Introduction :: MOLDOVA
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Part of Romania during the interwar period, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although the country has been independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Nistru River supporting the separatist region of Transnistria, composed of a Slavic majority population (mostly Ukrainians and Russians), but with a sizable ethnic Moldovan minority. Europe's poorest economy, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a communist, Vladimir VORONIN, as its president in 2001. VORONIN served as Moldova's president until he resigned in September 2009. Four Moldovan opposition parties then formed a new coalition, the Alliance for European Integration (AEI), iterations of which acted as Moldova's governing coalitions over the next several years. In May 2013, two of the original AEI parties and a splinter group from a third re-formed a ruling coalition called the Pro-European Coalition. The Moldovan Government in summer 2014 signed and ratified an Association Agreement with the EU, advancing the Coalition's policy priority of EU integration. Following the country’s most recent legislative election in November 2014, the three pro-European parties that entered Parliament won a total of 55 of the body’s 101 seats, enough for a majority coalition. After negotiations among the three broke down, however, two of the parties — the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) and the Democratic Party (PD) — agreed to form the Alliance for a European Moldova (AEM) and a minority government with their combined 42 seats. In February 2015, the PLDM and the PD secured Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova support to win parliamentary approval with 60 votes for their minority government.
Geography :: MOLDOVA
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Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
47 00 N, 29 00 E
Europe
total: 33,851 sq km
land: 32,891 sq km
water: 960 sq km
country comparison to the world: 140
slightly larger than Maryland
total: 1,885 km
border countries (2): Romania 683 km, Ukraine 1,202 km
0 km (landlocked)
none (landlocked)
moderate winters, warm summers
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
lowest point: Dniester (Nistru) 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land
agricultural land: 74.9%
arable land 55.1%; permanent crops 9.1%; permanent pasture 10.7%
forest: 11.9%
other: 13.2% (2011 est.)
2,283 sq km (2011)
11.65 cu km (2011)
total: 1.07 cu km/yr (14%/83%/4%)
per capita: 290 cu m/yr (2010)
landslides
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
People and Society :: MOLDOVA
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noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan
Moldovan 75.8%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.9%, Gagauz 4.4%, Romanian 2.2%, Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1%, unspecified 0.4%
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region (2004 est.)
Moldovan 58.8% (official; virtually the same as the Romanian language), Romanian 16.4%, Russian 16%, Ukrainian 3.8%, Gagauz 3.1% (a Turkish language), Bulgarian 1.1%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.4%
note: percentages represent lanugage usually spoken (2004 est.)
Orthodox 93.3%, Baptist 1%, other Christian 1.2%, other 0.9%, atheist 0.4%, none 1%, unspecified 2.2% (2004 est.)
3,546,847 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
0-14 years: 17.86% (male 326,681/female 306,763)
15-24 years: 13.49% (male 247,183/female 231,389)
25-54 years: 43.73% (male 777,648/female 773,401)
55-64 years: 13.24% (male 214,846/female 254,818)
65 years and over: 11.68% (male 159,145/female 254,973) (2015 est.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 34.6%
youth dependency ratio: 21.2%
elderly dependency ratio: 13.4%
potential support ratio: 7.5% (2015 est.)
total: 35.7 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 37.7 years (2014 est.)
-1.03% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 231
12 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
12.59 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
-9.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
urban population: 45% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: -0.73% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
CHISINAU (capital) 725,000 (2015)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
total: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
total population: 70.42 years
male: 66.55 years
female: 74.54 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
1.56 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
67.8% (2005)
11.8% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 8
2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2013)
6.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)
improved:
urban: 96.9% of population
rural: 81.4% of population
total: 88.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 3.1% of population
rural: 18.6% of population
total: 11.6% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 87.8% of population
rural: 67.1% of population
total: 76.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 12.2% of population
rural: 32.9% of population
total: 23.6% of population (2015 est.)
0.61% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
14,800 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
900 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
15.7% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 91
2.2% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 111
8.3% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 10
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.1% (2015 est.)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2013)
total number: 72,364
percentage: 16% (2009 est.)
total: 13.1%
male: 12.8%
female: 13.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Government :: MOLDOVA
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conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic
republic
name: Chisinau in Romanian (Kishinev in Russian)
note: pronounced KEE-shee-now (KIH-shi-nyov)
geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
32 raions (raioane, singular - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)
27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
previous 1978; latest adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; amended 2003 (2011)
civil law system with Germanic law influences; Constitutional Court review of legislative acts
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Nicolae TIMOFTI (since 23 March 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Chiril GABURICI (since 18 February 2015)
cabinet: Cabinet proposed by the prime minister-designate, nominated by the president, approved through a vote of confidence in Parliament
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 March 2012 (next to be held in March 2016); prime minister designated by the president upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence for his/her proposed work program from the Parliament; the prime minister and Cabinet received a vote of confidence on 30 May 2013
election results: Nicolae TIMOFTI (independent) elected president; Parliament vote - 62 of 101; Iurie LEANCA (Pro-European Coalition) designated prime minister; Parliament confidence vote - 58 of 101
description: unicameral Parliament or Parlament (101 seats; members directly elected in a single, nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 30 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - PSRM 21.3%, PLDM 19.5%, PCRM 18%, PD 15.8%, PL 9.4%, other 16%; seats by party - PSRM 25, PLDM 23, PCRM 21, PD 19, PL 13
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of a chief judges, 3 deputy-chief judges, 45 judges, and 7 assistant judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 6 judges); note - the Constitutional Court is autonomous to the other branches of government; the Court interprets the Constitution and reviews the constitutionality of parliamentary laws and decisions, decrees of the president, and acts of the government
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges appointed by Parliament upon the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy; all judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed 2 each by Parliament, the Moldovan president, and the Higher Council of Magistracy; court president elected by other court judges for a 3-year term; other judges appointed for 6-year terms
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of Business Audit; municipal courts
represented in Parliament:
Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN]
Democratic Party or PD [Marian LUPU]
Liberal Democratic Party or PLDM [Vladimir FILAT]
Liberal Party or PL [Mihai GHIMPU]
Party of Socialists or PSRM [Igor DODON]
not represented in Parliament:
Anti-Fascist Movement or Antifa [Grigore PETRENCO]
Anti-Mafia Movement [Sergiu MOCANU]
Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]
Conservative Party or PC [Natalia NIRCA]
Ecological Party of Moldova "Green Alliance" or PEMAVE [Vladimir BRAGA]
European Action Movement or MAE [Veaceslav UNTILA]
Humanist Party of Moldova or PUM [Valeriu PASAT]
Labor Party or PM [Gheorghe SIMA]
Liberal Reformers Party or PLR [Ion HADARCA]
National Liberal Party or PNL [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]
Our Party [Renato USATII]
Patriots of Moldova Party or PPM [Mihail GARBUZ]
Popular Republican Party or PPR [Nicolae ANDRONIC]
Republican Party of Moldova or PRM [Andrei STRATAN]
Roma Social Political Movement of the Republic of Moldova or MRRM [Ion BUCUR]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Victor SELIN]
Social Political Movement "Equality" or MR [Valeriy KLIMENCO]
United Moldova Party or PMUEM [Vladimir TURCAN]
NA
BSEC, CD, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Igor MUNTEANU (since 7 September 2010)
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. PETTIT (since 29 January 2015)
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized aurochs head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with which Moldova shares a history and culture - but Moldova's blue band is lighter; the reverse of the flag does not display any coat of arms
note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia
aurochs (a type of wild cattle); national colors: blue, yellow, red
name: "Limba noastra" (Our Language)
lyrics/music: Alexei MATEEVICI/Alexandru CRISTEA
note: adopted 1994
Economy :: MOLDOVA
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Despite recent progress, Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. With a moderate climate and good farmland, Moldova's economy relies heavily on its agriculture sector, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova also depends on annual remittances of about $1.6 billion from the roughly one million Moldovans working in Europe, Russia, and other former Soviet Bloc countries. With few natural energy resources, Moldova imports almost all of its energy supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy is underscored by a growing $5 billion debt to Russian natural gas supplier Gazprom, largely the result of unreimbursed natural gas consumption in the separatist Transnistria region. In August 2013, work began on a new pipeline between Moldova and Romania that may eventually break Russia's monopoly on Moldova's gas supplies. The government's goal of EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. Moldova experienced better than expected economic growth in 2014 due to increased agriculture production, to economic policies adopted by the Moldovan government since 2009, and to the receipt of EU trade preferences. Moldova signed an Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU during fall 2014, connecting Moldovan products to the world’s largest market. Still, growth has been hampered by high prices for Russian natural gas, a Russian import ban on Moldovan wine, increased foreign scrutiny of Moldovan agricultural products, and by Moldova’s large external debt. Over the longer term, Moldova's economy remains vulnerable to political uncertainty, weak administrative capacity, vested bureaucratic interests, corruption, higher fuel prices, Russian pressure, and the illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region.
$17.72 billion (2014 est.)
$16.94 billion (2013 est.)
$15.48 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 148
$7.944 billion (2014 est.)
4.6% (2014 est.)
9.4% (2013 est.)
-0.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
$5,000 (2014 est.)
$4,800 (2013 est.)
$4,400 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 171
19.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
19.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
16.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
household consumption: 93.3%
government consumption: 20.2%
investment in fixed capital: 22.8%
investment in inventories: 0.6%
exports of goods and services: 45.7%
imports of goods and services: -82.5%
(2014 est.)
agriculture: 15.7%
industry: 20%
services: 64.3% (2014 est.)
vegetables, fruits, grapes, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, tobacco; beef, milk; wine
sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles
4% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
1.23 million (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
agriculture: 26.4%
industry: 13.2%
services: 60.4% (2012 est.)
4% (2014 est.)
5.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
21.9% (2010 est.)
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 26% (2010 est.)
33 (2010)
33.2 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 101
revenues: $2.922 billion
expenditures: $3.15 billion
note: National Public Budget (2014 est.)
37.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
-2.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
18.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
18.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
calendar year
5.1% (2014 est.)
4.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
3.5% (31 December 2013)
4.5% (31 December 2012)
note: this is the basic rate on short-term operations
country comparison to the world: 101
12% (31 December 2014 est.)
12.29% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$2.102 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$2.077 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
$4.685 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$4.797 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$3.243 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$3.381 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
$65.28 million (31 December 2012 est.)
$51.46 million (31 December 2012 est.)
$20.71 million (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
-$435 million (2014 est.)
-$398.6 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
$2.63 billion (2014 est.)
$2.466 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery
Russia 18.4%, Romania 16.7%, Turkey 10.1%, Italy 9.6%, Germany 5.6%, Ukraine 5% (2013)
$5.57 billion (2014 est.)
$5.449 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles
Russia 23.3%, Romania 15.1%, Ukraine 14%, Germany 7.6%, Italy 4.6%, Belarus 4.3% (2013)
$2.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$2.821 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$6.778 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$6.501 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
$3.448 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$3.262 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$108.2 million (31 December 2012)
$88.42 million (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 91
Moldovan lei (MDL) per US dollar -
13.97 (2014 est.)
12.587 (2013 est.)
12.11 (2012 est.)
11.738 (2011 est.)
12.369 (2010 est.)
Energy :: MOLDOVA
-
5.456 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
4.211 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
3.297 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
439,900 kW
note: excludes Transnistria (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
96.4% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
3.6% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
7,330 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
321 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
21,330 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
552 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
15,280 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
3.47 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
3.47 billion cu m
note: excludes Transnistria (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
9.415 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Communications :: MOLDOVA
-
total subscriptions: 1.22 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
total: 3.7 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 104 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
general assessment: poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way
domestic: multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2011)
state-owned national radio-TV broadcaster operates 2 TV and 2 radio stations; a total of nearly 40 terrestrial TV channels and some 50 radio stations are in operation; Russian and Romanian channels also are available (2007)
AM 2, FM 29, shortwave NA (2006)
40 (2006)
.md
total: 1.6 million
percent of population: 44.8% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Transportation :: MOLDOVA
-
7 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 169
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2013)
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m:
1 (2013)
gas 1,906 km (2013)
total: 1,171 km
broad gauge: 1,157 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 86
total: 9,352 km
paved: 8,835 km
unpaved: 517 km (2012)
country comparison to the world: 137
558 km (in public use on Danube, Dniester and Prut rivers) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 82
total: 121
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 88, carrier 1, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 11, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 63 (Bulgaria 1, Denmark 1, Egypt 5, Greece 1, Israel 2, Lebanon 1, Pakistan 1, Romania 2, Russia 5, Syria 5, Turkey 18, UK 3, Ukraine 14, Yemen 4) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 45
Military :: MOLDOVA
-
National Army: Land Forces Command, Air Forces Command (includes air defense unit) (2014)
18 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; male registration required at age 16; 1-year service obligation (2012)
males age 16-49: 1,143,440
females age 16-49: 1,156,958 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 875,224
females age 16-49: 969,903 (2010 est.)
male: 28,213
female: 26,614 (2010 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2014)
0.3% of GDP (2012)
0.3% of GDP (2011)
0.3% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 128
Transnational Issues :: MOLDOVA
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Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor the transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria region, which remains under the auspices of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-mandated peacekeeping mission comprised of Moldovan, Transnistrian, Russian, and Ukrainian troops
refugees (country of origin): 6,779 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015)
stateless persons: 2,036 (2014)
limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity
Central Intelligence Agency
