Some 500 people braved bitter colds in the capital of Moldova’s breakaway Transdnestr region on Sunday to rally in support of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who is running for president in the 2012 presidential elections.
The rally participants who hold Russian passports urged closer links with Russia and showed their support for Russia, Putin and the stay of Russian peacekeepers in the breakaway region. The rally was organized by the Transdnestr Renewal party.
The Russian-speaking region gained de facto independence from Moldova in 1992. A joint peacekeeping force of Russian, Moldovan and Transdnestr contingents has been deployed in the area.
Transdnestr is seeking full independence, but Moldova says it is only prepared to allow autonomy.
