Background:
Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union
at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR
since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east
of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population,
mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria"
republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the
first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in
2001.