Transnistrian presidential election turnover exceeded 56%December 12, 2011 - 10:01 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Voter turnout at the December 11 presidential elections in Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region exceeded 56.65 percent, which means the vote is valid, election press center spokesman Dmitry Matveyev said. “The figures may become higher as several protocols in the city of Tiraspol have not been counted yet,” he added, RIA Novosti reported. Incumbent President Igor Smirnov seeking a fifth presidential term, parliament speaker Anatoliy Kaminski, ex-parliament speaker Yevgeny Shevchuk, Transnistrian Communist Party leader Oleg Khorzhan, leader of the Proryv (Breakthrough) movement Dmitry Soin and political scientist and journalist Andrei Safonov ran in the elections. Smirnov has been heading Transnistria since 1990. In September 2011, he announced plans to seek a fifth consecutive presidential term - plans opposed by the Kremlin. A month before the presidential election in Transnistria, Russia accused the Transnistrian leader's son Oleg of embezzling, together with his associate, $5.2 million that Russia sent as humanitarian aid to Transnistria retirees in 2008-2009. The Russian-speaking province of Transnistria has maintained de facto independence from Moldova since a brief war in 1992, which erupted from a buildup of tensions following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Joint peacekeeping force of Russian, Moldovan and Transnistria contingent has been deployed in the area. Transnistria seeks full independence, while Moldova says it is only prepared to allow autonomy. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |