1996 Transnistrian presidential election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1996 Transnistrian presidential election

| country = Transnistria

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1991 Transnistrian presidential election

| previous_year = 1991

| next_election = 2001 Transnistrian presidential election

| next_year = 2001

| election_date = 22 December 1996

| image1 = 125x125px

| image1_size = 150x150px

| nominee1 = Igor Smirnov

| party1 = Independent politician

| running_mate1 = Alexandru Caraman

| percentage1 = 71.94%

| image2 =

| image2_size =

| colour2 =

| nominee2 = Vladimir Malakhov

| party2 = Independent politician

| running_mate2 = Vasily Protsenko

| percentage2 = 19.84%

| title = President

| before_election = Igor Smirnov

| before_party = Independent politician

| after_election = Igor Smirnov

| after_party = Independent politician

}}{{Politics of Transnistria}}

Presidential elections were held in the breakaway republic of Transnistria on 22 December, 1996. They were won by the incumbent Igor Smirnov, who ruled Transnistria since 1991. Smirnov's only opponent was Vladimir Malakhov, who was beaten by Smirnov, 72% to 20%.{{in lang|ru}} Olvia Press: [http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol41-12-06.htm Presidential elections in Transnistria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713002627/http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol41-12-06.htm |date=2011-07-13 }}Open Media Research Institute: [http://www.b-info.com/places/Bulgaria/news/96-12/dec30.omri Daily Digest, No. 246, 30 December 1996] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609224148/http://www.b-info.com/places/Bulgaria/news/96-12/dec30.omri |date=9 June 2011 }}

On 2 November, it was reported that Transnistria's central electoral commission had registered only two candidates for the election. Six others, including head of the Tiraspol city council Vitalii Glebov, were unable to collect the necessary 10,000 signatures.Open Media Research Institute: [http://www.b-info.com/places/Bulgaria/news/96-12/dec20.omri Daily Digest, No. 213, Part II, 4 November 1996] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609224517/http://www.b-info.com/places/Bulgaria/news/96-12/dec20.omri |date=9 June 2011 }}

Before the election, Malakhov claimed that his campaign was receiving "unequal treatment" from the media. He was considering withdrawing from the race, which would invalidate the election, the constitution requiring at least 2 candidates for the election to be able to occur. However, the Parliament of Transnistria amended the constitution, so that Smirnov could get elected unopposed. Malakhov then decided to continue his campaign.Open Media Research Institute: [http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/omri/1996/96-11-04.omri.html#13 Daily Digest, No. 245, 19 Dec 96] According to an article by the ethnic Russian researcher from Moldova Alla Skvortsova from 2002, "polls and elections in the PMR may to some extent have been rigged".Alla Skvortsova, "The Cultural and Social Makeup of Moldova: A Bipolar or Dispersed Society?", in Pal Kolsto (ed.), National Integration and Violent Conflict in Post-Soviet Societies (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.), p. 176.