Transnistria, a socialist country that is not officially recognized by any country in Moldova, has recently drawn attention worldwide with its Sheriff Tiraspol team, which defeated 13-time European Champion Real Madrid.
Transnistria’s economy is almost entirely under the control of the Sheriff family, except for small agricultural businesses. Sheriff Tiraspol football team also belongs to this family. Other team members in the Moldovan league are required to go under passport control to enter the country.
Visiting Transnistria is as challenging as visiting North Korea, where tourists are given receipts showing the length of their stay. Even if the tourists paying an hourly visit, they must leave Transnistria before the specified time.
The country is celebrating the 31st anniversary of its unilaterally declared independence on September 2, after the collapse of USSR.
