Editing Politics of Moldova (section)

=== Transnistria ===
[[Image:TransnistrianRegionMap.png|thumb|right|150px|[[Transnistria]]n region of Moldova]] 
{{Main|Transnistria}}

Transnistria is a strip of land running along Moldova's eastern border with Ukraine, named after the Dniester river. The Transnistrian region is majority Slavic (Ukrainian and Russian) and Russian-speaking, in contrast with the rest of the country, and it was heavily industrialized during USSR rule. The Moldovan Declaration of Independence claims continuity of Moldovan [[sovereignty]] over the territory of Transnistria as it is "a component part of the historical and ethnic territory of our people". However, the Moldovan Declaration of Independence is itself used as an argument against Moldovan sovereignty over Transnistria as it denounces the Ribbentrop-Molotov agreement of 23 August 1939 between the government of the [[Soviet Union]] and the government of [[Nazi Germany]] "null and void" being the only formal union between the two territories.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/news/former_assr_pridnestrovie_reminds_moldova_you_yourself_denounced_our_union.html |title=Tiraspol Times; Former ASSR Pridnestrovie reminds Moldova: "You yourself denounced our union" |access-date=3 January 2011 |archive-date=29 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929194504/http://www.tiraspoltimes.com/news/former_assr_pridnestrovie_reminds_moldova_you_yourself_denounced_our_union.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After failing to establish control over the breakaway region in the [[War of Transnistria]], Moldova offered a broad cultural and political autonomy to the region. The dispute has strained Moldova's relations with Russia. The July 1992 ceasefire agreement established a tripartite peacekeeping force composed of Moldovan, Russian, and Transnistrian units. Negotiations to resolve the conflict continue, and the ceasefire is still in effect. The [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE) is trying to facilitate a negotiated settlement and has had an observer mission in place for several years.

The country remains divided, with the Transnistrian region controlled by separatist forces, supported ''de facto'' by a contingency of Russian troops posing as a peacekeeping mission.