Moldova breakaway region urges Russia to recognize independence

Lawmakers in Moldova’s pro-Russian breakaway region of Transdniestr have passed a resolution calling on Moscow and the United Nations to recognize its independence.

Transdniestr, a strip of land bordering Ukraine, broke away from Romanian-speaking Moldova following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The resolution adopted unanimously by Transdniestr’s self-appointed parliament on Wednesday called on the international community to recognize the region as a “sovereign independent state”.

“According to the universally recognized norms of international law, a right of people to self-determination should be the basis of political decisions. Every state should respect this right,” said deputy speaker Sergei Cheban.

Residents in the region, which has never been recognized as an independent state by any United Nations member, voted overwhelmingly to join Russia in a 2006 referendum.

Moscow still maintains thousands of troops in Transdniestr, which date back to the civil war that broke out in the region in 1991.

A group of Transdniestr politicians led by parliament speaker Mikhail Burla are planning to travel to Moscow on Thursday for meetings with Russian lawmakers.

The government of Moldova eyes closer ties with the European Union and has warned the Kremlin against any attempts to annex Transdniestr.

It comes as tensions mount in eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian forces have seized government buildings and demanded to break away from control of Kiev.