Crime in Transnistria

Crime in Transnistria covers criminality-related incidents in the breakaway Republic of Transnistria, still nominally part of Moldova.

EUBAM border controls and smuggling issues

Ministry of Interior badge insignia.

Transnistria has a reputation of being a haven for smuggling. In 2002, the European Parliament's delegation to Moldova named Transnistria "a black hole in which illegal trade in arms, the trafficking in human beings and the laundering of criminal finance was carried on".^[1] In 2005, The Wall Street Journal called Transnistria "a major haven for smuggling weapons and women".^[2] However, in more recent statements, OSCE and European Union diplomats cited by Radio Free Europe called the smuggling claims "likely exaggerated".^[3]

Since 30 November 2005 the European Union has had a Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) on Transnistria's borders with the United Nations Development Programme as implementing partner. In its official statements, the EU mission repeatedly confirmed an absence of any signs of weapons smuggling from Transnistria.^[4]

Allegations of weapons trade

Foreign experts working on behalf of the United Nations confirm that the current situation in the region "has prevented effective small arms control and undermined reform of the security sector".^[5]

In 2004, a Washington Times article claimed that a cache of surface-to-air missile launchers, and other weapons, may have disappeared from a former Soviet stockpile, and that officials were at the time unable to account for their whereabouts.^[6] The OSCE and European Union officials state that there is no evidence that Transnistria has ever, at any time in the past, trafficked arms or nuclear material.^[1]

Foreign experts working on behalf of the United Nations say that the historically low levels of transparency and continued denial of full investigation to international monitors has reinforced negative perceptions of the Transnistrian regime, although recent good levels of cooperation on the part of Transnistrian authorities in some areas may reflect a shift in the attitude of PMR.^[7] Also it says that the evidence for the illicit production and trafficking of weapons into and from Transnistria has in the past been exaggerated, that although the trafficking of light weapons is likely to have occurred before 2001 (the last year when export data showed US$ 900,000 worth of ‘weapons, munitions, their parts and accessories’ exported from Transnistria.

Antisemitic incidents

Over the past few years, there have been some antisemitic incidents in Transnistria.

• 14–15 April 2001 the Synagogue of Tiraspol suffered a pipe bomb attack. The building was damaged, but the guard was not hurt.^[8]
• 13–30 March 2004 over 70 tombstones in the Jewish cemetery of Tiraspol were vandalized. Local community leaders said the authorities refused to help clean up the anti-Semitic graffiti painted over the tombstones^[9]
• in May 2004, there was an attempt by a Russian neo-nazi organization to set on fire a synagogue in Tiraspol, using a Molotov Cocktail and a flammable liquid near a gas pipe.^[9] The attack failed when passers-by extinguished the fire.^[10]

Deadly explosions

• in July 2006, a bomb killed eight in a Tiraspol minibus.^[11]
• in August 2006, a grenade explosion in a Tiraspol trolleybus killed two and injured ten.^[12]

Certain countries, including the United States,^[13] the United Kingdom^[14] Australia^[15] and Spain cautions its citizens from traveling to both Moldova and Transnistria.

Espionage

In April 2010 the journalist Ernest Vardanean was arrested on accusations of espionage in favour of Moldova^[16]

See also

• Crime in Moldova

References

1. ^ ^{a b} European Parliament, "Chairman's Report—Ad Hoc Delegation to Moldova", 5–6 June 2002
2. ^ The Wall Street Journal, "Moldova's Ruling Communists Are Leading a Swing to the West, Marc Champion in London and Alan Cullison in Moscow. 4 March 2005. pg. A.13
3. ^ Moldova: Western Diplomats Say Reports Of Smuggling From Transdniester Likely Exaggerated - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
4. ^ EU confirms absence of weapons smuggling Tiraspol Times. 22 Oct., 2006. Retrieved 2007, 2-25
5. ^ UNDP: 2006 Small arms and light weapons survey of Moldova
6. ^ Washington Times, George Jahn: "Hotbed of Weapons Deals", 19 January 2004 Retrieved 2006, 12-24
7. ^ UNDP: 2006 Small arms and light weapons survey of Moldova, SEESAC 1 July 2007, ISBN 86-7728-014-6
8. ^ Anti-Semitic Incidents - April 2001 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 1 Apr., 2001.
9. ^ ^{a b} Briefs: Synagogue in FSU Hit with Arson Jewish Journal. 14 May 2004. Retrieved 2006, 12-24
10. ^ Report on Global Anti-Semitism U.S. Department of State. 5 Jan., 2005. Retrieved 2006, 12-24
11. ^ Trans-Dniester blast kills eight BBC
12. ^ Grenade exploded in Tiraspol trolley bus
13. ^ U.S. State Department travel warning for Moldova
14. ^ "United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office" - Travel Advice
15. ^ Australian Government - Travel advisories
16. ^ report about Vardanean case in Jurnal de Chişinău