Power Profits

Looking from the outside, it’s hard to understand why RM is so tolerant of Transnistria. After all, Transnistrian cars circulate freely here (in RM proper), Transnistrian businesses are everywhere, it’s easy to get a bus or train to Transnistria, and there are street signs pointing to destinations in Transnistria. Furthermore, Moldova doesn’t even guard or control its border with Transnistria. But who so lax? Transnistria … Continue reading Power Profits

When You Don’t Officially Exist

Word Count: 1743 I say tomato, you say tomato. I say Country X is a real country, you say it isn’t. I keep hearing “experts” throw the idea of Transnistria around quite a lot while at the same time being sure to emphasize its illegitimacy. But if you boil down all the treaties, debate and political maneuvers since the Treaty of Wesphalia into their pure … Continue reading When You Don’t Officially Exist

In the Land of the Blind

Sometimes I read things online and I honestly believe someone is spoofing me, playing some kind of prank. This morning everyone is talking about the editorial by George Soros that was printed in the New York Review of Books about how evil Vladimir Putin is and how the European Union (and America, via the IMF) needs to spend untold billions of dollars to “save” Ukraine. … Continue reading In the Land of the Blind

Old friends in low places

I was innocently minding my own business when I saw this tweet flash across one of my screens last night: Good consultation in Bucharest with old friend Titus Corlăţean on the eve of Athens informal meeting of EU MFAs. Transnistria on our minds. — Radosław Sikorski MEP 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) April 3, 2014 On the face of it, there’s nothing unusual about Raduslaw Sikorski meeting with … Continue reading Old friends in low places