11/25/25
A foresight session was held in Moscow, organized by the National Research Institute for Communications Development (NRCD). Experts discussed issues of the cultural, legal, and political identity of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, as well as the prospects for the republic’s development in the context of the Russian civilizational project.
Representatives of the academic community, international organizations, public institutions, educators, and political analysts took part in the session. The participation of the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic added particular significance to the event.
The head of the Ministry, Vitaly Ignatiev, delivered a report titled “The Exercise of the Right to Self-Determination in the Context of the Identity of the Pridnestrovian People.” He emphasized that the Pridnestrovian path is one of responsibility, resilience, and commitment to traditional civilizational foundations, where the right to self-determination has been exercised as a defensive response to external aggression and pressure.
In the speech titled “The Future of Pridnestrovian Identity: Integration Scenarios within the Russian Civilizational Project,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Aleksandr Stetsiuk noted that Russia remains the main civilizational reference point for Pridnestrovie, and the region’s identity is being shaped in the context of strategic cooperation with Moscow.
Valentina Komleva, Deputy Director for Research at NRCD, served as the moderator of the discussion. In her welcoming remarks, she emphasized that “identity is something that becomes an integral part of the collective ‘self.’ For Pridnestrovie, this is connected not only with historical experience, but also with the daily struggle for the right to remain itself in a world where values are constantly being reconsidered.”
Among the speakers were also:
• Sergei Lavrenov, professor at the Institute of CIS Countries. He elaborated on the topic of external pressure on Pridnestrovie and the strategy of “positive discrimination” implemented by Moldova and supported by Western structures.
• A particularly notable contribution to the discussion was the report by Aleksandr Brod, a member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights. His presentation addressed the situation of human rights in Pridnestrovie, primarily in the context of external pressure and isolation imposed by the Republic of Moldova.
• Aleksandr Bovdunov, Deputy Director of the Educational Scientific Center “Ivan Ilyin Higher Political School” at RSUH, presented a report devoted to the formation of Pridnestrovian identity, its historical and civilizational foundations, as well as the challenges and prospects for its development.
• Igor Ivanishko, a forensic religious studies expert, member of the Expert Council of the State Duma Committee on the Development of Civil Society, and member of the Commission for Countering the Spread of Destructive Religious Movements of the Russian Orthodox Church, delivered a detailed report. He focused on the spiritual and religious foundations of Pridnestrovian identity and the regulatory framework governing the religious sphere.
• Viktor Sapryka, a professor at RSUH, examined the processes of self-identification in border territories, noting the insufficient development of Russian methodologies for studying identity and the importance of sociological approaches.
• Vladislav Vorotnikov, an associate professor at MGIMO, presented a symbolic analysis of postage stamps as a tool for constructing images of identity.
• Ilya Khaimin, an expert in bonistics, examined the imagery on Pridnestrovian ruble banknotes as a means of reinforcing sovereignty.
• Irina Salikhova, a lecturer at MSLU, analyzed the attitudes of young people in border regions toward issues of identity.
• Viktoria Burla, a lecturer at MSAL, substantiated the need for adopting a law on strategic identity planning in the Pridnestrovian Republic and emphasized the importance of the linguistic and legal space as the core of self-determination.
They also shared their views on the reports presented:
• Dmitry Perednya, Head of the Department of Sociology at MSLU, drew attention to the need to distinguish the external attributes of identity from its deeper social and value-based internalization.
• Elena Kuzmenko, Head of International Projects at National Research Institute for Communications Development, emphasized the importance of introducing the concept of “civilization” into educational standards and fostering an early understanding of identity among young people.
The resolution of the forum, prepared following the discussion, outlined the key provisions:
• Pridnestrovie is a unique example of civic identity based on peaceful coexistence, spiritual tradition, and linguistic and cultural diversity.
• The identity of the republic has taken shape within the framework of the Russian civilizational space.
• Russia has played a key role in the formation and protection of the Pridnestrovian people.
• Support from Russia remains a system-forming factor for the stability and development of Pridnestrovie.
• Youth policy, the legal framework, and educational and media platforms should be aimed at strengthening Pridnestrovian identity as part of the Russian World.
It was also noted that 2025 and 2026 have been declared the Years of the Pridnestrovian People in the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, a decision that is not only symbolic but also a practical step toward consolidating civil society and reflecting on shared values.
