1 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:17,750 there are almost 200 official countries 2 00:00:16,100 --> 00:00:20,060 in the world today but there are dozens 3 00:00:17,750 --> 00:00:22,009 more breakaway states determined to be 4 00:00:20,060 --> 00:00:24,259 separate but officially not recognized 5 00:00:22,009 --> 00:00:26,750 some survive peacefully with their own 6 00:00:24,259 --> 00:00:28,460 borders money and presidents but others 7 00:00:26,750 --> 00:00:30,410 are a magnet for terrorists and weapon 8 00:00:28,460 --> 00:00:36,579 smuggling and have armies ready for a 9 00:00:30,410 --> 00:00:36,579 fight welcome to places that don't exist 10 00:01:06,540 --> 00:01:11,560 Moldova sandwiched between Romania and 11 00:01:09,460 --> 00:01:14,860 Ukraine gained independence after the 12 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,810 collapse of the Soviet Union two-thirds 13 00:01:14,860 --> 00:01:18,940 of the people were of Romanian descent 14 00:01:16,810 --> 00:01:19,690 and wanted closer ties with neighbors to 15 00:01:18,940 --> 00:01:21,700 the west 16 00:01:19,690 --> 00:01:23,320 but the eastern side of the country 17 00:01:21,700 --> 00:01:26,950 wanted to retain close links with 18 00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:29,440 Ukraine and Russia war broke out and the 19 00:01:26,950 --> 00:01:31,330 East split to form Transnistria a new 20 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:35,070 country which even now remains 21 00:01:31,330 --> 00:01:35,070 unrecognized by the rest of the world 22 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:43,130 my journey began in Kizzy now the 23 00:01:40,550 --> 00:01:45,620 capital of Moldova where I visited a 24 00:01:43,130 --> 00:01:48,140 civil war memorial with my guide Liliana 25 00:01:45,620 --> 00:01:50,510 this is a monument of the glory of those 26 00:01:48,140 --> 00:01:53,720 who died for the independence and the 27 00:01:50,510 --> 00:01:55,400 integrity of the country presumably 28 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,840 these are all Moldovan soldiers rather 29 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,880 than Transnistrian as well 30 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,680 these are definitely those four thoughts 31 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,839 on the mod on one side so I actually 32 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:04,940 happened in the war justice and 33 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,530 separatists attacked Moldova they were 34 00:02:04,940 --> 00:02:08,570 afraid of motorized moving closer to the 35 00:02:06,530 --> 00:02:10,310 European Union and Romania first of all 36 00:02:08,570 --> 00:02:13,280 Russia backed up Transnistria 37 00:02:10,310 --> 00:02:14,870 separatists the fight stopped after the 38 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:18,470 intervention of the Russian president at 39 00:02:14,870 --> 00:02:20,840 that time Boris Yeltsin it's been an 40 00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:23,150 uneasy ceasefire it's kind of like a 41 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:26,140 cold war that it's still lasting between 42 00:02:23,150 --> 00:02:26,140 those two sides 43 00:02:30,700 --> 00:02:37,179 I arrived in Moldova on Independence Day 44 00:02:34,230 --> 00:02:39,099 vladimir verona the president moldova 45 00:02:37,180 --> 00:02:40,750 was leading a service to commemorate 46 00:02:39,099 --> 00:02:43,530 those who died during the fighting with 47 00:02:40,750 --> 00:02:43,530 Transnistria 48 00:02:45,650 --> 00:02:50,940 around 1,500 people were killed on both 49 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:53,820 sides in the war but the rest of the 50 00:02:50,940 --> 00:02:55,710 world barely noticed those independents 51 00:02:53,820 --> 00:02:57,989 a Moldova that energy celebrating some 52 00:02:55,710 --> 00:02:59,720 transition so officially we see there 53 00:02:57,990 --> 00:03:01,340 one country 54 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:11,210 I'm transnistria they have their own 55 00:03:01,340 --> 00:03:12,440 Independence Day you guys my little god 56 00:03:11,210 --> 00:03:17,750 but not everyone was celebrating 57 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:19,880 Independence she singing she was singing 58 00:03:17,750 --> 00:03:23,480 she like astronomia an ayah which means 59 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:25,700 great and why enlarge is my country so 60 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:27,739 it was a song about Russia it's quite 61 00:03:25,700 --> 00:03:29,750 provocative to think this kind of song 62 00:03:27,740 --> 00:03:31,460 on the Independence Day of Moldova and 63 00:03:29,750 --> 00:03:36,680 this independence it seen first of all 64 00:03:31,460 --> 00:03:37,850 as independence from Russia Russia 65 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:41,000 Russia okay 66 00:03:37,850 --> 00:03:43,630 love is fuzzy the woman was taken away 67 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,630 by the police 68 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:57,510 most people in Moldova are less than two 69 00:03:55,200 --> 00:04:00,179 pounds a day the conflict with 70 00:03:57,510 --> 00:04:02,670 Transnistria hasn't helped away from the 71 00:04:00,180 --> 00:04:05,939 town's work is scarce and unemployment 72 00:04:02,670 --> 00:04:12,510 is high we're not going to make out 73 00:04:05,939 --> 00:04:14,879 there are we when you get outside the 74 00:04:12,510 --> 00:04:16,380 capital Moldova you realize this is 75 00:04:14,879 --> 00:04:17,959 actually a very poor country and 76 00:04:16,380 --> 00:04:20,699 officially it's supposed to be the 77 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:23,099 poorest country in Europe and we've come 78 00:04:20,699 --> 00:04:24,360 to this village in the southwest of the 79 00:04:23,099 --> 00:04:26,430 country where we've been told that 80 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:28,500 villages have come up with a rather 81 00:04:26,430 --> 00:04:30,889 extreme method of earning some extra 82 00:04:28,500 --> 00:04:30,889 cash 83 00:04:49,639 --> 00:04:54,270 thirty two men in this village have sold 84 00:04:52,319 --> 00:04:56,759 one of their kidneys to Westerners 85 00:04:54,270 --> 00:04:59,340 desperate for a transplant most were 86 00:04:56,759 --> 00:05:01,440 paid no more than 2,000 pounds do you 87 00:04:59,340 --> 00:05:04,500 know what happened to your kidney do you 88 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:07,169 know who received it yet oh it went to a 89 00:05:04,500 --> 00:05:08,849 woman around 40 I saw her she was 90 00:05:07,169 --> 00:05:09,990 preparing for the transplant did she 91 00:05:08,849 --> 00:05:13,380 speak to you did you have any 92 00:05:09,990 --> 00:05:15,449 conversation with her yeah I never spoke 93 00:05:13,380 --> 00:05:16,469 to her she had been given the anesthetic 94 00:05:15,449 --> 00:05:18,990 so she was unconscious 95 00:05:16,470 --> 00:05:22,889 I was dragged what did you do with the 96 00:05:18,990 --> 00:05:25,169 money but of aku first I bought a cow 97 00:05:22,889 --> 00:05:28,669 then I renovated the house I bought a 98 00:05:25,169 --> 00:05:28,669 washing machine and clothes for the kids 99 00:05:29,419 --> 00:05:33,830 skeleton that was it it was all gone 100 00:05:36,470 --> 00:05:43,100 in many Moldovan villages only children 101 00:05:40,220 --> 00:05:46,840 and grandparents remain young adults 102 00:05:43,100 --> 00:05:46,840 have gone abroad in search of work 103 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:53,060 everyone here hasn't seen her mother for 104 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:55,220 five months her mother's gone to Moscow 105 00:05:53,060 --> 00:05:58,760 so she can't get a job here so she's 106 00:05:55,220 --> 00:06:00,590 gone to Russia to earn some money around 107 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:03,460 a million Moldovans are thought to have 108 00:06:00,590 --> 00:06:03,460 left the country 109 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:11,379 we'd been invited to meet the president 110 00:06:08,740 --> 00:06:13,599 at his official villa on our way Liliana 111 00:06:11,379 --> 00:06:13,960 explained why Transnistria matters to 112 00:06:13,599 --> 00:06:15,909 him 113 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,859 president Aronian this is a personal 114 00:06:15,909 --> 00:06:20,110 issue because he's born there his mother 115 00:06:17,860 --> 00:06:21,699 lives in Transnistria and for Verona and 116 00:06:20,110 --> 00:06:23,889 that's also a personal matter 117 00:06:21,699 --> 00:06:26,800 especially that for the past two years 118 00:06:23,889 --> 00:06:28,779 he hasn't been allowed they told to go 119 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:31,449 there to travel to cross the river and 120 00:06:28,779 --> 00:06:33,900 see his mother so yes it is a very 121 00:06:31,449 --> 00:06:37,689 important issue for president huronian 122 00:06:33,900 --> 00:06:52,808 if I'm not surprised as president in his 123 00:06:37,689 --> 00:07:00,009 Dean's let's can say hello what goes for 124 00:06:52,809 --> 00:07:02,529 it come on in come on it's very very 125 00:07:00,009 --> 00:07:08,529 very nice fault did he say that it had 126 00:07:02,529 --> 00:07:12,249 spots like President Gorbachev yeah it's 127 00:07:08,529 --> 00:07:14,409 a true communist cat cynical side of me 128 00:07:12,249 --> 00:07:17,110 thinks he's replaced here they say we 129 00:07:14,409 --> 00:07:21,759 see what lovely chap he is do you want 130 00:07:17,110 --> 00:07:24,580 us to carry you any honors go huh my 131 00:07:21,759 --> 00:07:27,999 heels I guess like me she thought we'd 132 00:07:24,580 --> 00:07:30,068 be in an office having a chat so we got 133 00:07:27,999 --> 00:07:34,599 dressed up which I mean how transport 134 00:07:30,069 --> 00:07:38,399 was a bit of a mistake there the 135 00:07:34,599 --> 00:07:38,399 President had decided to take us fishing 136 00:07:39,300 --> 00:07:44,199 why should the rest of the world be 137 00:07:42,339 --> 00:07:45,939 worried about the Transnistrian 138 00:07:44,199 --> 00:07:47,409 situation what's going on there that the 139 00:07:45,939 --> 00:07:50,529 rest of Europe should be concerned about 140 00:07:47,409 --> 00:07:53,498 but also to observe zq lumetri the 141 00:07:50,529 --> 00:07:55,779 Qatari position Moldova Moldova has a 142 00:07:53,499 --> 00:07:58,569 480 kilometer border with the Ukraine 143 00:07:55,779 --> 00:08:00,909 and the section in Transnistria is not 144 00:07:58,569 --> 00:08:03,639 controlled and via this there's 145 00:08:00,909 --> 00:08:05,589 uncontrolled migration contraband arms 146 00:08:03,639 --> 00:08:08,379 trafficking the trafficking of human 147 00:08:05,589 --> 00:08:12,370 beings and drugs into money so traffic 148 00:08:08,379 --> 00:08:14,620 the Grover Grover fulfilled FLD platoon 149 00:08:12,370 --> 00:08:16,980 these operations are being legitimized 150 00:08:14,620 --> 00:08:20,169 by the separatist regime it is 151 00:08:16,980 --> 00:08:23,949 separatist Carolyn it's a black hole of 152 00:08:20,169 --> 00:08:25,990 corruption and trafficking there are 13 153 00:08:23,949 --> 00:08:29,530 enterprises in Transnistria that are 154 00:08:25,990 --> 00:08:34,779 producing arms non-stop what Scalia's 155 00:08:29,530 --> 00:08:37,079 but Scalia's adieu beep intro Carrie the 156 00:08:34,779 --> 00:08:47,529 president cut short his allegations 157 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:49,330 because he'd caught a fish the president 158 00:08:47,529 --> 00:08:51,250 then insisted we celebrate national 159 00:08:49,330 --> 00:08:54,270 independence with a glass or two of fine 160 00:08:51,250 --> 00:08:56,170 Moldovan cognac it's very hard to refuse 161 00:08:54,270 --> 00:08:58,060 president when we are you 162 00:08:56,170 --> 00:09:02,079 kanya and we have to get through the 163 00:08:58,060 --> 00:09:03,910 entire bottle this is not about alcohol 164 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:05,800 or getting drunk I'm very proud of 165 00:09:03,910 --> 00:09:07,660 Moldova and cognac and I want to promote 166 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:09,849 it when your global doughnut I totally 167 00:09:07,660 --> 00:09:12,370 approve of this the fact that you have 168 00:09:09,850 --> 00:09:17,710 not considered is my complete inability 169 00:09:12,370 --> 00:09:19,180 to drink alcohol by the time the first 170 00:09:17,710 --> 00:09:33,310 lady returned from shopping 171 00:09:19,180 --> 00:09:35,170 we were finishing the second bottle that 172 00:09:33,310 --> 00:09:39,150 night the whole of Kizzy now seem to be 173 00:09:35,170 --> 00:09:39,150 celebrating at a huge Independence Party 174 00:10:05,380 --> 00:10:10,340 we left Liliana to drive to what is 175 00:10:07,910 --> 00:10:12,230 still officially part of Moldova even if 176 00:10:10,340 --> 00:10:14,180 the Moldovan president can't come here 177 00:10:12,230 --> 00:10:19,040 we're just coming up to the border 178 00:10:14,180 --> 00:10:20,329 between Transnistria and Moldova now at 179 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,770 the moment we're in the what is 180 00:10:20,330 --> 00:10:25,820 essentially a demilitarized zone between 181 00:10:21,770 --> 00:10:26,480 Moldova in Transnistria just before we 182 00:10:25,820 --> 00:10:28,340 arrived 183 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:30,740 Transnistria banned the teaching of 184 00:10:28,340 --> 00:10:33,230 Moldovan in their schools allowing only 185 00:10:30,740 --> 00:10:41,080 Russian Moldova responded with an 186 00:10:33,230 --> 00:10:44,630 economic blockade can we film yet hello 187 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:48,770 nice at the border I met Larisa there 188 00:10:44,630 --> 00:10:51,020 would be my guide in Transnistria and to 189 00:10:48,770 --> 00:10:53,620 see your reaction to everything and now 190 00:10:51,020 --> 00:10:56,560 are we on are we in Transnistria now I 191 00:10:53,620 --> 00:11:00,560 believe yes this is gender teru teru 192 00:10:56,560 --> 00:11:03,739 Transnistria now alaska's with us in the 193 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:05,569 mostly commuted moistly my we just 194 00:11:03,740 --> 00:11:08,300 wanted to film our arrival in 195 00:11:05,570 --> 00:11:11,240 Transnistria but the border guards have 196 00:11:08,300 --> 00:11:12,770 come over in a very Soviet way and tried 197 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:13,700 to take the camera away and stop us but 198 00:11:12,770 --> 00:11:15,680 now we're having a little bit of a 199 00:11:13,700 --> 00:11:17,060 discussion with them a healthy 200 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:18,380 discussion about the fact that we are 201 00:11:17,060 --> 00:11:21,880 already registered it's already 202 00:11:18,380 --> 00:11:24,590 hopefully legitimate for us to be here 203 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:26,810 we passed through customs and border 204 00:11:24,590 --> 00:11:28,340 posts cross the river dividing the two 205 00:11:26,810 --> 00:11:30,369 countries and were allowed into 206 00:11:28,340 --> 00:11:34,060 Transnistria 207 00:11:30,370 --> 00:11:36,339 a short drive took us to Tara's port the 208 00:11:34,060 --> 00:11:39,660 capital where soviet-era statues are 209 00:11:36,339 --> 00:11:43,000 still standing it's quite rare to see 210 00:11:39,660 --> 00:11:46,449 statues of Lenin still standing - people 211 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:51,300 look back fondly on the Soviet times no 212 00:11:46,450 --> 00:11:51,300 you know just we do not carry out 213 00:11:52,590 --> 00:12:00,600 so you choose not to destroy it was made 214 00:11:55,950 --> 00:12:03,420 by a good sculpture it is made of a good 215 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:13,110 material it expresses something like a 216 00:12:03,420 --> 00:12:13,860 stain it's quite a small bed but in this 217 00:12:13,110 --> 00:12:16,220 hotel 218 00:12:13,860 --> 00:12:18,930 apparently there's only one double room 219 00:12:16,220 --> 00:12:23,400 that's been booked up by the customs 220 00:12:18,930 --> 00:12:26,250 committee whatever that is the any other 221 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:28,949 problem we've been told with this hotel 222 00:12:26,250 --> 00:12:31,200 and other hotels like is that we will be 223 00:12:28,950 --> 00:12:33,060 watched and we will be listening to so I 224 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,730 suspect based on what we've told that 225 00:12:33,060 --> 00:12:37,170 the rooms are bugged by the 226 00:12:34,730 --> 00:12:38,880 Transnistrian KGB who are really just 227 00:12:37,170 --> 00:12:41,089 operating as if it was still Soviet 228 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:41,089 times 229 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:51,400 there's certainly a Soviet air to 230 00:12:49,630 --> 00:12:53,290 tiraspol but there were none of the 231 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:56,730 armed men Moldovans had told us we'd 232 00:12:53,290 --> 00:12:56,730 seen loitering around the streets 233 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:06,190 well you sorted is something bad and for 234 00:13:03,130 --> 00:13:09,790 us Soviet is a good word it was at the 235 00:13:06,190 --> 00:13:11,680 time of a very good and stable life but 236 00:13:09,790 --> 00:13:13,900 it doesn't mean that the luck is the 237 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:17,099 same as it was in the times of the 238 00:13:13,900 --> 00:13:21,630 Soviet Union it's quite different we are 239 00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:25,060 realistic people and we understand that 240 00:13:21,630 --> 00:13:31,689 everything has changed we have our 241 00:13:25,060 --> 00:13:37,630 passports so this is a Transnistrian 242 00:13:31,690 --> 00:13:42,450 passport who recognizes this passport we 243 00:13:37,630 --> 00:13:42,450 do this there's anybody else 244 00:13:44,940 --> 00:13:49,450 just been accosted by an official from 245 00:13:47,260 --> 00:13:50,890 the Transnistrian bank it wants us to 246 00:13:49,450 --> 00:13:53,020 come to an exhibition they're having 247 00:13:50,890 --> 00:13:55,510 here for the 10th anniversary of the 248 00:13:53,020 --> 00:13:57,819 Transnistrian ruble see the rest of the 249 00:13:55,510 --> 00:13:59,200 world might not think this place exists 250 00:13:57,820 --> 00:14:01,060 but they have their own stamps their own 251 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:06,700 government their own present and their 252 00:14:01,060 --> 00:14:08,709 own money printing money is one of the 253 00:14:06,700 --> 00:14:11,620 major steps for a breakaway state trying 254 00:14:08,710 --> 00:14:13,030 to secure independence the Moldovan 255 00:14:11,620 --> 00:14:14,830 government was furious when 256 00:14:13,030 --> 00:14:18,220 transnistria's began issuing their own 257 00:14:14,830 --> 00:14:21,250 currency so why they no pictures of the 258 00:14:18,220 --> 00:14:23,050 President on your notes your store knows 259 00:14:21,250 --> 00:14:25,060 we don't have a cult of personality of 260 00:14:23,050 --> 00:14:26,260 the presidency lianca is prettier 261 00:14:25,060 --> 00:14:28,449 previous tours come on the history of 262 00:14:26,260 --> 00:14:30,370 our republic is very short we don't have 263 00:14:28,450 --> 00:14:32,020 many modern heroes that's why the 264 00:14:30,370 --> 00:14:33,190 banknotes have portraits of the people 265 00:14:32,020 --> 00:14:35,230 who've influenced our development 266 00:14:33,190 --> 00:14:42,160 banknote immune suppression is finished 267 00:14:35,230 --> 00:14:44,560 Kingi - this is a huge steel work some 268 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:47,050 metal factory one of the largest in the 269 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:49,569 former Soviet Union they used to export 270 00:14:47,050 --> 00:14:52,000 all over the former Soviet Union in the 271 00:14:49,570 --> 00:14:53,680 in the old days during the Cold War now 272 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,630 obviously it's part of Transnistria 273 00:14:53,680 --> 00:15:00,000 there's a lot of rumors that they're 274 00:14:55,630 --> 00:15:00,000 producing arms here in secret factories 275 00:15:21,660 --> 00:15:26,139 this place is absolutely huge anything 276 00:15:24,519 --> 00:15:28,510 I've ever been anywhere quite so fast 277 00:15:26,139 --> 00:15:30,700 such a fast industrial class 278 00:15:28,510 --> 00:15:32,260 they can be hiding any number of arms 279 00:15:30,700 --> 00:15:34,980 factories here and we would never be 280 00:15:32,260 --> 00:15:34,980 able to see them 281 00:15:38,770 --> 00:15:45,380 people in Moldova often like to claim 23 282 00:15:42,650 --> 00:15:46,970 account function as a full state doesn't 283 00:15:45,380 --> 00:15:49,189 have the necessary industry or 284 00:15:46,970 --> 00:15:51,950 infrastructure become a you actually 285 00:15:49,190 --> 00:15:54,040 realize it clearly does have massive 286 00:15:51,950 --> 00:15:56,660 autonomy 287 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:58,219 in fact some people here have suggested 288 00:15:56,660 --> 00:16:00,530 to us if it's mulled over that can't 289 00:15:58,220 --> 00:16:03,470 function as a steak transnistria will be 290 00:16:00,530 --> 00:16:05,240 the one that survived during Soviet 291 00:16:03,470 --> 00:16:07,250 times most of the heavy industry in 292 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:09,170 moldova was concentrated in Transnistria 293 00:16:07,250 --> 00:16:11,300 when the territory proclaimed 294 00:16:09,170 --> 00:16:14,569 independence it kept the biggest most 295 00:16:11,300 --> 00:16:16,880 productive factories but buyers abroad 296 00:16:14,570 --> 00:16:19,430 don't recognize trans nisha exists and 297 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:21,470 after the blockade imposed by Moldova 298 00:16:19,430 --> 00:16:24,680 factories are stockpiling Goods and 299 00:16:21,470 --> 00:16:26,330 laying off workers on this one you can 300 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:28,359 see the country of destination is 301 00:16:26,330 --> 00:16:30,860 supposed to be the United Kingdom and 302 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:32,900 they can't send it because of the 303 00:16:30,860 --> 00:16:37,660 blockade but also interestingly it has 304 00:16:32,900 --> 00:16:40,250 made in Moldova gospel teaches viewers 305 00:16:37,660 --> 00:16:44,360 the action Moldova is taking against 306 00:16:40,250 --> 00:16:46,600 Transnistria his economic story was a 307 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:48,950 creative one where the Tripura 308 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:50,900 Transnistria has survived for 14 years 309 00:16:48,950 --> 00:16:53,660 without support from Moldova all the 310 00:16:50,900 --> 00:16:57,079 rest of the world it is a big one is 311 00:16:53,660 --> 00:16:58,819 linear it has everything it needs to 312 00:16:57,080 --> 00:17:01,730 survive whether Moldova likes it or not 313 00:16:58,820 --> 00:17:03,430 the more traditional approach to our 314 00:17:01,730 --> 00:17:05,709 model 315 00:17:03,430 --> 00:17:07,829 another thing that people outside 316 00:17:05,709 --> 00:17:11,339 Transnistria have said to us is that 317 00:17:07,829 --> 00:17:14,740 this Factory is one of several producing 318 00:17:11,339 --> 00:17:16,809 armaments producing weapons last year we 319 00:17:14,740 --> 00:17:23,010 haven't got time we've got no time to 320 00:17:16,809 --> 00:17:23,010 produce weapons just deal 321 00:17:26,500 --> 00:17:31,370 Transnistria is thought to be a major 322 00:17:28,850 --> 00:17:34,158 producer of arms and guns from here have 323 00:17:31,370 --> 00:17:36,010 turned up in Chechnya in Africa but 324 00:17:34,159 --> 00:17:37,880 nobody really knows what's going on 325 00:17:36,010 --> 00:17:40,520 international organizations don't 326 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:42,460 recognize Transnistria exists so they're 327 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:44,570 not able to visit and investigate 328 00:17:42,460 --> 00:17:47,000 Transnistria shares a border with the 329 00:17:44,570 --> 00:17:48,710 Ukraine and it's notoriously porous 330 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:51,080 there's all sorts of goods being 331 00:17:48,710 --> 00:17:53,030 smuggled across from cigarettes and 332 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,889 alcohol through to quite serious weapons 333 00:17:53,030 --> 00:17:57,139 that are being produced in Transnistria 334 00:17:54,890 --> 00:17:59,750 away from the prying eyes of the 335 00:17:57,140 --> 00:18:01,730 international community give you an idea 336 00:17:59,750 --> 00:18:04,400 of just how easy it is to smuggle in 337 00:18:01,730 --> 00:18:06,799 this region where I'm standing now is in 338 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:09,080 Transnistria and this road here takes 339 00:18:06,799 --> 00:18:12,110 you further into Transnistria but if we 340 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:14,510 cross over here to these fields and 341 00:18:12,110 --> 00:18:16,370 where I'm standing now we're actually in 342 00:18:14,510 --> 00:18:18,289 the Ukraine so we just cross the border 343 00:18:16,370 --> 00:18:20,149 illegally but there's no guards or 344 00:18:18,289 --> 00:18:22,789 border post to stop us there's not even 345 00:18:20,150 --> 00:18:24,200 a line indicating we're on a border an 346 00:18:22,789 --> 00:18:26,210 international border between two 347 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:28,370 countries and this is what smugglers do 348 00:18:26,210 --> 00:18:30,559 they'll come down here in a car or a van 349 00:18:28,370 --> 00:18:32,600 they can get into the Ukraine on 350 00:18:30,559 --> 00:18:34,309 well-worn tracks like this one in front 351 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,750 of us here when they're in the Ukraine 352 00:18:34,309 --> 00:18:37,610 they can get to the Black Sea port of 353 00:18:35,750 --> 00:18:39,440 Odessa and from there they can ship 354 00:18:37,610 --> 00:18:41,649 goods and weapons to the rest of the 355 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,650 world 356 00:18:50,159 --> 00:18:53,649 it's not just at the unofficial border 357 00:18:52,450 --> 00:18:54,970 crossings that goods are being smuggled 358 00:18:53,649 --> 00:18:56,860 across they're also being smuggled 359 00:18:54,970 --> 00:18:57,640 across official crossings like the one 360 00:18:56,860 --> 00:18:59,740 down there 361 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:01,299 the Transnistrian and the Ukranian 362 00:18:59,740 --> 00:19:02,980 customs authority which is on the other 363 00:19:01,299 --> 00:19:04,750 side are both notoriously corrupt 364 00:19:02,980 --> 00:19:06,789 there's always goods being passed back 365 00:19:04,750 --> 00:19:08,590 and forth with the tacit agreement of 366 00:19:06,789 --> 00:19:10,658 some customs officials and the 367 00:19:08,590 --> 00:19:12,129 Transnistrian customs authority is 368 00:19:10,659 --> 00:19:15,549 actually controlled by the president's 369 00:19:12,130 --> 00:19:16,809 son the president's son is also alleged 370 00:19:15,549 --> 00:19:19,059 to be involved with a company called 371 00:19:16,809 --> 00:19:23,230 sheriff which Interpol is claimed is 372 00:19:19,059 --> 00:19:24,460 linked to arms trafficking the firm has 373 00:19:23,230 --> 00:19:27,279 just built a multi-million pound 374 00:19:24,460 --> 00:19:28,870 football stadium where moldova who have 375 00:19:27,279 --> 00:19:31,299 no such stadiums play their 376 00:19:28,870 --> 00:19:33,189 international games pressive ground what 377 00:19:31,299 --> 00:19:36,129 got vodka we're preparing for the World 378 00:19:33,190 --> 00:19:38,169 Cup game against Italy when the 379 00:19:36,130 --> 00:19:44,039 president of FIFA Sepp Blatter saw this 380 00:19:38,169 --> 00:19:44,039 he said wonderful beautiful our good 381 00:19:44,159 --> 00:19:49,059 apart from this stadium Sheriff also 382 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:51,700 owned supermarkets petrol stations and a 383 00:19:49,059 --> 00:19:53,769 mobile phone network some people refer 384 00:19:51,700 --> 00:19:59,260 to Transnistria as the Republic of 385 00:19:53,769 --> 00:20:01,149 Sheriff so it's called sheriff because 386 00:19:59,260 --> 00:20:03,309 the two men who started it were both 387 00:20:01,149 --> 00:20:06,610 used to be Soviet police officers they 388 00:20:03,309 --> 00:20:08,678 but the Muslim leadership we think of 389 00:20:06,610 --> 00:20:10,629 yes and also because almost all of the 390 00:20:08,679 --> 00:20:12,610 people who work for the club are members 391 00:20:10,630 --> 00:20:14,679 of the police force or were officers in 392 00:20:12,610 --> 00:20:16,779 the Russian or Soviet army oh yeah I 393 00:20:14,679 --> 00:20:19,059 should sort of as a basa sorry Otsuka 394 00:20:16,779 --> 00:20:21,720 ramirez sk what happened I was a colonel 395 00:20:19,059 --> 00:20:24,760 in the Russian army before I resigned 396 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:26,950 two days later the Moldovan zan ounce 397 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,899 their upcoming match against Italy would 398 00:20:26,950 --> 00:20:31,149 in fact be played in Moldova's crumbling 399 00:20:28,899 --> 00:20:35,229 Stadium rather than give Transnistria 400 00:20:31,149 --> 00:20:36,189 any publicity Moldova lost 1 nil what 401 00:20:35,230 --> 00:20:39,299 just came around the front of the 402 00:20:36,190 --> 00:20:43,480 building because we've been told there's 403 00:20:39,299 --> 00:20:46,480 Mercedes showroom of all things in the 404 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:48,070 front of the stadium complex again I say 405 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,500 these cars being sold in the country 406 00:20:48,070 --> 00:20:54,070 where people are only peanuts for wages 407 00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:55,600 it's a little Lord but like everywhere 408 00:20:54,070 --> 00:20:57,908 in former Soviet Union 409 00:20:55,600 --> 00:21:01,139 some people earn a lot of money and most 410 00:20:57,909 --> 00:21:01,139 people earn next to nothing 411 00:21:03,550 --> 00:21:07,149 how much does this cost 412 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:23,559 so this is $60,000 to buy so that's 413 00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:25,710 about 40,000 British pounds but yes 414 00:21:23,559 --> 00:21:27,309 you've conserve Russia will feel my 415 00:21:25,710 --> 00:21:30,309 premiere-minister 416 00:21:27,309 --> 00:21:32,139 villa Ko Britannica speeds in Blair if 417 00:21:30,309 --> 00:21:34,330 as a result of your film the British 418 00:21:32,140 --> 00:21:36,400 prime minister officially recognizes the 419 00:21:34,330 --> 00:21:39,000 existence of the Transnistrian Republic 420 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:40,990 then you'll receive this car as a gift 421 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:44,080 this car is a gift 422 00:21:40,990 --> 00:21:46,539 yeah right have I got Danny fries number 423 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:49,049 I'm just gonna move my Delphi let's get 424 00:21:46,539 --> 00:21:49,049 him on the phone 425 00:21:52,740 --> 00:21:57,760 huge crowds came out to celebrate 426 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:59,500 Transnistrian Independence Day although 427 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:02,440 the population of Transnistria is only 428 00:21:59,500 --> 00:22:04,419 around 600,000 its forces match those of 429 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:09,880 Moldova leading to military stalemate 430 00:22:04,419 --> 00:22:11,860 between the two igor smirnov the 431 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:20,740 Transnistrian president was taking the 432 00:22:11,860 --> 00:22:22,959 salute be marching the soldiers the 433 00:22:20,740 --> 00:22:26,050 emblems and particular music it just 434 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:28,480 strikes me the win when most 435 00:22:26,050 --> 00:22:31,020 it's quite incredible as a complete 436 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:31,020 throwback 437 00:23:19,179 --> 00:23:22,909 why don't we ask if we can just say 438 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:27,470 hello to the president and ask him a few 439 00:23:22,909 --> 00:23:29,690 questions mr. president can we just ask 440 00:23:27,470 --> 00:23:32,000 what does Independence Day mean to you 441 00:23:29,690 --> 00:23:33,470 and does it disappoint you that the rest 442 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:37,299 of the world is not here to celebrate 443 00:23:33,470 --> 00:23:41,570 with you you pushed me you're as Ichiro 444 00:23:37,299 --> 00:23:43,549 I'm not at all disappointed well being 445 00:23:41,570 --> 00:23:47,210 by ourselves as though it's swaying 446 00:23:43,549 --> 00:23:48,830 Prado we got oh very much we're happy to 447 00:23:47,210 --> 00:23:51,139 receive guests from all over the world 448 00:23:48,830 --> 00:23:53,029 we don't want to ask them for anything 449 00:23:51,139 --> 00:23:58,449 we'd like to learn something from a 450 00:23:53,029 --> 00:24:00,710 sample which sheets to do miss 451 00:23:58,450 --> 00:24:02,840 independence means protecting all the 452 00:24:00,710 --> 00:24:05,659 generations who live here regardless of 453 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:07,789 their nationality Moldovans Ukrainians 454 00:24:05,659 --> 00:24:12,940 Russians I don't want to list everyone 455 00:24:07,789 --> 00:24:12,940 there are 46 in all let's earn at least 456 00:24:15,710 --> 00:24:19,590 that's actually the foreign minister of 457 00:24:17,670 --> 00:24:21,570 mahadji which is a breakaway state in 458 00:24:19,590 --> 00:24:23,429 Georgia so although representatives from 459 00:24:21,570 --> 00:24:24,780 the European Union or America aren't 460 00:24:23,430 --> 00:24:26,700 attending these celebrations in 461 00:24:24,780 --> 00:24:28,170 Transnistria representatives of 462 00:24:26,700 --> 00:24:29,370 breakaway state to here they're the only 463 00:24:28,170 --> 00:24:31,530 ones who will really recognize 464 00:24:29,370 --> 00:24:33,060 transmitters independence but they don't 465 00:24:31,530 --> 00:24:43,100 count because nobody recognizes them 466 00:24:33,060 --> 00:24:44,639 either the celebrations went on all day 467 00:24:43,100 --> 00:24:47,760 Transnistrian seemed completely 468 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:51,800 committed to their independence nobody I 469 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:51,800 met wanted reunification with Moldova 470 00:25:00,170 --> 00:25:08,640 what is this greatness here in 471 00:25:06,900 --> 00:25:11,670 Transnistria even those Moldovan you 472 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:14,000 know some people hate you for me in 473 00:25:11,670 --> 00:25:14,000 sushi 474 00:25:22,209 --> 00:25:26,169 the celebrations today started with a 475 00:25:24,099 --> 00:25:28,649 quite tradition almost Soviet feel but 476 00:25:26,169 --> 00:25:30,909 they're ending with huge party fireworks 477 00:25:28,649 --> 00:25:33,039 Russian pop stars have been flown in 478 00:25:30,909 --> 00:25:35,489 especially for a great big party for 479 00:25:33,039 --> 00:25:35,489 everyone 480 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:56,918 let's transition into menos de today 481 00:25:54,789 --> 00:25:59,799 most of the headline acts in this corner 482 00:25:56,919 --> 00:26:01,690 tonight Russia or Moldova Tencent to the 483 00:25:59,799 --> 00:26:05,850 west transpiration is in Europe 484 00:26:01,690 --> 00:26:05,850 discussion definiteness to the easy 485 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:17,700 the Russian army still provides security 486 00:26:15,570 --> 00:26:19,169 for Transnistria and has a secret 487 00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:21,960 military base in the north of the 488 00:26:19,170 --> 00:26:24,150 country the base is believed to contain 489 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:25,740 an ammunition stockpile which Western 490 00:26:24,150 --> 00:26:27,810 intelligence experts fear is already 491 00:26:25,740 --> 00:26:33,390 falling into the wrong hands and could 492 00:26:27,810 --> 00:26:35,100 reach terrorist groups obviously we 493 00:26:33,390 --> 00:26:37,950 would have liked to get a little bit 494 00:26:35,100 --> 00:26:40,189 closer to this base but the Russians 495 00:26:37,950 --> 00:26:43,530 said that we couldn't visit them and 496 00:26:40,190 --> 00:26:45,300 every road we go down trying to get 497 00:26:43,530 --> 00:26:47,700 closer we find there's a military 498 00:26:45,300 --> 00:26:50,580 blockade so going to have to creep 499 00:26:47,700 --> 00:26:52,170 through the bushes a little bit and even 500 00:26:50,580 --> 00:26:55,409 then we're going to be a feral distance 501 00:26:52,170 --> 00:26:58,920 away but that's been a bit strange doing 502 00:26:55,410 --> 00:27:01,280 this actually I mean 15 years ago this 503 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:04,440 was still part of the Soviet Union and 504 00:27:01,280 --> 00:27:07,260 we'd be Westerners creeping towards a 505 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:08,880 secret military base now if we get 506 00:27:07,260 --> 00:27:10,620 caught we'll probably just be told off 507 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:12,960 or arrested or held for a while 508 00:27:10,620 --> 00:27:20,280 but then we'd have probably been tried 509 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:21,870 as spies so the base only canceled eat 510 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:26,070 we can see the outline of the there's a 511 00:27:21,870 --> 00:27:28,199 car game plus a car just blimp a 512 00:27:26,070 --> 00:27:34,260 thesaurus and slowed down just as I was 513 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:35,580 getting like that oh well if we get 514 00:27:34,260 --> 00:27:38,940 caught we get caught I mean we have to 515 00:27:35,580 --> 00:27:40,919 make up some story about making a film 516 00:27:38,940 --> 00:27:43,560 about the beautiful Transnistrian 517 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:46,410 countryside taking the country air 518 00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:48,690 looking at the lovely trees the secret 519 00:27:46,410 --> 00:27:56,490 Russian military base is it really oh I 520 00:27:48,690 --> 00:27:57,510 had no idea policeman a soldier turned 521 00:27:56,490 --> 00:28:00,240 up 522 00:27:57,510 --> 00:28:02,820 we might be arrested we're not sure we 523 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:07,230 thought we a fairly safe distance away 524 00:28:02,820 --> 00:28:09,200 from the Russian base the police has 525 00:28:07,230 --> 00:28:12,330 taken our identification papers and our 526 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:15,360 accreditation passports the lot they 527 00:28:12,330 --> 00:28:17,970 were very very fast I mean we're a good 528 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:21,689 I don't know mild kilometer from the 529 00:28:17,970 --> 00:28:23,850 from the base the transmission KGB soon 530 00:28:21,690 --> 00:28:25,950 turned up we were detained as spies 531 00:28:23,850 --> 00:28:28,199 questioned and all our equipment was 532 00:28:25,950 --> 00:28:30,090 confiscated eventually everything was 533 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:39,590 returned to us but we realized it was 534 00:28:30,090 --> 00:28:46,610 time to leave ok ok yeah the bus parking 535 00:28:39,590 --> 00:28:49,830 fuck did it get Oh funny beautiful work 536 00:28:46,610 --> 00:29:00,740 everybody be careful everybody stay 537 00:28:49,830 --> 00:29:00,740 there sasha was ridiculous 538 00:29:02,210 --> 00:29:07,660 but I'm moving a little bit it's a 539 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:07,660 little bit better