You're reading: Moldovan separatist region has new leader

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Official results say Evgheny Shevciuk, a 43-year-old businessman and politician, has been elected leader of the breakaway region of Trans-Dniester.

The separatists’ official news agency Olvia-Pres quotes electoral officials Monday as announcing that Shevciuc won 73.9 percent of the votes to defeat the other candidate, Anatoly Kaminski, in Sunday’s runoff.

Igor Smirnov, who led pro-Moscow Trans-Dniester for 20 years, came third in the first round on Dec. 11.

Trans-Dniester broke away from Moldova in 1990 and fought a war with Moldovan forces in 1992 that left 1,500 people dead.

The region — mainly populated by Ukrainians and Russians — is not recognized internationally.