As the Soviet Union began to falter in the early 1990s, dozens of countries from Estonia to Ukraine sought independence. Among them were also Pridnestrovie and Moldova.

On 27 August 1991 Moldova declared its independence from the Soviet Union. In its formal Declaration of Independence [0], Moldova affirmed its "liquidation of the political and legal consequences of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact" (Source: "Declaratia de independenta a Republicii Moldova", Romania Libera, August 28 1991, p.8)

The main "political and legal consequence" of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was, of course, the forced union of Moldova and Pridnestrovie imposed by Stalin and Hitler. In its Declaration of Independence, Moldova explicity renounced this union — and thus implicitly renounced any right to Pridnestrovie.

Later, with Moldova greedily eyeing the industrial wealth of Pridnestrovie, they reverted their opinion. Less than a year later, a Moldovan invasion tried to retake Pridnestrovie by force. But by then, it was already too late. Moldova got its independence. But it didn't get Pridnestrovie, because it never had a right to Pridnestrovie in the first place. As the saying goes, "you can't have your cake and eat it too".

During World War II, Moldova and Pridnestrovie were bundled together by Stalin in an "artificial country" with no respect for historical borders, culture or ethnic minorities. Other artificial countries who were held together under Soviet rule have since divorced. Some, like Yugoslavia, in civil wars. Others, like Czechoslovakia, without any fighting. It is only natural that Pridnestrovie and Moldova also divorced. Pridnestrovie, in particular, have always wanted a civilized divorce from Moldova, without any fighting and without a claim to Moldovan territory.

Moldova, however, maintains a claim on Pridnestrovie's land, despite no historical evidence or any other ties to Pridnestrovie. Regardless, Moldova has declared that it is not prepared to accept the will of the Pridnestrovian people to its own sovereignty and self-determination. Moldova wants to dominate Pridnestrovie, even by using military force if necessary.
In 1992 full scale conflict erupted with Moldova invading Pridnestrovie, claiming that territory as part of Moldova. The ensuing military conflict between the two countries took nearly a thousand civilian lives in Pridnestrovie until a cease-fire agreement was signed on 21 July 1992 with the intervention of Russian president Boris Yeltsin.
The agreement provided for peacekeeping forces by a Joint Control Commission consisting of Moldovan, Pridnestrovian and Russian soldiers.

Thanks to presence of the peacekeeping forces, no further Moldovan military invasions have taken place since. However, Moldova still will not accept Pridnestrovian independence and continues claiming Pridnestrovian territory for itself. Moldova, having invoked the right to self-determination in its Declaration of Independence, refuse to recognize this right for its smaller neighbor on the other side of the river. Moldova, however, already renounced the one act which created the union between the two -- declaring it "null and void". So legally, Moldova has no claim on Pridnestrovie. And historically, Moldova is out of luck as well: Never once in history has Pridnestrovie been part of an independent Moldova, ever.

Pridnestrovie's position is to let the people decide. Have a peaceful, democratic, free and fair election where a simple question is put the Pridnestrovian people: "Do you want to keep living in a sovereign, independent Pridnestrovie? Or do you want the Pridnestrovie to become part of Moldova?"

That was how Pridnestrovie was founded. At several times throughout the republic, the fate of the country has been put to a vote. We are not afraid to do it again. Moldova, of course, is afraid because they already know the answer. But that's democracy: You let the people decide, even if you don't like what they decide or even if their decisions don't line your pockets.

Pridnestrovie has proposed an easy, simple solution for settling relations with Moldova: A referendum. Let it be as free, fair and transparent as absolutely possible. Have it be supervised and observed by hundreds of journalists and international election observers from all over the world. Then count the votes and respect the result of the people who were born here, live here, and want to die here.

This proposal is in line with similar pronouncements by the Council of Europe. On 16 September 2005, referring to the settlement of the Pridnestrovie's status, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe noted that that "any solution must accord with the popular will as expressed in fully free and democratic elections."

A simple vote is all it takes. No iffy claims to territory, no wars, airraids, bombings or military attacks. Just a vote where each citizen gets the right to decide for himself or herself.
That's the democratic way.
That's the way forward for the people of Pridnestrovie.

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