Ten things you didn't know about Europe's newest country

Since independence in 1990, it has an export-oriented economy, a comprehensive social safety net, and a multi-party democracy with the opposition in control of parliament. Will this be enough to put Pridnestrovie on the map?

[0]Odds are you haven't heard much about Pridnestrovie [0], or Transnistria [0]as it is also sometimes called. The country is one of the smallest in Europe so it tends to be overlooked. You won't find it in history books either ... it only got independence in 1990, a mere 17 years ago.

It's full name is Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublica [0]. In the short life of the country it has accomplished quite a bit.

Here are some quick facts that will no doubt surprise you:

10: Double of Iceland's population

9: Multi-party democracy

8: Signed UN human rights charters

7: Market based economy

6: A total of 35 nationalities live here

5: OSCE-ruled elections

4: "Clean" report from EU border monitors

3: Historically, never part of Moldova

2: Industrial powerhouse

1: Government success

The countdown, in more detail —

[0] It also has more people than Luxembourg and a dozen other UN member states.
In terms of land, Pridnestrovie controls a territory of 4,163 square km with an international border of over 800 km. Pridnestrovie is six times larger than Singapore or Bahrain, and nearly twice the size of Luxembourg. More than a dozen UN member countries are smaller in size than Pridnestrovie.
[ More ] » Does size matter? Pridnestrovie compared to other countries [0]

'Renewal' [0] over the governing party 'Respublica'; the main supporters of incumbent president Igor Smirnov. [0] Following the win, a new generation of reformers were swept into power with the election of lawyer Yevgeny Shevchuk [0], 38, as chairman and Parliamentary Speaker.
[ More ] » Democracy [0] | » Elections [0] | » Opposition [0]

[ More ] » Human rights treaties signed [0]

[ More ] » Economy [0] | » Banking [0] | » Construction [0]

[ More ] » Pridnestrovie's population [0]

[ More ] » Elections in Pridnestrovie: Democratic, free and fair [0]

[ More ] » Customs uses technology to end smuggling [0]

"null and void" [0] by Moldova's in its own Declaration of Independendence, leading the two nations to again go their separate ways.
[ More ] » Historical maps of Pridnestrovie [0]

[ More ] » Economy [0] | » Steel exports [0]

[ More ] » Government of Pridnestrovie [0]