Nina Shtanski - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic. Invisible on any maps outside of its borders, Transnistria remains unrecognized by any UN state. © Justin Barton
Nikolay Smolenskiy – Police Lieutenant Colonel Expert in Transnistrian Criminal Law. Transnistria has all the trappings of a fully fledged state with Police, Government and Army. But most in authority recognise a wish for annexation by Russia. © Justin Barton
Natalia Yefremova - Seller of Transnistrian patriotic items in Tiraspol. Figures of the President, Putin and Stalin in people's homes are symbolic of a complicated patriotic loyalty and history. © Justin Barton
Igor Nebeygolova - KGB Colonel and Commander of the Cossack Regiment in Tiraspol. In Transnistria it is possible to be a monarchist and have deep loyalty to the President (as the flag of imperial Russia here testifies). © Justin Barton
Irina Smirnova – Director of The Museum of The Transnistrian National Tragedy at Bendery. The Museum of National Tragedy at Bendary tells the narrative of the fight of the separatist forces from their 'heroes' perspective. © Justin Barton
Sergey Cheban - Deputy Speaker of the Supreme Soviet. The Supreme Soviet of Transnistria is the de facto parliament of Transnistria. © Justin Barton
Valery Isordan - Member of 'Vikings' motocycle club of Transnistria. As in Russia motorcycle clubs are both highly political and nationalist. © Justin Barton
Tatyana Syarova - Editor in chief Transnistrian TV Channel 1. The Transnistrian state TV channel remains popular particularly for local news and events. © Justin Barton
Anastasia Spatar - 23 year old with only unrecognized Transnistrian citizenship. Just 23 years old and only holding an unrecognized Transnistrian passport, she has never left the area or known another kind of government. © Justin Barton
Nadezhda Bondarenko - Editor of Transnistrian Newspaper 'Pravda'. Over time the popularity of communism has waned but the symbols still remain and the communist press still remains influential and highly patriotic. © Justin Barton
Nikolay Babilunga - Professor of Transnistrian History. Creator of the history curriculum for Transnistria's university and schools which explains their historical right to independence. © Justin Barton