Administrative structure.
In administrative way, the territory is divided into 5 districts: Dubossary (Dubossarski), Grigoriopol (Grigoripolski), Kamenka (Kamenski), Rybnitsa (Rybnitski), Slobodzeia (Slobodzeiski); two towns of republican subordination: Tiraspol and Bendery. The main part of the republic, excluding the town of Bendery and territories near it, lies on the left bank of the river Dniester.
For now a number of living areas of the Right Bank, and several frontier villages of the Left Bank are taken out of control of the TMR government and are under actual occupation (control) of the army and government of the Republic of Moldova.
Nature.
Plain relief with rare lowlands characterizes the TMR territory. More than 80% of lands are black earth. The flora is a classical steppe one, and in river lowlands it is a meadow. The main part of the republic's lands is ploughed up. Wood massive cover 10% of the TMR territory. The climate is moderate continental; the number of precipitation testifies that the region is situated in the zone of scanty moistening. The winter is short, mild (the average January temperature is -3.9 centigrade). Early spring with intensive heating of soil and air. Long, hot summer (the average July temperature is +21 centigrade). A warm, long autumn.
The landscape is divided into two zones - by the river Yagorlyk valley. The northern part of the republic is a wood-steppe plain, formed by terraces of the river Dniester and by spurs of Podolsk heights, cut by deep (up to 150 meters) canyon-like valleys of the Dniester tributaries. Woods are mainly saved on steep banks of the river Dniester, there few small rivers, which are mainly shallow and get dry in summer.
As minerals, there are known deposits, as follows: construction limestone, gravel, glass sands, ceramic clays and loamy soil. The fauna is rather diverse, but many species are inscribed to the Red Book as disappearing ones. Here there are: wild goat, wild boar, hare, forest hen, pheasant, fox, otter, and ermine. Considerable fish supply, including sturgeon.
Population.
The TMR refers to regions with high population density - up to 200 people per sq. km. Till 1992 there was tendency for permanent growth but beginning with that year starts permanent fall of population number. Men prevail among population able to work. Among 742 thousand people, 66,3% lives in towns, 33,7 % in villages.
The national structure is diverse: Moldavians - 40%, Ukrainians - 26%, Russians - 24%, Bulgarians, Jews, Gagauz, Germans and others - 10%. There are totally 35 nationalities. Three state languages - Russian, Moldavian, and Ukrainian.
The main part of the faithful is Christian Orthodox. But there are also old-rite faithful, Catholics, Judas and a number of sect groups of faithful. The population is characterized by high tolerance towards religious as well as national differences.
ECONOMY.
Industry.
Trans-Dniestria is a developed industrial and agricultural region. The leading role belongs to branch manufacturing industry, development of agriculture is found significant. Traditional agricultural specialization does not impede to application of labor-capacious and science-capacious production to the region's economy. For 1992, 41,3% of population is engaged in industry, 8,3% in agriculture, 16% in education and healthcare, 12,3% in transport and construction, 10,7% in commerce and service.
The main part of industry is light - 40,8%, then alimentation - 31,1%, the heavy one - 28,1%. Biggest centers of production: Tiraspol, Bendery, Rybnitsa. The basis of power engineering consists of Dnestrovsk and Dubossary hydroelectric power stations, fully satisfying needs of the republic.
The TMR population consists 17% of the total number from the former MSSR, whereas the part of industry is 30%, and 90% of power engineering produced in 1999. There are more than 130 big industrial enterprises, among which the biggest are the following:
Tiraspol: "Electromash" (Electric machinery), "Moldavizolit" (Moldavian isolation materials), "Tochlitmash" (Precise foundry), Electric apparatus plant, Auto-refrigerators' plant. Industrial unions: Cotton plant and sewing factory "Odema".
Bendery: "Moldavkabel" (Moldavian cables), Silk-spinning plant, shoe industry "Tighina".
Rybnitsa: metallurgical and sugar plant. Manufacturing industry is considerably developed.
Agriculture.
In agriculture, collective system of land cultivation is kept - kolkhoz and sovkhoz. The main branches are cereals, fruit and vegetables, winemaking. Stockbreeding is presented by dairy and dairy farm and dairy-meat production, pig breeding and poultry keeping are quickly developing. A developed network of fishing farms is created. Generally, agriculture lets satisfy needs of the republic in alimentation and provide independence of the republic on importing main products.
Transport.
The main transport device is automobile, in towns and in a number of villages there the town bus traffic functions, in towns of Tiraspol and Bendery the main transport is the trolley bus. In Tiraspol, there is an airport able to receive any types of airplanes.
The river Dniester is navigable, but little used as a transport artery. The road network is well developed; no highways. The railroad network is weakly branched, partially electrified. Internal transportation by railroad is not used.

External economic contacts.
External economic connections on republican level are impeded by its non-recognition "de jure". That's why a big role is played by agreements, made directly by enterprises. The next types of external economic activity are accomplished: commerce, creation of joint enterprises, making interregional economic agreements, exchange of technique documents.
The goods exported, as follows: Electro-technique articles, instruments and devices of automatization, automobile couples and refrigerators, electric energy. Fresh vegetables, fruit, tobacco. Gravel, limestone.
Imported, as follows: primary energy-carriers (fuel), mineral fertilizers, agricultural engineering, paper, automobile and rail-road transport, house technique and computers, cotton raw material, wood, goods of public consumption.
The main gross trade partner is Russia (80%), then Moldova and Ukraine.
The currency unit is the Trans-Dniestrian ruble.
Armed forces.
The TMR Armed forces consist of land forces, Air force, internal and frontier troops, Kazaks' volunteer units. The total number is about 5000 people. The President is the Commander-in-Chief. The minister of defense accomplishes the general management. The military doctrine has brightly expressed defensive character. The TMR is a neutral state, joining no military unions and blocks. The Army is brought up to strength on the basis of the Law of comprehensive military service and by recruiting contractors. Land forces consist of three motorized-shooters' brigade and artillery brigade, a tank battalion and a number of special and assisting units. Helicopters MI-8 and MI-6 present the Air force.
Kazaks' formations (in peace time) are divided into "kurens" (houses) and "stanitsas" (villages) - by places of living, in wartime - into a special regiment. Brought up to strength on volunteer basis, by "imposing" (special kazak recruiting). Two special battalions - "Dniester" and "Delta" - are in subordination of the MIA and MSS (state security), as well as the separate motorized battalion of militia. In war time (1992) home guard units are formed on (industrial and territorial principle).
General mobilization potential is about 25 thousand people.
Armor is of Soviet production. The armor consists of about 100 armored transporters BTR-60 and BTR-70, up to 20 tanks T-64, about 100 artillery barrels and mine-throwers (data for 1993), systems of volley fire and a significant number of light shooting weapon. The TMR government really evaluates its possibilities, and numerous times offers mutual disarmament and demilitarization to the Republic of Moldova, but faces misunderstanding in that issue.
Training and battle spirit of troops and people of the TMR are on high level and let successfully fulfill any put task for repulsing aggression of a potential adversary.
On the TMR territory, the Operative Group of Russian Troops (the OGRT) is situated, consisting of a free brigade (up to 3 thousand people). Its main purpose - guarding military arsenals of the former Soviet Army near the village Kolbasna. The Russian troops are presented also by peacekeeping units (about 300 people), accomplishing control over the peacekeeping process in the former MSSR. Location and activity of the Russian troops are determined by bilateral agreements of the governments of Russia and TMR.

Translated by Ernest A. Vardanean