The Pridnestrovian state

Two officers from Pridnestrovie's customs patrol watch the output of a computer screen monitoring border flows through an international checkpoint on the country's border. With the introduction of WCO rules, Pridnestrovie today has a fully automatic system based on electronic filing. This cuts down on fraud and smuggling attempt, while giving the Customs authorities instant real-time updates of all border activity in the country.

In a ceremony marking the anniversary of the failed Moldovan invasion of Pridnestrovie, a proud member of the national forces of PMR stands guard while two of his colleagues carry a floral decoration to the grave of some of the civilians who were killed by the onslaught of Moldova's bullets.

These "Rambos" of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic form the backbone of the young nation's self-defense forces. Native born locals, they are determined to never again let foreign forces spill blood on the country's soil.

A young member of Pridnestrovie's republican guard stands watch as two of his colleagues present a floral tribute to the nation's fight for freedom. Since its foundation in 1990, the country has built its own open system of democratic institutions.

City police in Tiraspol, the capital of Pridnestrovie, stand by to see that peaceful demonstrators are protected and that their right to free, nonviolent expression is ensured.

Pridnestrovie has created civil, judicial and political institutions that functions in partnerships with its citizens. Here, customs inspectors assist in the building of civil society. In the picture, a meeting with small entrepreneurs to form an information sharing partnership on how best to help with microbusiness initiatives.

Pridnestrovie's law enforcement consists of 10,000 police and other law enforcement personnel in nine militia divisions, plus an elite Dniester battalion of some 500 troops.

Aleksander Korolev is a politician and civil servant born in Wroclaw, Poland in 1955. He is the Minister of Internal Affairs of Pridnestrovie.

In 2005 Anatoliy Guretskiy was appointed Pridnestrovie's new Minister of Justice. A native of Pridnestrovie, he was born on a farm in 1955 in a village near Grigoriopol, the son of farmers.

Pridnestrovie is a democratic multi-party system and the country's Constitution guarantees freely functioning political parties, media and civil society. The republic was founded on the basis of a referendum, respecting the self-determination of its people. Ever since it was founded, the destiny of the country has been decided on the basis of fully free and democratic elections. In 2005 alone, two hotly contested democratic elections were held: First, on 27 March to elect local leaders and later on 11 December for parliamentary elections.