Transnistria

A (Russian) enclave in Moldova, a country that doesn't exist.

Going to Transnistria

Visiting Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, and going East, means crossing another border within Moldova. A short war split up the country years ago, and the new country, Transnistria, Russia-loving people, have their own currency, border and army.

Photographic story by Sander de Wilde. All rights reserved.

Traveling

in small buses

Travel in Moldova and Transnistria mainly goes by small buses, driving between cities, villages, border, countries.

Sheriff Tiraspol

The Sheriff soccer team is world famous

In 2021 this soccer team that no one ever heard of, won in and from Real Madrid.

The club's success does not come from nowhere. After all, the club is owned by the Moldovan mega-corporation Sheriff, which owns gas stations and a supermarket chain. It also owns a TV channel, a production company, a construction company, a liquor factory and a lot of trading companies.

Since its inception, Sheriff has pumped millions into the club, including the construction of the small but modern Sheriff Stadium. With qualification for the Champions League now follows for the wealthy owners the unexpected highlight.

Sheriff Tiraspol stadium

The Sheriffs

The Sheriff Monopoly

The Sheriff brothers own this country. This form of Communism is rather astounding, the Sheriff family owns gas stations, banks, stores, supermarkets.