Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHISINAU538
2008-05-22 05:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

LARGEST OPPOSITION RALLY EVER IN TRANSNISTRIA

Tags:  PBTS PGOV PHUM MD 
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VZCZCXRO0487
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBW RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHCH #0538 1430544
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220544Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6694
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS CHISINAU 000538 

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS PGOV PHUM MD
SUBJECT: LARGEST OPPOSITION RALLY EVER IN TRANSNISTRIA

Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Protect Accordingly.

UNCLAS CHISINAU 000538

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS PGOV PHUM MD
SUBJECT: LARGEST OPPOSITION RALLY EVER IN TRANSNISTRIA

Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Protect Accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: On May 17, some 2,000-3,000 people gathered in
central Tiraspol to protest rising prices of food and utilities.
The demonstrators adopted a resolution calling for Smirnov's
dismissal and demanding early elections. The rally was organized by
the Transnistrian Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party.
It was reportedly the largest opposition rally ever to gather in
Transnistria, which reflects growing dissatisfaction with the
current situation. End Summary.

Opposition Parties Unite Efforts against Smirnov
-------------- ---


2. (SBU) The May 17 rally in Tiraspol was organized by two small,
marginal parties competing for the nostalgic elderly electorate --
the Pridnestrovie Communist Party led by Oleg Horjan and Alexander
Radchenko's Social Democratic Party. (Note: Two Communist Parties
exist in Transnistria, the Pridnestrovie Communist Party (PKP) and
the Communist Party of Pridnestrovie (KPP). The former, led by
Horjan, is the official successor to the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union. Horjan's PKP is relatively reform-minded in
comparison to the more conservative KPP, which is led by Vladimir
Gavrilchenko. End note.)


3. (SBU) Despite their slim resources and modest support within
society, the demonstration's leaders managed to organize the largest
rally ever in Transnistria. This event was the first anti-Smirnov
demonstration to set forth both economic and political demands. The
protesters accused the leadership of being unable to solve the
persistent social-economic crisis in the region. Some speakers also
demanded dismissal of Smirnov and his Cabinet, dissolution of the
Supreme Soviet and early elections on a proportional basis instead
of the existing winner-takes-all system. Oleg Horjan promised to
pass the demonstration's resolution to Smirnov and Shevchuk on May

19.


4. (SBU) Comment: The persistent budget crisis, the unprecedented
35 percent inflation rate and the burden of excessive militarization
are enough to sink even a much more efficient government than
Transnistria's. The demonstrator's main demands were economic,
participants also expressed dissatisfaction with Transnistria's
political leadership. Even though the rally's leaders, Horjan and
Radchenko, are relatively marginal, they nonetheless gathered an
impressive number of protesters by Transnistrian standards. In the
Transnistrian repressive political environment any anti-Smirnov
protest normally is labeled as an anti-Transnistria action inspired
by Moldova. One must either have courage or be desperate to protest
publicly against Smirnov. As the majority of the participants were
elderly pensioners, apparently they felt they had little to lose.


KIRBY