Transnistria (officially the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic or PMR), a breakaway state internationally recognised as part of Moldova, has a state flag, a presidential standard, and a customs flag. Additionally, the flag of Russia shares equal legal status with the state flag.
Transnistria's state flag law outlines the design and use of the state flag. which Transnistria broke away from in 1990. The reverse side of the state flag is a simplified version that omits the star, hammer and sickle. With the exception of government institutions, any organisation or individual may substitute the state flag with the simplified variant.
Although the state flag retains Soviet-era communist symbols, Transnistria is not a communist state and the state flag law does not give the flag's symbols or colours any particular meaning.
Design and construction
Article 3 of Transnistria's state flag law describes the design of the state flag's obverse side. The width-to-length ratio of the flag is 1:2. Its design consists of three horizontal bands of red, green and red, in a 3:2:3 ratio, charged in the canton with a gold hammer and sickle crowned by a gold-bordered, five-pointed red star. Appendix 1 specifies that the reverse side of the flag omits the star, hammer and sickle. Despite the flag's use of communist symbols, Transnistria is not a communist state.
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thumb|center|upright=1.8|Construction sheet of the state flag of Transnistria
Protocol
thumb|The state flag inside the [[Supreme Council (Transnistria)|Supreme Council]]
The state flag is used prominently by the government institutions of Transnistria. It is raised permanently on buildings belonging to government institutions, such as the office of the president, the Supreme Council building, judicial courts, and the Transnistrian Republican Bank. It is also raised during state-sanctioned events, such as official ceremonies and observances. Non-state institutions and residences are permitted to raise and fly the state flag during these events; they may also raise the flag for the duration of their own private ceremonies. The state flag is displayed inside the meeting rooms of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, as well as the offices of top officials, diplomatic missions abroad, and state-run educational institutions. Additionally, official government websites must show the state flag. Government-manufactured items, such as certificates, medals and military uniforms, may also feature the state flag. With the exception of government institutions, a simplified version of the state flag that omits the star, hammer and sickle may be used as a substitute.
During periods of mourning, the state flag is lowered to half-mast and a black ribbon is attached to the top of its flagpole. The length of the black ribbon should be equal to the length of the flag. The state flag may be draped over the coffin of a deceased member of the armed forces during their military funeral. Before the burial, the state flag is retrieved, folded and handed over to the relatives of the deceased.
thumb|Transnistrian president [[Vadim Krasnoselsky and Abkhazian president Raul Khajimba in front of their respective state flags, 29 September 2017]]
When the state flag is flown alongside other flags, it should occupy the position of honour as outlined in appendix 3 of the state flag law. The size of the flags and flagpoles should be equal, but if the height of the flagpoles vary, the state flag should be on the tallest flagpole. When two different flags are flown, the state flag should be on the observer's left. In a row of three different flags, it is positioned in the center, with the second most important flag to its left. In a row of four different flags, it takes the first position on the left of the observer (i.e. left-of-center). When five or more different flags are flown in a row, the state flag appears at both ends. However, if the flags are arranged in a semicircle, the state flag is placed in the center or on the left of the middle pair if the number is even. In a closed circular arrangement, the state flag is positioned at the main entrance externally and opposite the entrance internally, with other flags arranged in a clockwise order of decreasing priority. In a two-row corridor formation, the state flag is the first flag on the left side of the entrance, and in a V-shaped arrangement, it occupies the tip position. The state flag should be raised first and lowered last if simultaneous movement of the flags is not possible. During marches and processions, the state flag must always be carried or displayed in a position of prominence.
Flags of foreign states and international organisations may be displayed in Transnistria only if they are accompanied by the state flag. Buildings housing foreign diplomatic missions are exempted from this rule. The state flag takes precedence in position and size, and when flown together, the other flags must be on separate flagpoles. Foreign flags are positioned to the right of the state flag and arranged alphabetically in one of Transnistria's official languages (i.e. Russian, Romanian or Ukrainian).
History
In the final years of the Soviet Union, the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic saw a rise in nationalist sentiment among the ethnic Moldovan population. Although then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev voided the proclamation, the PMSSR continued to govern itself independently. On 5 November 1991, the PMSSR dropped "Soviet Socialist" from its name, becoming the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR).
The state flag of Transnistria was officially adopted on 18 July 2000 with the passing of the Transnistrian law on state symbols. The law also standardised the flag's exact design and colours.
In 2009, Supreme Council deputies of the ruling Obnovlenie party proposed adopting the Russian tricolour as Transnistria's national flag. Reasons for the proposal, as recorded on the website of the Supreme Council, included "numerous requests by citizens", the historical relationship between Transnistria and Russia, and a 2006 referendum in which 96% of voters voted for the accession of Transnistria to Russia. However, it was not until a Supreme Council vote on 12 April 2017 that the flag of Russia was made legally co-equal to the state flag of Transnistria.