Places that don't exist, Transnistria [3 of 3]

[SilverBullet]

Places that don't exist, Transnistria [3 of 3]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ITnauPL4ZMI&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/ITnauPL4ZMI&rel=1</a>

[SteveH]

I Copied all 3 of these Programmes onto a Video and gave it to the Girlfreind,Dont know if she ever viewed them,but in a few years time,will anything have Changed 

[matlockk]

Can you travel visa free over the border from Ukraine?

[Vera]

What's the guy's name? Is he just an amature YouTuber ( ) or is he a well-known jornalist in GB? I think he is very cute!!!!

[SteveH]

Hi Vera,he was a Professional employed by the BBC,i must admit i have Not seen him do any Other documentries,he did seem to get into "The Company",Many others Never Could.

[matlockk]

In search of an answer to my border crossing question I came across this. I think a weekend in Mosside might be safer

http://lukashenko.blogspot.com/2007/02/it-got-worse.html

and

http://wikitravel.org/en/Transnistria

[matlockk]

I'm really finding some very interesting stuff on Transnistria. Is it where Sillitoe's Travels in Nihilon was set?

I got a taxi from Chisinau to Bendery in the "Republic" of Transdniestr earlier this month. I was only there for six hours; getting in we were just waved through. Coming back I was stopped and taken off the bus for not having a permit. I explained I thought you only had to register if you stayed over three days. After studying a huge tome the Border Guard decided you had to register after three hours not three days. I would have to pay a fine of US$12 (this was worked out by the number of hours I'd overstayed) but they wouldn't take the money as they had no receipts (they wouldn't take the cash as a backhander either). I should have got a permit from the Transdniestr Police in Chisinau. I pointed out there were none. They decided I would have to go back to Bendery for the permit. OK, what address do I go to? They didn't know. So what do I do now? They didn't know that either. An impasse had been reached. Fortunately the English speaking one who was questioning me had managed to glean that I was a Customs Officer by profession and made me draw him a picture of my shoulder epaulets (seeing this as a way out I added an extra stripe for effect). It worked, he jumped to his feet, saluted me of all things and suddenly it was handshakes and cigarettes all round! Finally they flagged down the first Chisinau bus and waved me off. They even refunded my busfare so I profited from this rather amusing incident.
Mike Wallace, UK (June 02)
  

 
   

[ecocks]

LOL

[SilverBullet]

Република Молдовеняскэ Нистрянэ  (Republica Moldovenească Nistreană)
Приднестрóвская Молдáвская Респýблика (Pridnestrovskaya Moldavskaya Respublika)
Придністровська Молдавська Республіка (Pridnistrovs'ka Moldavs'ka Respublika)

Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic A place to avoid. 

Warnings from the US State Department Website: http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_972.html
"Photography:  Americans who choose to travel in Transnistria should be aware that foreigners have reported being detained or harassed by authorities for taking photographs of military facilities or public buildings.  Photography of checkpoints along roads leading into and out from the Transnistria region, or the personnel working there, is prohibited."

"Business in Transnistria:   As noted in the Safety and Security section above, a separatist regime controls a narrow strip of land in eastern Moldova known as Transnistria ("Pridnestrovie" in Russian).  Individuals considering doing business in Transnistria should exercise extreme caution.  The Embassy may not be able to offer consular or commercial services to Americans in Transnistria." 

Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under OSCE supervision. Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. The presence of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy.

Visiting Chisinau for a westerner is best (and safest) by air or by train. Direct flights from Warschaw or Kyiv for instance. It cost more for sure but how can you value your own safety? Transnistria is a place that "don't exist" and the Moldovian army should have made a new offensive to recapture the region and bring it under law and order. In a place that "don't exist" - a visitor don't quite exisit either. You are on your own if something happens. I would rather spend time in Minsk and Belarus where there at least are law and order compared to Transnistria. Westerners have to realize that it is different for them to travel through the region than for local Moldovians and Ukrainiansa who know the language, and know how to deal with corrpution and lawlessness. Don't put your guard down by listening to assurances from locals that it is safe to take a buss or taxi through Transnistria.     

For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transnistria

[Packman]

Can you travel visa free over the border from Ukraine?

I traveled to Moldova twice in the past year.  First time by car to the Ukrainian border then by taxi on the "other" side to Chisinau, once by bus.  Both of these times I passed through Transdnestria.
 

No problems at all.  You pay a few dollar transit free, are issued a immigration card which you surrender 30 minutes later when you leave Transdnestria. 

Its a bit amusing to see a reconstituted Soviet emblem as the coat of arms, but each time the authorities were polite and friendly.

If your really afraid of Transdnestria...take the train and avoid it...but the train is very very slow compared to the bus.

[ecocks]

It's all about risk.  It is obvious to most folks that there are risks involved with travel through Transniestra.  It's an unrecognized state which means that IF something happens, your government isn't going to be able to assist like they can in most other places.  Corruption is at one of the highest levels in the world.  Normal people don't go there unless necessary for business or after weighing the risk for a transit through to get to Moldova. 

So, as I had said a month or so ago, if you think places like Somalia, Gaza, Tehran and such are "interesting places" which are mostly misunderstood by governments, travel agencies, Interpol, the EU, most businesses, many churches and silly people who are afraid of the dark - schedule yourself for a weekend stay in a small-town pensione.  Kick back and bend elbows with the locals and have a good time!

I'm saving my vacation there for the one after my return from cruising the scenic Somalian Coast.  I mean what can 7-8 guys in a fishing boat do to my chartered sailboat?  Besides they're really scared of the Navy and my lawyer can sue them!

[SteveH]

Warning about the Cuciurgani border crossing
For those travellers who intend to go to Odessa from Chisinau we recommend to avoid transiting Transdniestr. The Transdniestrian customs officers will defenetly ask you for a stamp of exit of Moldova (which you obviously can't have because there is no customs between Moldova and Transdniestr and no one will even check your passport on the Moldovan side) and won't be willing to hear any explanations about the impossibility to get one. Go through Palanca instead. Or pay an enourmouse bribes (it gets up to 150-200 Euro for some travelers) and feel a fool at Cuciurgani 

[Packman]

Actually, the rule has changed.  Last august there was an issue in the hotel I stayed in because I coming from Transdnestria didn't have an entry stamp.  This is because when entering gov't controlled Moldova the taxi I was in was waved through without a check.  Since August any need to show the entry stamp has been removed by the Moldovan authorities, and there is no longer a border check when entering gov't controlled Moldova.

[Packman]

It's all about risk.  It is obvious to most folks that there are risks involved with travel through Transniestra.  It's an unrecognized state which means that IF something happens, your government isn't going to be able to assist like they can in most other places.  Corruption is at one of the highest levels in the world.  Normal people don't go there unless necessary for business or after weighing the risk for a transit through to get to Moldova. 

So, as I had said a month or so ago, if you think places like Somalia, Gaza, Tehran and such are "interesting places" which are mostly misunderstood by governments, travel agencies, Interpol, the EU, most businesses, many churches and silly people who are afraid of the dark - schedule yourself for a weekend stay in a small-town pensione.  Kick back and bend elbows with the locals and have a good time!

I'm saving my vacation there for the one after my return from cruising the scenic Somalian Coast.  I mean what can 7-8 guys in a fishing boat do to my chartered sailboat?  Besides they're really scared of the Navy and my lawyer can sue them!

On the same token, Ed.  There are places that are very dangerous in reality and places that our gov't doesn't want you to travel to for political reasons.  I did have some trepidations the first time transiting, but if after having the experience myself I didn't have them the second time.  The border authorities were completely correct in all aspects of the transactions.  I don't know if I would want to stay there for a vacation, but for a 30 minute transit, (and for a Russian speaker), transiting some cities in the US is more dangerous!

[ecocks]

Yeah, I know what you mean Pack.  The general conclusion was that transits were reasonably safe, but stopping for anything more than gas was begining to invite attention.  Staying overnight was not recommended for westerners by anyone I talked with.

Not as bad as it used to be, probably because they are feeling the effects of being cut-off in their little pocket.  If Moldova joins the EU it will be an interesting situation.  If Ukraine joins, it's probably disaster IMHO.

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