2006 Transnistrian independence referendum

2006 Transnistrian independence referendum

17 September 2006 (2006-09-17)
Do you think it is possible for the Moldovan Republic of Transnistria to renounce its independence and then join the Republic of Moldova?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 10,308 3.38% No 294,253 96.62% Valid votes 304,561 98.19% Invalid or blank votes 5,608 1.81% Total votes 310,169 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 394,861 78.55%

Do you support the course for the independence of the Moldovan Republic of Transnistria and the subsequent voluntary accession of Transnistria to the Russian Federation?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 301,332 98.08% No 5,905 1.92% Valid votes 307,237 99.05% Invalid or blank votes 2,932 0.95% Total votes 310,169 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 394,861 78.55%

Politics of Transnistria
Constitution
Executive President Vadim Krasnoselsky Prime Minister Aleksandr Martynov
Legislature Supreme Council Speaker Alexander Korshunov Political parties
Elections Recent elections Presidential: 2016 2021 Parliamentary: 2015 2020 Referendums
Administrative divisions Five Raions One Municipality
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Vitaly Ignatyev Human rights in Transnistria Politics of Moldova Transnistria conflict Transnistria War Proposed Russian annexation of Transnistria Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Diplomatic missions of / in Transnistria
Other countries
v t e

A double referendum was held in Transnistria on 17 September 2006. Voters were asked whether they approved of the possibility of renouncing independence and integration with Moldova,^[1] or alternatively independence and a possible future integration into the Russian Federation.^[2]

The results of the referendum were not recognized internationally.^[3]

Pro-Moldovan organisations announced before the referendum that they would not recognise its results. Ballots for the referendum were reprinted three times, as^{[clarification needed]} the chairman of electoral commission, Piotr Denisenko, announced a shrinkage of electorate of 7% compared with the previous year.^[4]

Of the total of 394,861 registered voters, the voter turnout was 78.6%,^[5] substantially more than the 50%+1 required by law to validate the referendum.^[6][7] On the day of the referendum, no exit polling was allowed within 25 meters of polling stations, to prevent disruption of voting.^[8]

International organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,^[9] European Union,^[10] GUAM, and some other countries (Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, Norway, Iceland) did not recognise the referendum.^[11][12]

The representative of the Congress of Russian Communities from Moldova declared that the referendum was held according to international standards.^[13] However, no internationally recognised monitoring organisations had observers present.

Viktor Alksnis, a deputy from the Russian party "Rodina" stated that referendum in Transnistria was held without any violations of legislation and democratic standards.^[14] Viktor Alksnis is known to have previously described the Transnistrian Republic as the base from which the Soviet Union's restoration would begin.^[15]

In the opinion of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, the situation in Transnistria failed to meet the conditions of a free will expression by citizens.^[16]

According to the OSCE, the media climate in the Transdniestrian region is restrictive, as authorities there continue a long-standing campaign to silence independent opposition voices and movements.^[17] Although the OSCE decided not to send any observers to monitor the referendum,^[18] 130 observers from CIS and Europe and from eleven election monitoring organizations who did attend the referendum had different reactions.^[19]

In contrast, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova (HCHRM) claims to have observed a series of infringements at the referendum:^[20]

1. Groups of activists going into people's homes, especially in Tiraspol and Bender districts, asking why they did not come to the referendum, and threatening that after the referendum they will be forced to look for a new home in Romania.
2. At some voting stations agents dressed in civil or militia uniforms forcing the observers from outside the sections to stay at a distance of 200–250 meters far from these places.
3. "Cleaning" of the list of voters by excluding some citizens who previously boycotted elections and referendums held in Transnistria.
4. "Electoral tourism" and multiple voting ^[21]

Karel De Gucht (Chairman of the OSCE) expressed an opinion about the "lack of basic requirements for free and fair elections, such as freedom of the media, freedom of assembly and political pluralism, in the region pre-determined the results" and argued that the questions in the referendum are suggestively worded.^[22] In a possible manipulation of the public opinion, people are asked to choose between freedom ("free association") and loss of independence ("renounce the Transnistria's independent status"), between reality ("support the course") and possibility ("consider it possible") This formulation could have resulted in a response bias.^[23]

Victor Josu, deputy editor-in-chief of Russian-language Moldovan newspaper Moldavskiye Vedomosti, an accredited observer, described the referendum as a successful public relations action (regardless of violations and a lack of recognition) and reported favorably on a comparison between "recognized Chişinau" and "unrecognized Tiraspol" in an article which emphasized the openness, transparency and glasnost of the referendum process.^[24]

Sergei Bagapsh, president of Abkhazia (Abkhazia claims independence from Georgia, but has a disputed status), has said his republic "supports the aspirations of Transniestria toward independence and its choice of unification with Russia."^[25]

According to the results of a telephone survey on the morning of September 18, 63% of the listeners (782 people) of the Ekho Moskvy radio station were in favor of accepting Transnistria into Russia, while 37% (466 people) were against.^[26]

• Elections in Transnistria
• Human rights in Transnistria
• Politics of Transnistria
• Proposed Russian annexation of Transnistria

• "International observer: Referendum in Transdnestr conforms to international norms" Regnum News
• "Moldova's Trans-Dniester Votes in Referendum on Whether to Pursue Independence" Voice of America News
• Transdnestr independence plebiscite RIA Novosti
• OSCE reaction
• Final monitoring report by international observers
• Transdniester Conflict Was Long In The Making Radio Free Europe