Moldova, A Country Divided

TIRASPOL, MOLDOVA - SEPTEMBER 2: Soldiers of the Transnistrian Army march during the 10th Transnistrian independence ceremony in the non-recognized Republic of Transnistria on September 2, 2001 in Tiraspol, Moldova. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Republic of Moldova, located in Eastern Europe between Ukraine and Romania, got its independence. Since the 1992 civil war between the pro-Romanian and the pro-Russian, the country has become divided. On the west side of the Dniester River is Moldova, with a majority of pro-Romanian and Romanian speaking citizens, and on the east side of the river, is the non-recognized Republic of Transnistria (Trans-Dniester), with a pro-Russian and majority Russian speaking people. Between the two sides, along the river, is a security zone manned by the Peacekeeping Forces composed of soldiers from Russia, Moldova and Transnistria. Transnistria is currently an unrecognized state; it is internationally recognized as being part of Moldova, but claims independence and maintains some sovereignty with the assistance of Russian forces. The region has been de facto independent since 1991, when it made a unilateral declaration of independence from Moldova and successfully defeated Moldovan forces, with Russian assistance, in the War of Transnistria. While a ceasefire has held ever since, the Council of Europe recognizes Transnistria as a "frozen conflict" region. (Photo by Yoray Liberman/Getty Images)