Two Austrian photojournalists who have done some work in Transnistria have placed an interesting collection of photos online. Some of the textual commentary is in German for now, but the photos are interesting nevertheless. It seems to be a fairly personal project (i.e., not as politicized as other online projects relating to Transnistria/Pridnestrovie), and the introductory page proclaims, "This is Radio PMR. News from our little Soviet Union."
The photos are broken into themes or little photo-essays and are organized by a table of contents of sorts. Definitely worth checking out - I was immediately hooked from the photo above, since it deals with the interesting situation of many people in the post-Soviet unresolved conflict areas, who have passports from their de facto state which are useless for international travel; in some cases, identity documents from the metropolitan state (in this case, Moldova); and often, a Russian passport, many of which have been issued based on applicants' tenuous connections to Russia as part of a strategy by Russia to create a basis for its ongoing presence in these regions.
"Passportization" has been a bigger issue in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where the residents were unable to acquire Georgian passports; and less of an issue in Transnistria, since many local residents were able to receive Moldovan travel documents. In these situations, the applicants for Russian passports needed the documents to travel internationally - sometimes to go to work in Russia - and were therefore happy to play along with the game.
Friday, September 21, 2007
"Radio PMR"
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8 comments:
"based on applicants' tenuous connections to Russia as part of a strategy by Russia to create a basis for its ongoing presence in these regions."
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Stated as if they've no legitimate basis for having a presence there.
On the whole, Pridnestrovie's population clearly thinks differently.
Mike, I'm assuming that's you, based on your syntax and use of "they've."
There's a difference between a temporary peacekeeping (or "peacekeeping") presence, which as far as I know is all Russia officially claims to have in TD and Abkhazia, and the type of ongoing presence (or right to intervene to "protect its citizens," which some Russian officials have already asserted with respect to Abkhazia) to which Russia might assert a right if more of TD's residents become Russian citizens.
Note that, as I think I made clear, I was talking about passportization in all of the post-Soviet conflict regions, not exclusively about TD. As I noted, there is a much higher percentage of Russian passport holders in Abkhazia and S. Ossetia (up to 90%, according to some reports) than in TD (certainly less than half, and around 20% according to recent accounts).
Russia had a somewhat better excuse for handing out citizenship and travel documents like candy in Abkhazia - residents' Soviet-era documents were expiring, they were unable to get Georgian documents and Georgia would not let the UN issue them temporary travel docs. In TD, however, residents have been able to get Moldovan travel documents (which offer visa-free travel to Russia) for 15 years.
What is interesting is how easy Russia made it for people in these disputed territories to receive citizenship, even as the "compatriots" in Central Asia and the Baltics (who were supposed to be the beneficiaries abroad of the citizenship law of 2002) had to jump through hoops and make their way through red tape and long waits in order to get their Russian citizenship.
Anyway, how does it look when the people processing the citizenship applications are either not even Russian government officials - i.e., representatives of the LDPR (as has been the case in TD) or the KRO (as has been the case in Abkhazia) - or "consular" officials unaccredited by the internationally recognized country in which they are carrying out consular activities?
Forgot to post my name Lyndon.
You didn't note that Prid. voted for independence from Moldova and reunification with Russia. Are you seriously disbelieving that this isn't the popular will of Prid's population?
There're also historical and human rights issues to consider as well. Abkhazia and South Ossetia aren't as historically linked to Russia as is the case with Prid. Of all the currently disputed former Communist bloc territories (Kosovo, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh), Prid. seems to have the best human rights record.
Keep in mind that the Baltics constitute territories not in dispute. Furthermore, while there's a somewhat tense situation in Latvia and Estonia, no post-Soviet wars have been fought there unlike the mentioned disputed lands.
You didn't note that Prid. voted for independence from Moldova and reunification with Russia.
Sorry, I didn't realize that every post I write about TD has to include a synopsis of the history of the region. The 97% result in that referendum is reminiscent of Soviet elections - were "elected" Soviet deputies representative of the will of the people? And yes, I know you're going to reference BHHRG's election observers, etc. Sorry, I'm not buying it. I'm sure a large number of people in TD would like for it to become a part of Russia, but I don't believe the figure is 97%, and in any event I don't think Russia wants the headache.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia aren't as historically linked to Russia as is the case with Prid.
I'm interested in your basis for this claim. In order to make it, you have to go back and compare borders from something like 200 years ago or more (unless you're making the claim based on ethnicity). Although I know that nationalist hotheads like to make ancient history into the basis for present-day conflicts, should long-ago borders really be a basis for resolving conflicts?
I'm not sure what your last paragraph has to do with anything I wrote. If you're trying to excuse Russia for hanging ethnic Russians in the Baltics out to dry when it came to issuing them passports in a timely fashion, while taking every opportunity to use their plight to bash the Baltic states, well, I guess that's just your unique brand of "Russocentric analysis."
Saakashvili's 97% presidential victory? You don’t second guess that. Meantime, the Global Voices promoted/Russocentric unfriendly Doug Muir and others don't deny the obvious about Pridnestrovie's sentiment vis-à-vis Moldova and Russia.
Moldova wasn't part of pre-1940 USSR like Pridnestrovie. South Ossetia and Abkhazia weren't part of ancient Russia (Kievan Rus) like Prid. South Ossetia and Abkhazia were part of a viably independent Georgia prior to its becoming part of Russia in 1801. Moldova resents its 1940 incorporation into the USSR. Bravo! Prid. seeks to break from that legacy as well.
You misrepresent my point on the passport matter. People living in described conflict zones have an arguably more tenuous position. Like you've really shown much concern for ethnic Russians in Latvia and Estonia.
Mike, like I said, the topics I write about are up to me. Saakashvili's 97%? Suspicious, sure, but by your logic as long as it represents the will of the people (and I find it hard to believe they fudged the results by more than 40%), it's OK.
Thanks for your historical synopsis. I doubt the Abkhazians and South Ossetians would agree with it, but it's interesting to hear your point of view. Bringing "Kievan Rus'" into the mix does make me chuckle a bit, though. Perhaps we should reconstruct the Mongol Empire while we're at it.
People living in described conflict zones have an arguably more tenuous position.
But the thing is, they were issued Russian citizenship and then continued to live in the "described conflict zones." If the purpose was to help get them out of these areas, you'd think there would have been some assistance in resettling them. In Abkhazia, many people were actually given only foreign travel passports, which preclude their being registered (propisany) in Russia, so it's hard to avoid the conclusion that the Russian government seeks to claim these people as their citizens when it suits Russia (i.e., as a pretext for ongoing intervention in Abkhazia) but not when these people want to move to Russia and claim the actual benefits of citizenship.
Like you've really shown much concern for ethnic Russians in Latvia and Estonia.
Actually, I think I've expressed my sympathy for their situation before. What exactly would you like me to do to show concern? Take up a collection? The Russian government is their self-appointed guardian, and it does a good job talking about it.
I never challenged what you choose to write Lyndon. I see that this is the second recent anti-Prid. leaning blog post promoted by Global Voices. I know Deciphering Transdniestria is an illegitimate blog unlike "Jigs" (Sorosian Steady State) Fistful of Euros and this one.
My historical comparisons are reality based. South Ossetia and Abkhazia haven't had as great a historical continuity with Russia when compared to Pridnestriovie. That's a simple matter of fact which can't be legitimately disputed.
Prid's. referendum result is more believable than Saaki's outcome. Again, the not so Russia friendly Doug Muir acknowledges Prid's Russocentric outlook. I don't doubt that more Georgians detest Saaki when compared to Pridnestrovians thinking along your lines.
As for your other points, I can relate to how people feel in Prid. S. Ossetia and Abkhazia. Their situation isn't secure. It's nevertheless their home. They simultaneously feel akin to Russia. In America, there're countless stories of people who stay in neighborhoods which have become more risky to live in. They remain, while requesting support from outside their immediate neighborhood.
This leads to making the situation better for all. Unlike some others, I make it a point to grasp what others are saying. Here's my proposal for ending some of these disputes (particularly Kosovo and the former Georgian SSR):
http://www.serbianna.com/columns/averko/005.shtml
As for the Baltics, Ames made a good point about how South African racists would soft pedal apartheid by noting how South African Blacks had it economically better than Blacks in other African countries. As wrong as the Latvian and Estonian governments are, there're no border disputes or post-Soviet wars in that region.
From the above mentioned site www.fischka.com there is a book on Transnistria out now. It is also in English and Russian language. Can be obtained there. Is not yet available in amazon.com...
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