Crime in Transnistria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Crime in Transnistria covers actual incidents in Transnistria as well as allegations of potential criminal activity for which the level of evidence varies and may in some cases not exist.

Contents

[edit] EUBAM border controls and smuggling issues

Transnistria has a reputation of being a haven for smuggling. In 2002, the European Parliament's delegation to Moldova named Transnistria "a black hole in which illegal trade in arms, the trafficking in human beings and the laundering of criminal finance was carried on".[1] In 2005, The Wall Street Journal called Transnistria "a major haven for smuggling weapons and women".[2] However, in more recent statements, OSCE and European Union diplomats cited by Radio Free Europe called the smuggling claims "wildly exaggerated".[3] The Transnistrian government also denies any such allegations and has instead claimed that the Moldovan police is involved in drug smuggling. In May 2006 a Moldovan police officer was arrested in Transnistria for his role in a drug operation.[4][5]

Since November 30, 2005 the European Union has had a Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) on Transnistria's borders with the United Nations Development Programme as implementing partner. In its official statements, the EU mission repeatedly confirmed an absence of any signs of weapons smuggling from Transnistria.[6]

[edit] Allegations of weapons trade

Analysts and media outlets have expressed concern regarding potential threats posed by Transnistria's large deposits of weapons, and the potential of their unauthorized sale. Nevertheless, this view has been challenged by other experts and organizations, as well as by the government of the PMR. Oxford scholar Mark Almond stated that accusations of state-sponsored weapons smuggling in the PMR appear to be groundless and politically motivated, rather than based on any verified facts.[7] Foreign experts working on behalf of the United Nations confirm that there is currently transparency and good levels of co-operation with Transnistria in the field of weapons control.[8]. Recent weapons inspections permitted by Transnistria and conducted by the OSCE reflect this transparency and co-operation[9][10]

Without offering any proof, a 2004 newspaper article claimed that a cache of surface-to-air missile launchers, and other weapons, may have disappeared from a former Soviet stockpile, and that officials were at the time unable to account for their whereabouts.[11] The OSCE and European Union officials state that there is no evidence that Transnistria has ever, at any time in the past, trafficked arms or nuclear material.[12]

Foreign experts working on behalf of the United Nations say that the historically low levels of transparency and continued denial of full investigation to international monitors has reinforced negative perceptions of the Transnistrian regime, although recent good levels of cooperation on the part of Transnitrian authorities in some areas may reflect a shift in the attitude of PMR.[13] Also it says that the evidence for the illicit production and trafficking of weapons into and from Transnistria has in the past been exaggerated, that although the trafficking of light weapons is likely to have occurred before 2001 (the last year when export data showed US$ 900,000 worth of ‘weapons, munitions, their parts and accessories’ exported from Transnistria. However, it is also possible that these exports included old weapons from former Soviet stocks, or the export of weapon parts, rather than newly produced goods)[citation needed], and there is no reliable evidence that this still occurs. The report also states that the same holds true for the production of such weapons, which is likely to have been carried out in the 1990s primarily to equip Transnistrian forces.[14]

[edit] Antisemitic incidents

Over the past few years, there have been some antisemitic incidents in Transnistria.

  • 14-15 April 2001 the Synagogue of Tiraspol suffered a pipe bomb attack. The building was damaged, but the guard was not hurt.[15]
  • 13-30 March 2004 over 70 tombstones in the Jewish cemetery of Tiraspol were vandalized[16] Local community leaders said the authorities refused to help clean up the anti-Semitic graffiti painted over the tombstones[17]
  • in May 2004, there was an attempt by a Russian neo-Nazi organization to set on fire a synagogue in Tiraspol, using a Molotov Cocktail and a flammable liquid near a gas pipe.[17] The attack failed when passers-by extinguished the fire.[18]

[edit] Deadly explosions

  • in July 2006, a bomb killed eight in a Tiraspol minibus.[19]
  • in August 2006, a grenade explosion in a Tiraspol trolleybus killed two and injured ten.[20]

Certain countries, including the United States [21], the United Kingdom[22] and Australia[23] announced cautions for its citizens traveling to Moldova and Transnistria.

[edit] Border Customs corruption

Transnistria has corruption on its border crossings where customs officials and border guards single out Western visitors and demand bribes and money. Western truck drivers and even tourists receive the same treatment. The Transnistrian authorities claim that all customs officials have numbered badges and incidents can be reported. However, there is evidence that the officials hide their ID badges during these incidents.[24]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ European Parliament, "Chairman's Report—Ad Hoc Delegation to Moldova", 5–6 June 2002
  2. ^ The Wall Street Journal, "Moldova's Ruling Communists Are Leading a Swing to the West, Marc Champion in London and Alan Cullison in Moscow. March 4, 2005. pg. A.13
  3. ^ RFE/RL: Western Diplomats Say Reports Of Smuggling From Transdniester Likely Exaggerated
  4. ^ PMR Customs: Channel of narcotics delivery from Moldova is revealed
  5. ^ Western officials: No drug smuggling in Pridnestrovie
  6. ^ EU confirms absence of weapons smuggling Tiraspol Times. Oct. 22, 2006. Retrieved 2007, 2-25
  7. ^ Mark Almond: Kafka and the Arms Smugglers
  8. ^ UNDP: 2006 Small arms and light weapons survey of Moldova
  9. ^ UN Report clears Transdniester of weapons smuggling; Praises transparency and co-operation Tiraspol Times. Oct 16, 2006. Retrieved 2007, 2-21
  10. ^ Confidence-building visit: OSCE delegation inspects Kolbasna military depots Tiraspol Times. Nov 13, 2006. Retrieved 2007, 2-21
  11. ^ Washington Times, George Jahn: "Hotbed of Weapons Deals", January 19, 2004 Retrieved 2006, 12-24
  12. ^ RFE/RL: Western Diplomats Say Reports Of Smuggling From Transdniester Likely Exaggerated
  13. ^ UNDP: 2006 Small arms and light weapons survey of Moldova, SEESAC 1 July 2007, ISBN 86-7728-014-6
  14. ^ Cooper, Jason. Experts rule out weapons smuggling from Transnistria. Tiraspol Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
  15. ^ Anti-Semitic Incidents - April 2001 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Apr. 1, 2001.
  16. ^ Mass Vandalism of Tiraspol Jewish Cemetery Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union. Apr. 22, 2004. Retrieved 2006, 12-24
  17. ^ a b Briefs: Synagogue in FSU Hit with Arson Jewish Journal. May 14, 2004. Retrieved 2006, 12-24
  18. ^ Report on Global Anti-Semitism U.S. Department of State. Jan. 5, 2005. Retrieved 2006, 12-24
  19. ^ Trans-Dniester blast kills eight BBC
  20. ^ Grenade exploded in Tiraspol trolley bus
  21. ^ U.S. State Department travel warning for Moldova
  22. ^ "United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office" - Travel Advice
  23. ^ Australian Government - Travel advisories
  24. ^ Cooper, Jason. Corruption at PMR border crossings hurts republic's image abroad. Tiraspol Times. Retrieved on 2008-02-23.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Crime in Europe
Sovereign
states

Albania · Andorra · Armenia1 · Austria · Azerbaijan2 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus1 · Czech Republic · Denmark4 · Estonia · Finland · France4, 5, 6 · Georgia2 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Republic of Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan3 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Republic of Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia3 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain6 · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey3 · Ukraine · United Kingdom (England • Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales)
Dependencies,
autonomies,
other territories

Abkhazia 2 · Adjara1 · Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Åland · Azores · Crimea · Faroe Islands · Gagauzia · Gibraltar · Greenland7 · Guernsey · Jan Mayen · Jersey · Kosovo · Isle of Man · Madeira8 · Nagorno-Karabakh1 · Nakhchivan1 · Northern Cyprus1 · Republika Srpska · South Ossetia 2 · Svalbard · Transnistria
Italics indicates an unrecognised or partially recognised country. 1 Entirely in Southwest Asia.  2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the border definitions.  3 / 4 / 5 / 6 Has part of its territory in Asia / North America / South America / Africa.  7 / 8 Entirely on the North American Plate / African Plate.