LARGEST OPPOSITION RALLY EVER IN TRANSNISTRIA

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