Moldova dintr-un alt punct de vedere

Thanks to Ed for sending a link to his recent tour through Romania and Moldova. Although published recently, it talks about his travel back in May. He was in Tiraspol on Victory Day, and has this to say:

For me, the most worrying aspect of life in Transdnistria is that whilst there are not a huge number of young people here, the ones who I have spoken to for a while seem to dislike the regime but defend it because it is their regime. I can understand the many old people wishing to turn up to celebrate their victory over the Nazis, but also I must say I was slightly confused, almost shocked, by the enthusiasm shown by the youth. They are so proud to be Russian, why is this? Maybe as a result of the way they feel that they are threatened maybe? Or maybe they do just think that Russia is a great place. A couple of kids in their teens stood on duty by the eternal flame, for me this looked like some sort of Hitler Youth movement, and I?d read before about the indoctrination that this government sponsored group delivers to children, promoting a raving sense of nationalism, anti-Semitism and the ability to fire a gun. Maybe Transdnistria does have some sort of future. This is the most scary aspect of stay in Transdnistria which will now come to a close as I walk back towards the bus station.

Be sure to read everything he writes about Moldova. He seems to have gotten a very bad impression of Moldovan men, and I certainly won't deny that the type of men he met exist in large quantities in this country. There are many others, though, who don't go after every non Romanian-speaking rube they come across.