Transnistrian cat mafia

Transnistrian cat mafia

The status of Transnistria is rather complicated. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia threatened to take away the land between the Dniester River and Ukraine if Moldova claimed independence. That land is now called 'Transnistria'. A war and a decades long frozen conflict later, we ask ourself the question:

"Who really controls Transnistria?"

Moldova - who de jure has control? Transnistria - with its de facto government? Russia - with its large peacekeeping force? Or Sheriff - who controls a third of its GDP?

While some describe it as a 'maffia state' ironically controlled by a Sheriff and his friends, another maffia has much more control:

Мафия Kошек - Cat mafia

Everywhere you go in the country, you see the gangs gathering.

In Khrushchyovka's (commie blocks)

On the streets

On roofs

Or hiding, so you are never safe

The cats drive expensive cars

And hold a monopoly on trade

The cat gangs violently harass people to keep control

Have foreign military support

And notorious prisons to lock dissident cats

While some live in luxury, others try to make the best of their life in poverty

But they control the entire country

Every park

Fence

Field

Or neighbourhood

But also - the hearts of the people

Disclaimer: All the cats in the pictures have been petted properly

This was one of three articles about Transnistria. Other entrees in this series are

The land of Sheriffs and cheap housing
Transnistria, also known as Pridnestrovie «Приднестровье» is a largely unrecognised country sandwiched between Moldova and Ukraine. Almost no one knows of it, and even fewer visit it. Towards the end of 2021 I spend several months in the country to photograph and understand it. Let me show you the l…
Pridnestrovian Poverty
Poverty in Transnistria is a large problem. In the poorest part of the poorest country of Europe poverty can be seen everywhere, especially in the rural areas. A general article regarding Transnistria is published here, in this article the poverty of this region will be highlighted. During Christmas…