Dubasari
Encyclopedia
DubăsariDubăsari (Romanian
; , , sometimes Dubossary in English
) is a city in Transnistria
, with a population of 23,650. The city is under the administration of the breakaway government of the "Transnistrian Moldovan Republic", and functions as the seat of the Dubăsari sub-district, Transnistria, Moldova
.
archaic
word dubăsar ("boatman"), a derivative of dubă ("a small wooden boat
"), so "Dubăsari" means "boatmen".
, and the Transnistria
n region. Stone age
artifacts have been found in the area, and there are several kurgan
s (presumed Scythian) around the city. First mentions of modern Dubăsari date to the beginning of the 16th century, as a fair populated by Moldavia
n peasants. The settlement became part of the Russian Empire
in 1792, and was granted city status in 1795.
In 1924-1940, Dubăsari was part of the Soviet-created Moldavian ASSR
. The town was heavily industrialized during the pre-WWII
period. In the course of World War II
, in 1940, when Bessarabia was occupied by the Soviet Union, it became part of the newly created Moldavian SSR
. On 27 June 1941, the town was occupied by German and Romanian troops. It was re-captured by Soviet forces in the summer of 1944.
In 1951-1954, the Dubăsari dam, and a 48 MW hydroelectric
power plant Dubossarskaya GES was constructed, and Dubăsari Reservoir was formed.
Dubăsari and its suburbs were the site of major conflict during 1990-1992, that eventually degenerated in the War of Transnistria
(1992). Since then, it has been controlled by the breakaway administration of Transnistria
.
The city's economy was significantly damaged during the war in 1992.
(Romanians
), 10,718 Ukrainians
, 8,087 Russians
, and 1,587 others. According to the 2004 Census in Transnistria
, the city had 23,650 inhabitants, including 8,954 Moldovans
(Romanians
), 8,062 Ukrainians
, 5,891 Russians
, 153 Belarussians, 104 Bulgarians
, 90 Armenians
, 49 Poles
, 66 Gagauzians, 46 Jews
, 39 Germans
, 31 Gypsies, and 165 others and non-declared.
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
; , , sometimes Dubossary in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) is a city in Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
, with a population of 23,650. The city is under the administration of the breakaway government of the "Transnistrian Moldovan Republic", and functions as the seat of the Dubăsari sub-district, Transnistria, Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
.
Name
The origin of the town name is the plural form of the RomanianRomanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
archaic
Archaism
In language, an archaism is the use of a form of speech or writing that is no longer current. This can either be done deliberately or as part of a specific jargon or formula...
word dubăsar ("boatman"), a derivative of dubă ("a small wooden boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
"), so "Dubăsari" means "boatmen".
History
Dubăsari is the site of one of the oldest settlements in MoldovaMoldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
, and the Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
n region. Stone age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
artifacts have been found in the area, and there are several kurgan
Kurgan
Kurgan is the Turkic term for a tumulus; mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves, originating with its use in Soviet archaeology, now widely used for tumuli in the context of Eastern European and Central Asian archaeology....
s (presumed Scythian) around the city. First mentions of modern Dubăsari date to the beginning of the 16th century, as a fair populated by Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
n peasants. The settlement became part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
in 1792, and was granted city status in 1795.
In 1924-1940, Dubăsari was part of the Soviet-created Moldavian ASSR
Moldavian ASSR
The Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic , shortened to Moldavian ASSR or, less frequently, Moldovan ASSR, was an autonomous republic of the Ukrainian SSR between 12 October 1924 and 2 August 1940, encompassing modern Transnistria The Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic...
. The town was heavily industrialized during the pre-WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
period. In the course of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in 1940, when Bessarabia was occupied by the Soviet Union, it became part of the newly created Moldavian SSR
Moldavian SSR
The Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic , commonly abbreviated to Moldavian SSR or MSSR, was one of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union...
. On 27 June 1941, the town was occupied by German and Romanian troops. It was re-captured by Soviet forces in the summer of 1944.
In 1951-1954, the Dubăsari dam, and a 48 MW hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
power plant Dubossarskaya GES was constructed, and Dubăsari Reservoir was formed.
Dubăsari and its suburbs were the site of major conflict during 1990-1992, that eventually degenerated in the War of Transnistria
War of Transnistria
The War of Transnistria was a limited conflict that broke out in November 1990 at Dubăsari between pro-Transnistria forces, including the Transnistrian Republican Guard, militia and Cossack units, and supported by elements of the Russian 14th army, and pro-Moldovan forces, including Moldovan...
(1992). Since then, it has been controlled by the breakaway administration of Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
.
The city's economy was significantly damaged during the war in 1992.
Population
In 1989, the population of the city was 35,806, including 15,414 MoldovansMoldovans
Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova...
(Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
), 10,718 Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
, 8,087 Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
, and 1,587 others. According to the 2004 Census in Transnistria
2004 Census in Transnistria
The 2004 Census in Transnistria was organized in Transnistria at roughly the same time that Moldova held its own census, which Transnistria refused to participate in out of principle and deference to its September 2, 1990 Declaration of Independence....
, the city had 23,650 inhabitants, including 8,954 Moldovans
Moldovans
Moldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova...
(Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
), 8,062 Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
, 5,891 Russians
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
, 153 Belarussians, 104 Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
, 90 Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, 49 Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, 66 Gagauzians, 46 Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, 39 Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 31 Gypsies, and 165 others and non-declared.
Notable natives
- Vasile Iovv, Moldovan communist politician, adjunct of the prime minister of the Republic of Moldova
- Vlad GrecuVlad Grecu-Early life:Grecu was born in Dubăsari, Transnistria. He graduated from the Schools of Plastic Arts of Dubăsari and the Technical University - Civil and Industrial Constructions Faculty .-Life:...
, a MoldovanMoldovansMoldovans or Moldavians are the largest population group of Moldova...
writer