Raid into Transnistria

Arrived with my Fiat Punto in Transnistria from the border with the Moldovan Republic at Tighina, a town split in two by the border. Transnistria is a phantom state, a country recognised by no one that mints its own money, has its own government and sealed borders. Between the Moldovan border and the Transnistrian one, Russian interposition forces keep watch. We cross the border not without difficulty and only after giving a few euros to a policeman. On the road to the "capital" Tiraspol I was stopped at a permanent checkpoint and, although I had committed no offence, I was forced to hand over more euros. Having reached the modern Tiraspol I made a short excursion in the city centre and then hurried back to Moldova, since our entry permit was for a few hours. Although it was October there was a biting cold. From the Tighina border I re-entered the Moldovan Republic.

Transnistria, although it has the prerogatives of a state, is considered internationally an integral part of the Republic of Moldova. Here Russian is spoken and Cyrillic script is used.