transnistria
Like all rivers, the Dniester is also a river that divides. A boundary, not only geographically. Cultures, languages, traditions, peoples. In 1992 the river, by metaphor of division , becomes a real line of demarcation. Following Moldova's decision to abolish Russian as official language, the Transnistrian region, a Russian majority, decides to declare independence. Between sports, music, weekend in Odessa, looking for a job or a love that you can take you away, or at least a husband and a son to leave the parental home, so life of the young generation flows in Tiraspol and Bender, Pridnestrovie, and so flows the Dniester, river, border.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Three young boys playing on the Dnepr river. The river is one of the major rivers of Europe (fourth by length). Pridnestrovie's name literally means "beyond the River Dnepr". Along its shores has been fought the heaviest fights during the independence war in 1992 because the river itself represented a natural border between the Russian an Moldavian population.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Athletic stadium, Daily trainings of a group of young girls. All of them are forced to compete under the flag of an other nation because Pridnestrovie being unrecognized, cannot partecipate in any international sport event.
Bender, Pridnestrovie. Laser tag combact playground in an occupied building. This building was destroyed during the street-fighting during the Revolutionary War. Some young people, even symbolically, they decided to open a business that remember the fightings
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. A bride on her wedding day is coming out of her apartment in a popular district of the city.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Inside the Hare Krishna temple. "In the USSR we were told there was no god and we have proof. Gagarin went to space and he did not meet God". The first member of the community came in Tiraspol in 1995 to bring a message of hope and faith. The community grew up fast and now up to 150 person come to the most important events. Some of them quitted to use drugs and solved their problems thanks to the community life.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Vitez boxing club. Some athletes during their daily trainings. Among them there are also one world champion, two european champions and many in the world ranking. All of them are forced to compete under the flag of an other nation because Pridnestrovie being unrecognized, cannot partecipate in any international sport event.
Bender, Pridnestrovie. A group of singers in the backstage of the event organized to celebrate the 10th anniversary from the referendum that, on september,17,2006 acknowledged the friendship between Russia and Pridnestrovie. The annexation of the Crimea to Russia has led the government of Pridnestrovie to hope to be able to quickly achieve the same result. Actually the position of Russia is different because the relations between Russia and Moldova are better than those with Ukraine.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Anna Osadceaia, 20 years old during an house party. She studies event managment. After an experience in Italy, she now dreams to move there. Like many other youngs, she cannot see any kind of future in her country but moving abroad is not always easy because the passport of the country is not recognized and most of them cannot afford the travel expenses. Most of them dream to move to Russia, the country they feel to belong.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. A young boy is playing with a mobile phone under the Alexander Suvorov monument in the city center. Suvorov was the founder of the city in 1792.
Slabadzia, Pridnestrovie. Sergej Getman, 25, Anna Getman, 23 and their baby Alissa, 4 months years old in their apartment. Anna is a wedding photographer and Sergej works as a chef in a restaurant. They got marriage in 2015 after 8 years of engagement. They are part of the middle class and they are not among those who want to leave the country but they prefere to stay and build their own future in Pridnestrovie. They hope that the international community will recognize the country because they cannot travel as much as they would because the passport is unrecognized as well as the currency. They think that at the moment there isn't a real Pridnestrovian culture but they hope to grow up their kid as a real Russian.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. A young boy emerges from the Dnepr river's waters. The river is one of the major rivers of Europe (fourth by length). Pridnestrovie's name literally means "beyond the River Dnepr". Along its shores has been fought the heaviest fights during the independence war in 1992 because the river itself represented a natural border between the Russian an Moldavian population.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Sunset on the Dnepr river. The river is one of the major rivers of Europe (fourth by length). Pridnestrovie's name literally means "beyond the River Dnepr". Along its shores has been fought the heaviest fights during the independence war in 1992 because the river itself represented a natural border between the Russian an Moldavian population.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Tanya Dunaevskaya, 20 years old. Vegan and raw foddist. She has one son and she made her first tattoo at 14 and she uses tattoes and body modifications as a way of self expression. Her lifestyle is not well accepted in the country and people see her as a negative figure. The lackof open mind opinions and culture in general convince her to leave the country and move to Kiev first and then, maybe, to Poland.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. A group of workers are cleaning and preparing the area in front of House of Culture in the city center for an upcoming event organized to celebrate the 10th anniversary from the referendum that, on september,17,2006 acknowledged the friendship between Russia and Pridnestrovie. The annexation of the Crimea to Russia has led the government of Pridnestrovie to hope to be able to quickly achieve the same result. Actually the position of Russia is different because the relations between Russia and Moldova are better than those with Ukraine.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Athletic stadium, Daily trainings of a runner. All the Pridnestrovian athlets are forced to compete under the flag of an other nation because Pridnestrovie being unrecognized, cannot partecipate in any international sport event.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Vitez boxing club. An athlete is preparing for his daily trainings. In the same club there are also one world champion, two european champions and many in the world ranking. All of them are forced to compete under the flag of an other nation because Pridnestrovie being unrecognized, cannot partecipate in any international sport event.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Athletic stadium, javelin daily trainings. From right to left Oleinik Aleksej, 17 years old european vice-champion, Picus Denis, 18 years old Ukrainian champion and Orlon Nikolaj (red shirt), 17 years old Russian champion. All of them are forced to compete under the flag of an other nation because Pridnestrovie being unrecognized, cannot partecipate in any international sport event.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Families on the turistic sunday boat on the Dnepr river are making a round trip from Tiraspol to Bender. The river is one of the major rivers of Europe (fourth by length). Pridnestrovie's name literally means "beyond the River Dnepr". Along its shores has been fought the heaviest fights during the independence war in 1992 because the river itself represented a natural border between the Russian an Moldavian population.
Kichcani village, Pridnestrovie. View from inside one of the most important Ortodox complex in Pridnestrovie.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. A group of bikers in a skate park on the shore of the Dnepr river.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. M. A., 18 years old. Rapper. In the texts of Pridnestrovian Hip Hop you cannot find any political content. "Look at what's happenedin Ukraine. We have a 50% democracy but we prefere this than seeing dead people in the street. This is our revolution".
Bender, Pridnestrovie. Remains of a Soviet amusement park in a former industrial area of the city remembers the 25th anniversary from the declaration of independence.
Bender, Pridnestrovie. From right to left Kristina Zveryanskaya, Ekaterina Metlinskaya and Olga Roshka during a daily painting lesson in the Benderian high art college.
Kichcani village, Pridnestrovie. A young girl is making a selfie after the visit to one of the most important Ortodox complex in Pridnestrovie.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Andrej Stratu, 19 years old. Rapper. His family is Moldovian and he considers itself Moldovan not Pridnestrovian. He organizes Hip Hop events and contests. In his lyrics he preferes not to speak about political contents.
Bender, Pridnestrovie. Soviet Union simbols in a city park.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Darya Reykhova, 18 years old. She had a son when she was very young and since that moment her life completely changed.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Sdiassor 2 im.B.Dolgina sport center, Daily trainings of two athletes. All the Pridnestrovian athlets are forced to compete under the flag of an other nation because Pridnestrovie being unrecognized, cannot partecipate in any international sport event.
Bender, Pridnestrovie. Soviet propaganda for the space program on a wall.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Sdiussor Gym center. Some kids during their daily martial arts trainings.
Bender, Pridnestrovie. The abandoned and vandalized house of culture. Now is used for illegal rave parties.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Arseniy Stelya, 26 years old with Elisabeth Nalivaico, 20 years old and their kid Kirill, 7 months in their house. She left her work to be a mum, He wants to become a journalist. His life is completely changed after the born of Kirill because he found the strengh to quit using drugs. They earn 300$ per month and receive 100$ extra from the government as a social aid to young couples.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Sergej on his wedding day in his parents apartment, located in a popular district of the city, before going to visit and take his future bride from her family's house to the ortodox church they have chosen for the rite.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Photos of a candidate for the Russian elections. The citizens of Pridnestrovie with Russian passports can take part in elections. Putin's party has a clear majority among the residential preferences and makes a strong campaign.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Sdiassor 2 im.B.Dolgina sport center, Daily trainings of an athlete. All the Pridnestrovian athlets are forced to compete under the flag of an other nation because Pridnestrovie being unrecognized, cannot partecipate in any international sport event.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. View from a boat on the Dnepr river. The river is one of the major rivers of Europe (fourth by length). Pridnestrovie's name literally means "beyond the River Dnepr". Along its shores has been fought the heaviest fights during the independence war in 1992 because the river itself represented a natural border between the Russian an Moldavian population.
Tiraspol, Pridnestrovie. Tanya Dunaevskaya, 20 years old. Vegan and raw foddist. She has one daughter and she made her first tattoo at 14 and she uses tattoes and body modifications as a way of self expression. Her lifestyle is not well accepted in the country and people see her as a negative figure. The lackof open mind opinions and culture in general convince her to leave the country and move to Kiev first and then, maybe, to Poland.