{"id":3037,"date":"2013-09-27T16:02:50","date_gmt":"2013-09-27T08:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rearviewmirror.ruqa4eh2-liquidwebsites.com\/?p=3037"},"modified":"2022-03-20T14:38:23","modified_gmt":"2022-03-20T06:38:23","slug":"transnistrias-wild-independence-day-celebrations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rearviewmirror.tv\/transnistrias-wild-independence-day-celebrations\/","title":{"rendered":"Transnistria’s Wild Independence Day Celebrations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The most prominent detail I’d heard about Transnistria was the police’s apparent penchant for bribes. And here I was being pulled over by the police within the first five minutes of being in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I handed over my driver’s licence. The middle aged policeman studied it closely. “Andrea”, he said with a thick Russian accent. “Come.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He lead me away from my four travel companions and into the front seat of the police car. He showed me a book of road signs and pointed to the one I disobeyed. “Andrea”, he said, smirking. “Protocol.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course I knew what that meant. He wanted me to pay a ‘fine’ right there and then. I did my best to play dumb and shrugged my shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His colleague poked his head through the car window, “You have cash?” I shook my head, “I just arrived in Transnistria. No cash.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He pulled a face and rolled his eyes. “Get out.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a few seconds I thought I might have gotten away with a minor traffic offence bribe free. But as I looked up, Yomadic<\/a> was being escorted towards me. He was forced into the seat I had just vacated. I was told to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two minutes later we were all back in our cars. The deal was done. The bribe was paid. We continued on our way to Tiraspol to celebrate the independence of a country that isn’t really a country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was expecting to see soviet tanks roaring down the streets and nationalist flags flying on every corner. But I later discovered that since the change of government Transnistria’s Independence Day parade is fairly low key. The soldiers marched, the band played and before I knew it the parade was over. I would have been disappointed if it wasn’t for what followed throughout the rest of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2nd September – Independence Day in Transnistria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n