Transnistria to vote for new Moscow vassal

On Sunday presidential elections will be held in secessionist Transnistria, which years ago broke away from the Republic of Moldova. For the first time President Igor Smirnov, who has ruled the territory for 20 years, faces several rivals in the elections. This is because Moscow wants to replace him with another of its vassals, Anatoli Kaminski, so it can cast itself as a peacemaking force vis-á-vis the West, writes the daily România Liberă: "The old servant has become too much of a burden on its image. The plan is that without him Transnistria will be able to shed its image as a Soviet bastion controlled by the dictator in Moscow. ... In talks with the German government the Russians have advocated the creation of a new security architecture. Berlin is calling for proof of Moscow's good will saying: If Russia wants to be a credible partner then it should show that it at least wants to resolve the conflict in Transnistria. It won't, but Russia can at least trick by Germans by making a show of trying. If Smirnov is sacrificed it at least looks like things are moving on. ... The problem, however, is that there's little difference between Smirnov and Kaminski."

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