Ruling Communist Party retained majority in 3 June municipal elections, but lost key Chisinau mayorship to Liberal Party rights activist; poll not held in Transdniestria. Tiraspol authorities released last 2 Popular Moldovan Front political prisoners, jailed in 1992. No agreement on U.S.-NATO proposal of multinational peacekeeping force to replace Russian troops in Moldova and Georgia at emergency meeting in Vienna on Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty 12-15 June. President Voronin met Russian President Putin for talks 22 June; no major progress on Transdniestria recorded.

President Voronin met Russian national security council deputy leader Zubakov 23 May to discuss reopening talks on Transdniestria. EU hosted talks on fresh negotiations 25 May, Talks reported to resume June. Moscow denied April leaked document allegation that it had presented planned bilateral settlement. De facto Transdniestrian MP Emelyanov shot dead 27 May in unclear circumstances.

Leaked document signalled joint declaration by President Vladimir Voronin and Transdniestrian leader Igor Smirnov recognising TD government and leadership for first time. Plan sees TD gaining top deputy ministers in government. Voronin’s shift reportedly engineered by Moscow.

Police arrested 15 Liberal party members and journalists for ceremony commemorating 1918 unification with Romania. Earlier, government accused Bucharest of undermining its security by easing access for Moldovans to Romanian citizenship. In Transdniestria, Patriotic Party Tiraspol chief Viktor Neumoyin shot dead by unknown gunmen 13 March. EU military inspectors visited military installations in Transdniestria buffer zone 28-29 March.

Chisinau accused Moscow of trying to legitimise Transdniestrian separatist authorities after Russian statement referred to Igor Smirnov as TD President.

Standoff over disputed checkpoint, reportedly involving 100 Moldovan and Transdniestrian police, defused after Joint Control Commission set up extra peacekeeping checkpoint, and removed Moldovan and Transdniestrian posts on Dubossary-Rybnitsa road 13 January. Breakaway authorities released 2 Moldovan police briefly detained for planning assassinations in Tighina.

Transdniestrian separatist authorities declared Igor Smirnov, de facto leader since 1991, winner of region’s 10 December ‘presidential elections’ with 82.4% of vote; election not recognised internationally. EU announced doubling of aid to Moldova, calling for more progress on rights and reform.

Transdniestrian leader Igor Smirnov announced candidacy in region’s 10 December ‘presidential elections’. Candidacy of newspaper editor Andrei Safonov, known for his criticism of Smirnov, rejected by Transdniestrian authorities; Safonov said would appeal. OSCE ambassadorial delegation visited Russian ammunition depot in region 13 November.

OSCE, Russian and Ukrainian mediators held separate consultations with Moldovan and Transdniestrian representatives in Odessa 17-18 October, but meetings failed to open way for resumption of formal negotiations. Russian Duma passed statement in support of recent Transdniestrian independence referendum and called for international recognition of results. EU expressed concern Russia not cooperating to resolve dispute.

De facto authorities in Transdniestria held referendum on independence and eventual unification with Russia 17 September: 97.1% allegedly voted in favour amid 79% turnout. Moldova rejected move as “political farce”; EU, U.S. and OSCE did not recognise vote. Russia called referendum “democratic and open” expression of popular will.