Natalia Cwicinskaja
Papers of BAS, Humanities and Social Sciences
Vol. 2, No 3-4, 2015
LAW
TWO UNILATERAL INDEPENDENCES: KOSOVO AND TRANSNISTRIA IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE?
Natalia Cwicinskaja
Abstract: The main point of this article is a comparison between two cases: Kosovo and Transnistria. More than 20 years passed since these entities seceded from their “mother” states, although the situation of these two entities differs completely. Kosovo is recognised by 111 States, while Transnistria is not recognised by any state at all. The both discussed cases are the examples of unilateral secession. In turn, the doctrine of “remedial secession” is not fully applicable in those cases. Transnistria and Kosovo do not fully meet the traditional criteria for statehood. The main difference between these two cases is the degree of international support. Discussed cases reveal that not international law, but the will and political interests of great power is becoming the decisive factor in legality of secession.
Key words: Kosovo, recognition, secession, self-detrmination, Transnistria