COVER N. 202 - MOLDOVA (TRANSNISTRIA)

Postmark: Posta Moldovei Tiraspol 18 - 08.01.2023 

Posted on the 8th January; Received on the 19th January 2023
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Transnistria. One of those dormant conflicts that have a somewhat volcanic behaviour.

Issued from the ashes of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, the then Pridnestrovian Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, now Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic was declared in 1990 in what is commonly called Transnistria, a strip of territory across the Dniester river bordering Ukraine, that is today officially part of the Moldova Republic,  as a way of ensuring that the territory would remain affiliated with the USSR, should the Moldavian Socialist Republic seek integration into Romania, something that never happened, with Moldova becoming an independent state itself in 1991. 

Transnístria being largely inhabited by Russophone and Russophile slavs, the integration in the Republic of Moldova was never fully achieved and a short bud deadly conflict erupted between the Moldovan and Transnistrian forces, the later supported by the Russian army. A cease fire would be signed in July 1992, but to this day Russia maintains a large military presence in the territory, which although officially part of the Republic of Moldova, continues to claim its independence as  the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, an entity that is only recognised by three equally secessionist states Abkhazia, Artsakh and South Ossetia, themselves very sparsely acknowledged at international level.

The geographic location of Transnistria and the fact that Russia maintains a strong military presence in the territory again became a matter of deeper concern, especially for Moldovans I presume,  in the context of the current Russian aggression against Ukraine, 

Thus, Tiraspol, the Transnistria capital city is not the most obvious place to go on a leisure visit these days, so I was quite surprised to see this charming cover with postmarks from the Moldovan Post at Tiraspol land on my letterbox. Thank you so much Alex, quite an addition to the collection.

Transistria has its own postal system and the Republic issues its own stamps, but I don't know if they circulate outside of the territory, given the idiosyncrasies of its geo-political backdrop.

To post this cover to my addres, Alex most kindly used four sheet corner stamps, a full set  issued on 26NOV2019, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the National Art Museum. Denominated at 1,20; 1,75;5,20 and 5,75 Leu, each of the stamp is illustrated with a  painting masterpiece  from the Baroque period, that I presume are part of the Museum's collection.

Painters and paintings depicted, by increasing denomination order are: Venus and Mars, Jean-Baptiste van Loo (1684-1745); Holy Family, Andrea Sacchi (1599-1661); Bathsheba, Anonym (17th c.) and Angelica and Medor, Michele Desubleo (1602-1676).

The postamrk identifies the service provider as the Moldovan Post, which I presume co-exists with Transnistria's own postal service