It is scientifically incorrect to call Pridnestrovie «Transnistria» and it is also offensive in the political aspect the Candidate of historical sciences Pyotr Shornikov told «Novosti Pridnestrovya». The scientist explained from the historical point of view why Pridnestrovie and Transnistria are different concepts.
«The term «Transnistria» means Zadnestrovye. For the first time, this word was mentioned in the Romanian press in 1936. Bucharest remembered it in August 1941 when the German and Romanian troops occupied the area between the Dniester and the Southern Bug. Ion Antonescu the decree law founded then Transnistria's governorship. Thus, Transnistria is the occupational term», - the historian told.
In three incomplete yeаrs (since August the 1941st till April of the 1944th) existence of the Transnistria governorship in the areas which are nowadays a part of the PMR it was killed third of the population, over 100 thousand people starved to death, Pyotr Shornikov noted.
«The people accepted another name – Pridnestrovie», - Pyotr Shornikov says.
As the political name «Pridnestrovie» began to be used widely in 1989 as the generalized name of districts of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic on the east coast of the Dniester, the scientist explained.
«Therefore it is scientifically incorrect to call Pridnestrovie «Transnistria» and it is also offensive in the political aspect the Candidate of historical sciences summarized.
The day before the President of the PMR Vadim Krasnoselsky expressed the need to break down negative stereotypes about the republic. In particular, the Head of the state said that the term «Transnistria» common in the West is unacceptable for Pridnestrovie as it does not reflect the true name of the country. Moreover, as the President emphasized, the word «Transnistria» is connected with the period of romanian -fascist occupation and a Holocaust: as a result of ethnic cleansing, tens of thousands of Jews were killed.
