“Perception of the Economic, Social and Political Situation on the Left and Right Banks of the Dniester by the Residents of the Left Bank”
The year 2011 & retrospective (2008-2011)
1 This project is funded by the European Union This project is implemented by CReDO. Name of the unit Number of respondents 2008 Camenca district, Camenca city 25 Camenca district, Podoima village 14 Dubasari district, Dubasari city 26 Dubasari district, Gromadscoe village 30 Grigoriopol district, Sipca village 25 Grigoriopol district, Malaiesti village 10 Ribnita district, Ribnita city 19 Slobozia district, Cioburci city 30 Slobozia district, Blijnii Hutor village 25 Tiraspol city, Tiraspol district 35 239
2009 Camenca district, Camenca city 35 Cocieri district, Cocieri city 18 Dubasari district, Dubasari city 25 Dubasari district, Corjova city 20 Dubasari district, Cosnita village 20 Dubasari district, Molovata village 15 Grigoriopol district, Grigoriopol city 30 Ribnita district, Ribnita city 35 Slobozia district, Slobozia city 10 Tiraspol city, Tiraspol district 67 Tighina city, Tighina rayon 35 Varnita district, Varnita city 88 Ribnita district, Popencu village 7 Camenca district, Rascov village 15 Camenca district, Hrusca village 15 435
2010 Camenca district, Camenca city 35 Camenca district, Solnichnoe village 18 Causeni district, Grigoriorovca city 32 Cocieri district, Cocieri city 30 Dubasari district, Dubasari city 18 Causeni district, Cremenciug village 35 Dubasari district, Corjova city 20 Dubasari district, Cosnita village 20 Dubasari district, Molovata village 15 Ocnita district, Ocnita city 20 Slobozia district, Slobozia city 50 Tiraspol city, Tiraspol district 66 Camenca district, Rascov village 35 Tighina city, Tighina rayon 88 Tighina city, Tighina rayon 15 Varnita district, Anenii Noi city 15 Grigoriopol district, Teiu village 18 Grigoriopol district, Speia village 18 Grigoriopol district, Taslic village 18 566 SUB-TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS IN THE SAMPLE 1240 2 Name of the unit Number of respondents 2011 Camenca district, Camenca city 52 Ribnita district, Ribnita city 130 Dubasari district, Dubasari city 66 Tighina 104 Grigoriopol district, Grigoriopol city 87 Slobozia district, Slobozia city 87 Tiraspol city, Tiraspol district 137 Sub-total number of respondents in the sample 663 Total 1903
3 The survey was based on the desire and need to know the situation of the people on the other bank of the Dniester:
• Social: What is their opinion about the people from the right bank? How often do they travel to the right bank? For what purposes? Would they like to have more opportunities for cooperation with people from the right bank? • Economic-Political: What are the problems that they face on a daily basis? What is their economic standing? Do they have access to the necessary social services? What is their attitude towards the leadership? • Overall, what is the “mood” and atmosphere on the other bank, as seen by ordinary people?
4 Respondents’ profile, education
35 30,48 31,26 30
25 23,33 21,11 21,03 20 18,35 17,11
15 12,93 9,33 10 6,87 2011 2008-2010 5 2,95 3,03 0,16 0,62 0,47 0,160,82 0 9) - 1 answer grades) s degree s degree ’ ’ education education t know/No ’ Uneducated High school(12 Don Doctor Master Complete higher Junior highschool Incomplete higher Professional school (Gymnasium, grades
5 Respondents’ profile, occupation
35 30,48 30
25 23,33 19,9 20 18,35 17,11 14,81 15,61 15 11,97 12,38 9,63 9,71 10 9,33 2011 5,83 2008-2010 5 0,16 0,62 0,47 0,160,16 0 Other sector Student employee employee Pensioner Freelancer Housewife Public sector Unemployed Private sector governmental - Non
6 Respondents’ profile,
70 ethnicity
60 57,92
50 46,91
40 33,33 2011 30 2008-2010 25,04
20 18,25 15,99
10
0,3 0,24 1,210,32 0 Romanian Moldovan Russian Ukrainian Bulgarian Romana Moldoveana Rusa Ucraineana Bulgara 7 Respondents’ profile, age 40 2011 34,68 35 2008-2010 30
25 22,66 20 18,47 14,07 15,13 14,98 15 15 12,56 11,35 9,68 10,44 10 9,19 5,45 6,35 5
0 18-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 6060 siand mai abovemult
8 Respondents’ profile, gender
51,5
51 51 50,73
50,5
50 femininfemale 49,5 masculinmale 49,27 49 49
48,5
48 2011 2008-2010 9 Communication: languages spoken
70 Romana/MoldoveneascaRomanian/Moldovan Rusa 62,5 Russian UcraineanaUkrainian 59 60 BulgaraBulgarian 56,3 55 50,0 50 44,7
40 36,8 37
32 31,2 32 29,4 30 23,1 23,8 24 19,2 20 16 15 14 12,3 10 11 10 7,7 6 4,0 3,0 2,1 3 0,8 0,20,0 0 Native Fluent Average Do not speak 2011 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 10 Mobility: frequency of visits to the right bank
50 2011 45 43,41 2008-2010 40,36 40 35
30 29,15 24,68 25 20,31 20 16,78 15 12,19 10 4,96 5 2,17 3,2 2,7 2,2 0 Dailyzilnic saptaminal Weekly Monthlylunar Annuallyanual niciodata Never FaraNo answer raspuns 11 Mobility: purpose of visits 90 81 2011 80 68 2008-2010 70 62 65 60 50
40 32 27 30 22 22 20 13 12 12 9,5 10 4 5 5 0 1 2 0 turi ă studii altele r Work tranzit Other Study ă serviciu Transit Shopping cump torii cuscop ă l Tourism, sport ă sportiv Cultivation ofland prelucrarea pamintului procesarea diferitor i altebeneficiisociale ş turism, c including pensions,etc. Processing documents, Visiting relatives,friends vizitarea rudelor,prietenilor documente, inclusivpensiile 12 Mobility: relatives on the other bank
70 65 2011 61 60 2008-2010
50
39 40
30 28
20
10 4,15 0,4 0 Yesda Nonu Don’t know/Nons/nr answer 13 Education: what institutions’ services are used, their location 80 79,23 79,07 90 78,56 78 80
76 75,14 70 60 74 50 72 71,03 40
70 30 20,54 20 68 10 66 0,9 0 PeOn malul the left OnPe malulthe right PeOn ambele both banks school sting,bank, subunder drept,bank, undersub maluri
University Tiraspol Chisinau
High school jurisdictia jurisdictia
Professional jurisdiction jurisdiction
Primary school Tiraspolului Chisinaului
Question introduced in Întrebare introdusă în 2011_NEW14 Education: are services provided on the right bank? Indicate from 1 to 5 [very difficult] the degree of difficulty
60 RegularCirculatia circulation regulata peon celalaltthe other mal bank (probleme (problems cu vamale,with customs, propria personal securitate safety orsau that a altor of other membri family ai familiei) members) 55,49 Accommodationcazare pentru elevi, for students studen fromţi ai \ TransdniestriaPMR din Chişinin ăChisinauu şi alte and regiuni other de 50 regionspe malul on drept the right bank Teaching predare inîn Romanian limba român (if relevant)ă (dacă este necesar) 40 40 Overall, în general, educational sistemul systemeducational 37,22 32,22 35 35,06 31,82 30 24,18 19,48 20 18,33 15
9,34 10 7,787,79 7,78 7,14 5,84 4,44 3,85 2,22 0 1 2 3 4 5
Question introduced in 2011_NEW15 Education: are services provided on the right bank? Indicate from 1 to 5 [very difficult] the degree of difficulty
60 55,49 1 2 3 4 5
50 40 37,22 40 35 35,06 32,22 31,82 30 24,18 19,48 18,33 20 15 9,34 7,14 7,787,78 7,79 10 4,44 5,84 3,85 2,22 0 cazare pentru elevi, predare în limba RegularCirculatia circulation regulata on pe the Accommodation for Teaching in înOverall, general, educational sistemul celalaltother bankmal (probleme(problems studenstudentsţi ai \ PMR from din românRomaniană (dacă (if este educationalsystem withcu vamale, customs, propria personal ChişinTransdniestriaău şi alte regiuniin necesar)relevant) securitatesafety or that sau of a otheraltor deChisinau pe malul and drept other family members) regions on the right membri ai familiei) bank
Question introduced in 2011_NEW16 Social services: know/heard of the following social services
80 71,88 70
60 50,8 48,85 50,24 50,24 50 47,84 46,55
40
30
20
10 Other Pension Electricity 0 ii ii ţ ţă ă ţ ă compensations pensie omaj altceva Social assistance ş Family allocations aloca familiale social Unemployment aid ajutor de pentru asisten pentru incalzire energia electric compensatii compensa Heating compensations
Question introduced in 2011_NEW17 Social services: know/heard of the following social services
80 71,88 70
60 50,8 48,85 50,24 50,24 50 47,84 46,55
40
30
20
10 Other Pension
0 Electricity ii ii ţ ţă ă ţ ă compensations pensie omaj altceva ş aloca Social assistance familiale social Family allocations ajutor de pentru asisten pentru Unemployment aid incalzire energia electric compensatii compensa Heating compensations
Question introduced in 2011_NEW18 Social services: which of them you use, their location
40 36,46 34,67 35 30,22 30 25 20,41 20 15,76 15,71 15 6,56 10 3,66 5 0 ţă ă ii aid ţ ă omaj Other ş Family altceva Heating Pension Pension social pensie Electricity asisten pensie allocations ii familiale (pensioner) ţ (contributor) (pensionar) electric (contribuitor) compensatii Unemployment compensations compensations compensa pentru incalzire ajutor de pentru energia aloca Social assistance
100 94,72 80 60 40 20 2,64 2,64 0 On the left bank, On the right bank, On both banks Peunder malul Tiraspol sting, Peunder malul Chisinau drept, Pe ambele subjurisdiction jurisdictia subjurisdiction jurisdictia maluri 19 Tiraspolului Chisinaului Medical services: which of them you use most often, their location
90 79,81 80 2011 80 70 61,15 64,29 65,2 2008-2010 60 55,59 50 40 32,91 30 16,72 20 13,76 7,23 10 4,87 0,5 0 Familymedic doctorde Specialistmedic Cosmetologyservicii Dentalservicii services Pharmaceuticalproduce altcevaOther familie specialistdoctor cosmetologiceservices stomatologice farmaceuticeproducts
70 66,56 61,26 59,42 60 2011 2008-2010 48,42 50 39,2 40 35,68 30 18,16 17,66 20 13,79 10 2,76 0,31 0,31 0 level În center In raion t know/ medical ’ raspund medical municipal At district Nu stiu/nu La Tiraspol localitatea municipal mea/punct La Chisinau a Moldovei In Tiraspol In altaparte of Moldova In Chisinau /No answer 20 Don In otherparts In mylocality/ attitude towards people from the right bank
100 2011 91,62 90 2008-2010 80 76,79
70
60
50
40
30
20 16,22
10 7,47 5,87 0,91 0,7 1,12 0 Positivepozitiva neutra/indiferentaNeutral / Indifferent Negativenegativa Don’t knowns/nr / No answer 21 Attitude: do you think there is tension between people from the two banks?
70 DaYes 63,1 NuNo 60 NuDon stiu/nu’t know raspund/ No answer
50 43,76
40 31,46 28,3 30 24,79
20
9 10
0
2011 2008-2010 22 Attitude: if your answer is yes, indicate the reason
90 LimbaLanguage vorbita spoken StatutulTransdniestria Transnistriei’s status DiferenDifferenceţa în indezvoltarea the social andsocio-economic economic developmentă 79,4 80 DiferiteDifferent tendinte geopolitical geopolitice trends aleof the regiunii region LucrulBiased neobiectiv work of the al mediasurselor mass-media BarierelorAdministrative administrative obstacles fromde că publictre func officersţionarii of publicithe two dinregions cele două discipline LipsaLack de of procesul a negotiation de negociere process 70 ImplicareaInvolvement în inopera militaryţiuni operations militare in in trecut the past de peby parteathe opposite opusă side AlteleOther 60
48,3 50
40 40 35,00
30 27 21 20 16 17,3 17,00 14,10 11 12,0012,00 10 7,00 5,50 5,80 2,1 2 0 23 2011 2008-2010 Attitude: in your opinion this tension in the future [next 3 years]…
80 v-aWill cresteincrease 72 v-aWill raminebe the same la fel v-aWill descrestediminish 70 v-aWill dispareadisappear ns/nrDon’t know / No 60 answer
49 50
40 33 30 21,5 20 11,2 10 6 4 3 0,1 1 0
2011 2008-2010 24 Attitude: over the past 3 years do you think this tension…
80 74 s-auWorsened inrautatit 70 nuDid s-au not schimbatchange 57,5 s-auImproved imbunatatit 60 alcevaOther 50 ns/nrDon’t know / NA 40 31 30 15 20 10 10 10 0,1 1 0,2 2 0 2011 2008-2010 25 Attitude: do you think the tension with your relatives over the past 3 years…
90 2011 78,6 80 75,05 2008-2010 70
60
50
40
30
20 8,14 9,53 10 5,38 3,72 3 1,87 0,88 0,33 0 Wes-au became indepartat more Remainedau ramas the la felsame Becames-au apropiat closer I imifind vine it difficult greu sa to Don’t ns/nrknow / NA distant raspundanswer
26 Attitude towards the right bank’s leadership
70 pozitivaPositive 65 neutra/indiferentaNeutral / Indifferent negativaNegative Don’t know / NA 60 ns/nr 51 50
40
30 26 22,3 19 20 13
10 5 0,3 0 2011 2008-2010 27 Attitude towards the left bank’s leadership
80 pozitivaPositive neutra/indiferentaNeutral / Indifferent negativaNegative 70 67 ns/nrDon’t know / NA
60 57
50
40
30 24 18 20 14 12 10 7 0,61 0 2011 2008-2010 28 Attitude towards the left bank’s leadership. Do you agree with the leadership regarding Moldova-Transdniestria relations? 7070 Yes 70 da da da partialPartly 61 partial No 61 nu partial 6060 nu nuNot ma interested intereseaza 60 nu ma intereseaza ns/nrDon’t know / NA 70 ns/nrda nu 61 partial 50 60 nu 5050 50 nu ma intereseaza 42ns/nr 42 42 42 40 404040 30 27 24,6 27
20 3030 27 27 7 27 27 30 10 27 4 24,6 27 3 3 2 24,6 24,6 0 20 2011 2008-2010 2020
1010 7 7 10 7 4 4 3 3 2 2 4 3 3 2 3 3 0 0 0 20112011 2008-2010 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 29 Attitude: do you think the left bank’s leadership acts…
45 39 40 45 34,81 39 40 35 34,81 35 30 30 25,525,5 26,2 26,2 25 20,53 25 20 20,53 18 20 15 11,64 12 18 10 4,55 4 5 2,65 12 15 11,64 0,21 1,2 0 0 10 4,55 2011 2008-2010 2,65 4 5 actioneaza doar in interesele populatie 1,2 actioneaza in mare masura0,21 in interesele populatiei 0 0 actioneaza in egala masura in interesele sale si a populatiei actioneaza in mare masura in interesele conducerii actioneaza doar in interesele sale 2011altceva______2008-2010 actioneazaSolelyns/nr in the doar people in interesele’s interests populatie actioneazaLargely in inthe mare people masura’s interests in interesele populatiei actioneazaEqually in inits egala own masurainterests in and interesele in those sale of sithe a populatieipeople actioneazaLargely in inits mare own masurainterests in interesele conducerii actioneazaSolely in its doar own in interestsinteresele sale Other altceva______30 ns/nrDon’t know / NA Attitude: do you think the Moldova-Transdniestria relations are based on certain groups’ interests?
6666 707070 6363 606060 51 505050
404040 28 28 303030 22 17 2020 20 1111 99 7 6 5 11 6,26,2 5,5 9 10 7 4 6,2 5,5 1010 2,1 4 5,5 0 2,1 00 201120112011 2008-20102008-20102008-2010 Don’t dadaYes nuNonu nuNot numa interestedma intereseaza intereseaza nuDon cunosc cunosc’t know ns/nrns/nrknow / da nu nu ma intereseaza nu cunosc ns/nrNA
31 Attitude: if yes, what groups do you mean?
90 82 80 7475,3 68 70 60 55 50 44 42 45 42 38 40 36 29 30 24 30 21 20 20,120 20 16,1 15 11,3 9 6 4 10 0 0 0 2,6 0 2011 2008-2010
ConducereaTransdniestria Transnistriei’s leadership ConducereaMoldova’s Moldoveileadership ConducereaRussia’s leadership Federatiei Ruse ConducereaUkraine’s leadershipUcrainei ConducereaRomania’s Romaniei leadership NATO/USANATO / USA UniuneaEuropean Europeana Union MediulTransdniestrian de afaceri dinbusiness Transnistria MediulRussian de afaceribusiness din Rusia OrganizatiiInternational internationale organizations BusinessIllegal business ilegal GrupuriCriminal criminale groups Other Don’t know Alte Nu stiu 32 Attitude towards the right bank’s leadership
70 pozitivaPositive 65 neutra/indiferentaNeutral / Indifferent negativaNegative Don’t know / NA 60 ns/nr 51 50
40
30 26 22,3 19 20 13
10 5 0,3 0 2011 2008-2010 33 Attitude: are you informed about the right bank’s political life?
45 39,2 40 36 35 30 23,4 25 22,5 21,3 20 20 16 15 11,3 10 6,5 3,22 5 0,15 0,5 0 2011 2008-2010 foarteVery informed informat suficientSufficiently de informed informat informatAs informed similar as about cat desprethe left bankviata’s politica political lifepe malul sting putinLittle informedinformat delocNot informed informat ns/nrDon’t know / NA 34 Attitude: are you pleased with…
DaYes PartialPartly NuNo NuDon stiu/nu’t know raspund / No answer 80 70,62 72,04 71,12 71,08 70 62,92 60 58,04 53,94 54,19 50
40
30 27,82 27,52 26,88 23,98 17,5 18,84 18,54 18,72 20 14,68 14,74 11,72 9,51 8,97 10 7,6 7,84 8,37
0 2011 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 Conditiile de trai Libertatea exprimarii Stabilitatea politica in Respectarea drepturilor Living conditions Freedom of expression Politicalregiune stability in the Respectomului of human rights region
35 Attitude: do you think the people on the right bank… 100 95,2 DaYes PartialPartly NuNo NuDon stiu/nu’t know raspund / No answer 90
80 69 70
60 52,66 52,05 50,91 49,32 47,24 50 46,78 45,73 44,72 44,51 39,3 41,54 40 36,57 36,78 37,35 35,96 32,93 35,05 33,38 34,17 29,98 30 28 22,88 20 18,17 12,2 7,54 8,19 6,68 6,95 7,12 10 4,25 3,19 3,27 3,5 5,19 0 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2008-2010 2008-2010 2008-2010 2008-2010 2008-2010 2008-2010 Traiesc mai bine Au un venit lunar mai Servicii medicale mai Sistem educational mai acces la produse mai Au mai multe mare calitative bun ieftine (produse oportunităţi de a călători alimentare, electrocasnice) în străinătate Live better Have a higher Better medical Better education Cheaper products Better travel monthly income services opportunities36 Attitude: do you think the people on the right bank…
60 DaYes PartialPartly NuNo NuDon stiu/nu’t know raspund / No answer
51,53
50 46,81 46,15 45,29
40 38,3 38,11 38,19 38,15 36,35 34,17 33,69 32,08 32,37 31,49 31,43 30 25,04 22,94 20,52 20 18,0917,25 15,24 12,81 12,16 12,4 12,96 10,18 10 8,21 7,45 6,69 6,445,67 5,97
0 2011 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 2011 2008-2010 Au access la informaţii din mai Au societatea civilă mai activa Au securitate personala mai Au mai mult sprijin multe surse media şi mediul de afaceri favorabil buna (agenţiile de aplicare a internaţional legii funcţioneaza mai bine)
37 Conclusions The trends of the survey produced in 4 consecutive years showed the following: 1. The economic situation is precarious and affects the people on the left bank. The people on the left bank see themselves more disadvantaged than those on the right bank. 2. We can assume that the social services are underdeveloped. 3. Health services are one of the reasons behind visits to the right bank. 4. Overall, the people in the Transdniestrian region have a positive attitude towards the people from the right bank, largely considering that there is tension only at the leadership level, and they feel themselves unable to influence the leadership. 5. The people from the left bank travel monthly with various purposes, some of the most important – visits to relatives, studies, and medical services. 6. At the same time, there are certain cultural and linguistic differences, closer to Russia. Relations of collaboration with Russia in education have an important impact on shaping identity in this region. 7. We observe a tendency of military training for the purpose of “maintaining local traditions”.
38 Case Study. System of Education: Intensive Cooperation with Russian Institutions of Higher Education A cooperation agreement with the Voronezh University (Russia) and the Tiraspol University was signed with D. Rogozin’s coming to Tiraspol. Students from Tiraspol will have an opportunity to graduate in Tiraspol with a diploma equivalent to a Russian one. “Russia is, was, and will remain in Transdniestria. The peacekeeping troops will stay and will be consolidated here. You need specialists to develop the country’s economy. The lands here are very rich,” said D. Rogozin. “We elaborated a special cooperation agreement, providing for a mechanism of intensive integration and realization of projects of great importance for Transdniestria. We mean internships, joint publications,” said the President of the Voronezh University. (April 2012) Source: http://www.tv-pmr.com/news.php?id=14765
39 Case Study. Extra-curricular activities specific to the region. The “Young Patriot of Transdniestria” festival takes place annually before the Victory Day, 9 May. It consists of various competition stages between a number of teams: - Marching and the best team song. Abilities of arranging at command, applied in the army. - Topography, knowledge of the local history. - Shooting from air guns. - Disassembly and reassembly of guns.
40 Source: http://www.tv-pmr.com/news.php?id=14765 Case Study. System of Education and Health.
Of the 1,000 school children of the Slobozia district, 945 have health problems, according to the Sanitary Epidemiologic Center. “The program of study is highly difficult, and every year the immune system of children gets worse. Only the schools located in towns have medical offices, while in villages we have a great insufficiency of medical personnel. To solve the problem, 160,000 thousand roubles were allocated by the district center to place children into summer and health camps.” (April 2012) Source: http://www.tv-pmr.com/news.php?id=14765
41 Observations of operators from the time of data collection “The announcement boards of educational institutions contain a strong message of defense. It refers to such concepts as “young defender of motherland”; initially I felt as if I entered barracks, and not a school.” “People complain of having no access to information. The Moldova 1 channel isn’t aired. 85% of people refuse to participate in the survey. People want the leadership of Moldova to have more respect for the people from the left bank.” (Grigoriopol) 42 “The majority of people do not believe there is a conflict between people, but that there is one at the leadership level. The majority want unification with Moldova, but not with Romania. They complain of total disinformation by the media. Also, they are dissatisfied with the monopoly.” “The people here are all Russian speakers; even if they know Romanian, they refuse to speak it on principle, because they consider themselves Transdniestrians, a separate country. Some of them don’t want to even hear of Moldova. Compared with other places where we conducted the survey, they visit the other bank much more rarely; the people from there come to Bender. They have few relatives on the other bank. Relations are good. Products are cheaper. They are more conservative.” (Tighina)
43 “A lady was very categorical, harsh and critical of everything regarding Moldova. She called us with ugly words, said that we push them, don’t let them live and want to enslave them, that by their means we wash loads of money. Had it been as she wanted, they would long have united with Russia, but we wouldn’t let them.”
“Another lady was very positive, willing to change something; she believed that one day Transdniestria will unite with Moldova and there will be no more of this political insanity. She said she was used to it and paid no attention to them, that she would die of hunger if she listened to everything, and she is not allowed, as she has 3 children and she is a widow. She treated me to some nuts.☺”
44 “The majority want unification with Moldova and Europe. They are tired of borders and conflict. The majority are satisfied with the quality of life.” (Camenca, 2009)
“People don’t even want to hear of Romania. They believe that only Romania is to blame.” (Ribnita, 2009)
45 “A very beautiful village, with kind people. They agreed to answer any questions. They have lots of relatives on the other bank, and relations have improved. They believe that “the things done at the level of leadership are a folly,” and wonder why they wouldn’t be left alone. They very much want that there be no more borders.” (Molovata, 2008). “They have relatives on the other bank and are in good relations with the people there. They want the customs to be removed.” (Varnita, 2008)
46 Respondents’ comments “We don’t need Americans; they want Transdniestria in order to start a war with Russia. I read in “Patria” newspaper about NATO and how they want to get to us.” (A lady who had worked as a museum guide was fired on the pretext that she doesn’t speak Russian well because she had taken citizenship of Moldova in 1991-1992). “Romanians are a very cruel nation, and Moldovans are stupid for believing them.” “The problem is not in cooperation with other people, but in the fact that everyone needs something to eat and a job, and not to be lost to poverty. To me it doesn’t matter who to unite or live with.”
47 “On 25 May 1995 the police retained my husband at our house, and without any explanation they said they were taking him to the district police center. A while later I heard that my husband would never return home. I addressed various institutions, wrote to newspapers, and still I have no news. Children keep asking about where their father is, and I don’t know what to tell them.” (2011)
48