Transnistria, a de facto state internationally-recognised as part of Moldova, has two co-official national flags. The first co-official national flag consists of three horizontal bands of red, green, and red, of vertical width 3:2:3, and in the upper canton, is the main element of the coat of arms of Transnistria; a golden hammer and sickle and a gold-bordered red star. The hammer and sickle fit into a conventional square, and the star, a conditional circle. Transnistria adopted this design that comprises a version of the flag of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic used between 1952 and 1990 in the 2000 Law about State Symbols.[citation needed] The second co-official national flag consists of three horizontal stripes in the colors white, blue, and red, identical to the Russian flag but at a ratio of 1:2 instead of 2:3.
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| Use | State flag and ensign, war flag    |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | 31 January 1952
(original version) 2 September 1991 (current version used) |
| Design | Three horizontal bands of red, green and red, with a hammer and sickle in the canton. Nearly identical to the flag of the Moldavian SSR, but with a lighter, more bluish green. |
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| Use | Co-official national flag   |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | 12 April 2017 |
| Design | Duplicate of the flag of Russia, but with a different ratio (1:2 instead of 2:3) |
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| Use | Civil flag and ensign    (Reverse side of state flag/ensign) |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Design | Three horizontal bands of red, green and red. |
 | |
| Use | Presidential standard |
| Proportion | 1:1 |
| Design | Three horizontal bands of red, green and red bearing the coat of arms of Transnitria in the centre. |
 | |
| Use | Customs Flag |
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | Unknown |
| Design | The customs flag is dark green with two thin red stripes at the bottom, representing the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic's flag. In the center, there are two crossed yellow and golden caduceuses. |
History
editThe flag of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic served as the flag of the republic until December 1991. When Moldova became independent, some places in Transnistria refused to fly the new Moldovan flag and continued to fly the flag of the Soviet Union. Continued use of the flag of the former Moldavian SSR was popular and it was officially reintroduced as the flag of Transnistria in 1991. Despite the socialist influence on the flag and coat of arms, the Transnistria is not a communist state.
The original flag, as well as its description, are kept in the official residence of the President of Transnistria.[1]
In 2009, the Supreme Council discussed a proposal to replace the civil flag – which is plain red-green-red without the hammer and sickle – with a new flag, carrying three horizontal stripes in the colors white, blue, and red, being nearly identical to the flag of the Russian Federation, but with a different aspect ratio (1:2 instead of Russia's 2:3).[2] The primary reason for the co-official national flag is that it indicates Transnistria's desire for closer ties with Russia, a guarantor of Transnistria's claimed independence from Moldova. In an internationally-recognised 2006 referendum, 97.2% of Transnistrians were reported to have voted in favor of increased country's dependence to Russia. The new flag is used alongside the state flag. In April 2017, the Supreme Council passed a motion making the new design Transnistria's co-official national flag.[3]
The current president of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, who self-identifies as a monarchist, has stated that he considers the Soviet symbolism in the emblems of his country to be "irrelevant".[4]
Usage
editTransnistrian law permits the use of a simplified version of the flag for non-governmental use (personal and commercial usage) without the hammer and sickle and red star and regard to shape or size. The most common size is still 1:2, but 2:3 versions have also been used.
The national flag of Transnistria is permanently raised on the buildings of:
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Construction sheet (State Flag) -
Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic flag -
Transnistrian number plate with the simplified flag in the corner
Other flags
editThe presidential flag is a 1:1, yellow fringed version of the civil flag with the coat-of-arms in the center. It was adopted on 18 July 2000 and replaced an earlier version dating from 1997.
A customs flag is also in use by Transnistrian customs. It is a primarily green flag with two red bands at the bottom. In the center, there are two crossed yellow and golden caduceuses.[5][6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Официальный сайт Президента Приднестровской Молдавской Республики – Закон ПМР "О ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОМ ФЛАГЕ ПРИДНЕСТРОВСКОЙ МОЛДАВСКОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКИ" – Законы". Official Site of the President of the PMR (Law of the Flag).
- ^
Moldova.org: Transnistria considers broadening its state symbols Archived 18 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine (5 May 2009)
Supreme Council – parliamentary news: On state insignia (2 June 2009)
Supreme Council – parliamentary news: Reaffirming commitment to harmonization of PMR and RF legislation (28 May 2009) - ^ "В ПМР российский флаг разрешили использовать наравне с государственным" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 12 April 2017.
- ^ "The official website of the President of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic reported that the working week of the Head of the State began with a teleconference meeting – News".
- ^ "Государственный таможенный комитет – 31". Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ "Dniestr Republic (Moldova)". Flagspot.net. Retrieved 12 December 2017.