2006 Transnistrian independence referendum

Pro-Moldovan organisations announced before the referendum that they would not recognise its results. Ballots for the referendum were reprinted three times, as{{clarify|date=September 2020}} the chairman of electoral commission, Piotr Denisenko, announced a shrinkage of electorate of 7% compared with the previous year.{{cite web|url=http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1392|title=MOLDOVAN NGOs REGARD TRANSNISTRIAN REFERENDUM AS A FARCE|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005621/http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1392|archivedate=27 September 2007|accessdate=29 April 2007}}

File:Transnistrian 2006 independence referendum voting card.jpg

Of the total of 394,861 registered voters, the voter turnout was 78.6%,{{cite web|url=http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol225-09-06.htm|title=Ольвия-Пресс|publisher=Olvia.idknet.com|accessdate=2015-02-26|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060234/http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol225-09-06.htm|archivedate=24 September 2015|df=dmy-all}} substantially more than the 50%+1 required by law to validate the referendum.{{cite web|url=http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/216|title=Tiraspoltims.com|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929040524/http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/node/216|archivedate=29 September 2011|accessdate=19 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1443|title=CHISINAU OFFICIALS DO NOT RECOGNISE TRANSNISTRIAN REFERENDUM'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005258/http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1443|archivedate=27 September 2007|accessdate=19 February 2016}}

On the day of the referendum, no exit polling was allowed within 25 meters of polling stations, to prevent disruption of voting.{{cite web |url=http://www.regnum.ru/english/702851.html |title=Exit-polls can be held in Transdnestr not closer than 25 m to polling stations - Russian News - REGNUM |publisher=Regnum.ru |accessdate=2015-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930205653/http://www.regnum.ru/english/702851.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

File:20060917 posters 02.jpg

International organisations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development,{{cite web|url=http://www.azi.md/news?ID=38790|title=OSCE will not recognize results of referendum in Transnistria|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927182318/http://www.azi.md/news?ID=38790|archivedate=27 September 2007|accessdate=19 February 2016}} European Union,{{Cite web |date=2011-07-21 |title=EU@UN - EU Presidency Declaration on "referendum" in Transnistrian region |url=http://www.europa-eu-un.org/articles/en/article_6257_en.htm |access-date=2023-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721051118/http://www.europa-eu-un.org/articles/en/article_6257_en.htm |archive-date=21 July 2011 }} GUAM, and some other countries (Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, Norway, Iceland) did not recognise the referendum.{{cite web|url=http://www.azi.md/news?ID=40985|title=Russia Blocked Council of Europe Declaration Regarding the Disapproval of Transnistria Referendum|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008232925/http://www.azi.md/news?ID=40985|archivedate=8 October 2007|accessdate=19 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.moldpres.md/default.asp?Lang=en&ID=49678|title=Moldpres.md|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227003650/http://www.moldpres.md/default.asp?Lang=en&ID=49678|archivedate=27 February 2015|accessdate=19 February 2016}}

The representative of the Congress of Russian Communities from Moldova declared that the referendum was held according to international standards.{{cite web |url=http://www.regnum.ru/english/706298.html |title=International observer: Referendum in Transdnestr conforms to international norms - Russian News - REGNUM |publisher=Regnum.ru |accessdate=2015-02-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227005720/http://www.regnum.ru/english/706298.html |archivedate=27 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }} However, no internationally recognised monitoring organisations had observers present.

Viktor Alksnis, a deputy from the Russian party "Rodina" stated that referendum in Transnistria was held without any violations of legislation and democratic standards.{{cite web |url=http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol176-09-06.htm |title=Ольвия-Пресс |publisher=Olvia.idknet.com |accessdate=2015-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108033157/http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol176-09-06.htm |archive-date=8 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}

Viktor Alksnis is known to have previously described the Transnistrian Republic as the base from which the Soviet Union's restoration would begin.John Mackinlay and Peter Cross (editors), Regional Peacekeepers: The Paradox of Russian Peacekeeping, United Nations University Press, 2003, {{ISBN|92-808-1079-0}} p. 137

In the opinion of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, the situation in Transnistria failed to meet the conditions of a free will expression by citizens.[http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1483] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005414/http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1483|date=27 September 2007}}

According to the OSCE, the media climate in the Transdniestrian region is restrictive, as authorities there continue a long-standing campaign to silence independent opposition voices and movements.{{cite web|url=http://www.osce.org/moldova/13427.html|title=Osce.org|last=|first=|date=|website=osce.org|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909141956/http://www.osce.org/moldova/13427.html|archivedate=9 September 2015|accessdate=19 February 2016}}

Although the OSCE decided not to send any observers to monitor the referendum,{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/17/news/moldova.php|title=Moldova's independence-seeking Transnistria region votes, but effect is uncertain|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924051225/http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/17/news/moldova.php|archivedate=24 September 2008|accessdate=19 February 2016}} 130 observers from CIS and Europe and from eleven election monitoring organizations who did attend the referendum had different reactions.{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2006/09/18/watch/ |title=Международные наблюдатели остались довольны ходом приднестровского референдума: Бывший СССР |publisher=Lenta.ru |date=2006-09-18 |accessdate=2015-02-26}}

In contrast, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova (HCHRM) claims to have observed a series of infringements at the referendum:{{cite web|url=http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1448|title=HCHRM CLAIMS A SERIES OF INFRINGEMENTS AT THE REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE IN TRANSNISTRIA|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005343/http://conflict.md/stiri.php?ID=1448|archivedate=27 September 2007|accessdate=19 February 2016}}

1. Groups of activists going into people's homes, especially in Tiraspol and Bender districts, asking why they did not come to the referendum, and threatening that after the referendum they will be forced to look for a new home in Romania.
2. At some voting stations agents dressed in civil or militia uniforms forcing the observers from outside the sections to stay at a distance of 200–250 meters far from these places.
3. "Cleaning" of the list of voters by excluding some citizens who previously boycotted elections and referendums held in Transnistria.
4. "Electoral tourism" and multiple voting {{cite web|url=http://www.info-prim.md/?x=&y=3956 |title=IPN |publisher=Info-prim.md |date= |accessdate=2015-02-26}}

Karel De Gucht (Chairman of the OSCE) expressed an opinion about the "lack of basic requirements for free and fair elections, such as freedom of the media, freedom of assembly and political pluralism, in the region pre-determined the results" and argued that the questions in the referendum are suggestively worded.{{cite web|url=http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=220752&src=0|title=Noticias.info|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525065945/http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=220752&src=0|archivedate=25 May 2011|accessdate=19 September 2006}} In a possible manipulation of the public opinion, people are asked to choose between freedom ("free association") and loss of independence ("renounce the Transnistria's independent status"), between reality ("support the course") and possibility ("consider it possible") This formulation could have resulted in a response bias.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.lenta.ru/articles/2006/09/18/vote |title=Жители Приднестровья выбрали Россию: Бывший СССР |publisher=Lenta.ru |date=2006-09-18 |accessdate=2015-02-26}}

Victor Josu, deputy editor-in-chief of Russian-language Moldovan newspaper Moldavskiye Vedomosti, an accredited observer, described the referendum as a successful public relations action (regardless of violations and a lack of recognition) and reported favorably on a comparison between "recognized Chişinau" and "unrecognized Tiraspol" in an article which emphasized the openness, transparency and glasnost of the referendum process.{{cite web|url=http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol178-09-06.htm|title=Ольвия-Пресс|publisher=Olvia.idknet.com|accessdate=2015-02-26|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060155/http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol178-09-06.htm|archivedate=24 September 2015|df=dmy-all}}

Sergei Bagapsh, president of Abkhazia (Abkhazia claims independence from Georgia, but has a disputed status), has said his republic "supports the aspirations of Transniestria toward independence and its choice of unification with Russia."{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11589835|title=Interfax.ru|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205211024/http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11589835|archivedate=5 February 2012|accessdate=19 February 2016}}

According to the results of a telephone survey on the morning of September 18, 63% of the listeners (782 people) of the Ekho Moskvy radio station were in favor of accepting Transnistria into Russia, while 37% (466 people) were against.{{cite web | url=http://blackhole.beeline.ru/?url=echo.msk.ru%2Fcgi-bin%2Fv.cgi%3Fpoll_id%3D2623%26mode%3Dresult | title=Ресурс заблокирован - Resource is blocked }}

• Elections in Transnistria
• Human rights in Transnistria
• Politics of Transnistria
• Proposed Russian annexation of Transnistria

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150227005720/http://www.regnum.ru/english/706298.html "International observer: Referendum in Transdnestr conforms to international norms"] Regnum News
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060919182705/http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-09-17-voa30.cfm "Moldova's Trans-Dniester Votes in Referendum on Whether to Pursue Independence"] Voice of America News
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060925020804/http://en.rian.ru/trend/Transdne/ Transdnestr independence plebiscite] RIA Novosti
• [http://www.osce.org/item/20620.html OSCE reaction]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071211231752/http://www.olvia.idknet.com/ol162-09-06.htm Final monitoring report by international observers]
• [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/09/2921dabd-b521-449a-a326-bf81bbe3ac88.html Transdniester Conflict Was Long In The Making] Radio Free Europe

{{Transnistrian elections}}

{{Transnistria conflict}}

Transnistria

Category:Referendums in Transnistria

Category:Russian irredentism

Category:Separatism in Moldova

Category:Transnistria conflict

Transnistria, 2006 referendum

Category:2006 elections in Moldova

Category:2006 in Transnistria

Category:2006 in international relations