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| Formerly part of
Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet
Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR
since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of
the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly
Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic.
One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former
Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001. |
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