Transdnestr burns OSCE flag

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A protest rally was held Sep 22 before the OSCE Tiraspol office by the International Youth Corporation (IYC) Proryv (Breakthrough) and the homonymous People’s Democratic Party. As REGNUM correspondent was informed at the movement’s and party’s press offices, the rally is supposed to demonstrate Transdnestr’s negative reaction to statements of the new head of the OSCE mission to Moldavia American Louis O’Neill who said Sep 20 in Chisinau that he did not recognize balloting of Transdnestr population in the referendum on the status of the republic held Sep 17 as democratic.

More than 150 young people came to the building of the OSCE mission carrying flags of Transdnestr, Russia, Proryv, and banners with Ernesto Che Guevara photo. Proryv members chanted slogans: “O’Neill, you are wrong! NO – to OSCE double standards,” “TMR-Smirnov-Proryv,” “Russia-TMR-Proryv,” and “TMR and Russia Union Forever!”

Chairman of the Proryv Party Alexander Gorelovsky addressed the meeting: “We voice a decisive protest against the statement of Mr. Louis O’Neill. According to this young American, on September 17, when referendum on the status of our state was held, Transdnestr residents were forced to come to ballot stations at the point of machine guns. We all know that observers from Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Israel, countries of Western Europe, including Moldova, monitored the all-national vote. They all recognized that the voting process was democratic and legitimate. What machine guns he is speaking of? To this, we can only say: ‘Shame to the US-styled democracy!’”

Proryv youth movement leader Alena Arshinova said in her address to the rally attendants: “Not once has OSCE displayed its attitude to people who want to live in an independent and peaceful state. Today, we have gathered here not only to voice our protest to OSCE anti-democratic conduct but also to make a statement that Proryv leaves the Anti-Blockade Coordinating Council, for its members passively react to the kind of statement Louis O’Neill has honored us with. Proryv has always fought for achieving freedom and recognition of Transdnestr, and has never been submissive to OSCE envoys who suffer ‘blind affection to Voronin.’ If we want to have a dignified and safe future, we now have to act firmly and decisively. We – the youth of Transdnestr – will create our own coalition under the slogans: ‘NO – to OSCE double standards!’ and ‘YES – to recognition of TMR!’”

In the end of the rally, young people chanting “Shame!” and “No to OSCE double standards!” burned an improvised flag of the OSCE mission. Then a three-fold “Let it be so!” followed. After the rally was over, a motorcade carrying flags of Transdnestr, Russia, Proryv, and banners with the Alberto Korda’s photo of el Che cruised the city.