Governance and Human Rights in Transnistria: Between Theory and Praxis

This article analyzes the governance and legal system of Transnistria and its compliance with international law and practice. It argues that although Transnistria has successfully established the trappings of democratic statehood on paper, the praxis—especially when it comes to human rights—is quite the opposite. In unfolding the subject, the analysis first presents the evolution and consolidation of Transnistria's status quo. The governance and legal system of Transnistria are then discussed by looking into its main constitutional provisions. After that, the human rights situation in Transnistria and its compliance with international standards is assessed. The article concludes with some reflections regarding the peculiarities of the Transnistria case and the main challenges that arise when looking at Transnistria's governance and human rights situation under international law.