not familiar with Transnistria (AKA Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic) is a self-declared but unrecognised independent state with a population of around 470,000 that lies sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine. The capital is Tiraspol with a population of around 130,000). Around 34% are Russian, around 27% Ukrainian and around 33% are Moldovan.

Transnistria declared independence from what at the time was the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic 2 September 1990 as communism was collapsing and Moldova was showing signs of both declaring independence from the USSR and reconnecting with its Romanian heritage (there was even talk of a union with Romania at the time). The Russian/Ukrainian majority in Transnistria wanted to stay closely aligned with the USSR.

Unfortunately for Transnistria the USSR itself did not survive the collapse of Communism which left them in a rather awkward situation… instead of sharing a border with a powerful state they could remain a part of, they found themselves 100s of miles from what was now their closest ally, the Russian Federation.

A couple of years of sporadic fighting intensified into civil war in 1992 with Moldova supported by Romania and Transnistria supported by Russia. A ceasefire in July 1992 brought the fighting to an end after somewhere between 1000 and 2000 deaths among combatants and civilians.

But the ceasefire agreement failed to clearly establish the status of Transnistria, resulting in the current peaceful but tense situation. Transnistria is a de facto independent state with its own government, army and currency (the Transnistria Ruble), but no recognition from any UN member states (though they receive significant economic support from Russia).

Today Transnistria is probably most famous for it’s nostalgic insistence on keeping it’s symbols of Soviet power… Tiraspol’s main street is called 25 October Street, there is an enormous statue of Lenin outside the parliament building, and there is a hammer and sickle on their flag and coins.

On 2 September each year Transnistria celebrates it’s self-declared independence with a military parade followed by an enormous party. I was lucky enough to be in Tiraspol on that date in 2019 and it was a hoot and a half! Transnistria may be a small country, but boy do they know how to throw a party! The day begins at 9am sharp with a military parade, followed by a street party that lasts all day and into the night. I hope I captured a little of the atmosphere in these photographs.

Taken in: Moldova / Unitatea Teritorială din Stînga Nistrului / Tiraspol (show map)

Taken on: September 2, 2019

Tags:

25 Октября

25th October St

Eastern Europe

Europe

Former U.S.S.R. country

M.Zuiko

M4/3

M4/3 mount

Micro Four Thirds

Moldova

Nik Collection

Olympus

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4.0-5.6 R

Olympus Pen-F

Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic

Pridnestrovie

Pridnestrovskaya Moldavskaya Respublika

Republic Day of Transnistria

Silver Efex Pro

Silver Efex Pro 2

Strada 25 Octombrie

The Administrative-Territorial Units of the Left Bank of the Dniester

Tiraspol

Transnistria

Transnistrian Independence Day

Unitățile Administrativ-Teritoriale din stînga Nistrului

Ziua Republicii Transnistriei

Zuiko

black & white

black and white

digital

male

man

military

military parade

military uniform

monochrome

people

road

soldier

street

street phtotography

uniform

urban

День Республики Приднестровья

Приднестровская Молдавская Республика « less

Sets appears in: • Street • Urban more » • B&W • Ukraine/Moldova 2019 - Days8/9/10 (Transnistria) « less

Groups appears in: • Eastern Europe • Flickritis: over 87,000 waiting for a vaccine. more » • Transnistria / Pridnestrovie • Micro Four Thirds (Micro 4/3) • Olympus PEN-F - Micro Four Thirds « less

Camera: Olympus PEN-F, f/5.6, 1/250 sec, 150mm (=300mm), ISO 500 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Olympus PEN-F
Lens:	OLYMPUS M.40-150mm F4.0-5.6 R
Aperture:	f/5.6
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	150mm (35mm equivalent: 300mm)
ISO:	500
Exposure Bias:	-0.7 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	High gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 9.2.1 (Macintosh)
Show full info

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