Transnistrian medal bar from approximately 2002-2005 era.
From L to R:
1. 15th Anniversary of Transnistria commemorative medal
2. Transnistrian "Peacekeeper" medal (awarded to Transnistrian and Russians serving in the Joint Security Zone along the Dniester river separating Moldova from the separatist Transnistrian region)
3. 15th Anniversary of the Transnstrian security organ MGB medal
4. 60th Anniversary of the Great Patriotic War medal. This final one is most interesting in that the original design had a reverse inscription in Moldovan/Romanian. This is identical, except the reverse inscription is in Russian.
Great medal set from a young republic! From what I can gather, the Trans-Dniestrian region (across the Dniester river) celebrated it's independence in 1992 as the new country of Pridnestrovie. Oddly, they kept the coat of arms exactly as it had been during the days of the USSR, but removed the hammer and sickle from the flag, which is red with a horizontal green stripe through the center. They recently denied the President of Moldovia (with whom they are currently in a "cold" war) access to their border in order to return to his hometown.
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Is this one person's actual medal bar? I ask because he or she has a wide range of awards. I can guess at the GPW anniversary medals, but what about that very nice looking variant of the OG? Is it also a victory medal? And the last one has the look and colors of possibly being from the Border Guard, no?
One final observation about this excellent set is that the owner must be a large-chested fellow because if I were wearing it the medals would go out into my left arm.:D
