TIRASPOL, December 13 (RIA Novosti) - The central election commission of Moldova's breakaway region of Transdnestr announced Wednesday the final results of presidential elections, and declared Igor Smirnov president.
Commission chairman Pyotr Denisenko said Smirnov, who has served three consecutive terms as leader of the unrecognized republic, had won the election with 82.4% of votes. He was followed by Nadezhda Bondarenko with 8.1%, Andrei Safonov with 3.9%, and Pyotr Tomaily with 2.1%; 1.6% of the electorate voted against all candidates.
"The elections have been held; they should be considered valid, and in line with legislation," Denisenko said. "Igor Smirnov was elected as president, and Alexander Korolyov as vice president."
Although Moldova, neighboring Ukraine, and the European Union have not recognized the election results, Moscow gave its backing Tuesday for the landslide vote in the predominantly Russian-speaking region.
"The results of the vote show that Igor Smirnov remains Transdnestr's acknowledged leader," the Russian Foreign Ministry said, pointing to voter turnout of 66.1%.
"The election, the turnout, and the consolidation of voters around the incumbent leadership give us hope that the interests and concerns of Transdnestr's people will be duly heeded in ongoing efforts to find a political solution to the problem and resume the negotiating process in line with OSCE principles," the ministry said.
The post-Soviet dispute has been mediated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Russia, Ukraine, the EU, and the U.S., which have urged Moldova and Transdnestr to restart direct talks suspended in March over customs restrictions.
The ministry claimed foreign and Russian monitors agreed the vote was democratic and without major violations.
Smirnov said the majority of Transdnestrians had signaled their support for his program, and its focus on closer economic and humanitarian ties with Russia.
Transdnestr, which broke away from Moldova following a bloody war in the 1990s, recently asked Russia for recognition and eventual annexation.
Russia has not officially signaled its willingness to admit the region, although it is widely believed to support the self-proclaimed republic.
