 |
Petr DenisenkoChairman of the Central Election Commission of Transnistria |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Supervision of Elections
- 2006 Independence Referendum:
- Response to International Reactions
Biography of Petr Denisenko, Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR)
Early Life and Career
Petr Denisenko served as the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR), a region that seceded from Moldova following an armed conflict in 1991.
Supervision of Elections
2000 Presidential Election:In December 2000, Denisenko oversaw the presidential election in the PMR, announcing the results to the media. Igor Smirnov was re-elected for a third term with 81.8% of the votes.
2006 Independence Referendum:
In 2006, Denisenko was responsible for organizing the referendum on independence initiated by Vladimir Voronin. The referendum, held on September 17, saw 97.1% of PMR residents voting in favor of independence and eventual reunification with the Russian Federation.
Response to International Reactions
The referendum was not recognized by Moldova, Russia, or the European Union. However, on October 10, after the final vote count, Denisenko declared that the decision of the PMR people could not be questioned.
He cited the referendum held in Montenegro in May 2006, which resulted in Montenegro's secession from Serbia. Denisenko argued that the recognition of Montenegro's referendum while simultaneously refusing to recognize the Pridnestrovian referendum represented a double standard and a violation of international law, particularly the right of nations to self-determination.
