Moldova

---

I traveled to Moldova in August of 2008 on a Danube River Cruise. Though I did not step on Moldovian soil, I was in Moldovian territory for a short period of time. I hope to return in the future to travel the country more extensively, perhaps visiting Chisinau.

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.

---

Moldova 2008