Transnistria?
Rachel used to think I knew everything, but I don't think I'd ever heard of Transnistria till today, despite the fact that I used to work for one charity involved in Eastern Europe, and know people in several other organisations who work in Eastern Europe.
Apparently it broke away from Moldova in 1992, acts independently of Moldova, and, though officially recognised by no other country in the world, doesn't seem to be completely isolated. In some ways it still has the atmosphere of a Soviet republic, but much of its economy is now privatised.
Also known as
* Pridnestrovie
* Transdniester
* Pridnestrovskaya Moldavskaya Respublika
* Trans-Dniester Moldovan Republic
Capital: Tiraspol
Population of country: about half a million, and shrinking even faster than Moldova's
