The referendum, which was initiated by parliament in late March and scheduled for September 17, is designed to determine Transdnestr's future foreign policy course - whether it wants international recognition as a republic annexed to Russia, or whether it should be part of Moldova.
"The referendum is a reaction to the blockade that has been effectively imposed on Transdnestr, an economic blockade that is hurting the region's economy and, needless to say, hurting its people," Sergei Lavrov said, adding that it was also hurting Ukraine.
"I hope that common sense will prevail and conditions will be created for resuming political dialogue," he said.
A senior Russian MP said Friday the referendum will have no legal force whatsoever either for Moldova or for the international community, on whose reaction it was counting.
"This referendum will do nothing for their independence. The recognition of sovereignty originates with international organizations, in particular the OSCE, but thus far they are not inclined to do this," said Vadim Gustov, chairman of the Federation Council CIS Committee.
He also said the upper house of the Russian parliament was not going to send observers to the referendum.
Transdnestr, which has a predominantly Russian-speaking population, proclaimed its independence from Moldova in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Armed clashes between Moldova and Transdnestr ensued, and Russia has retained a military presence in the breakaway region ever since.
The West has consistently refused to legally recognize Transdnestr's independence. In response, Russia claims that recognizing the sovereignty of Kosovo -- actively sought by the predominant Albanian population in the historically Serbian region -- would serve as a precedent for legalizing the status of other separatist regions in former Soviet republics.
