Abstract
Among current subjects of international law, there are states but also so-called de facto states - units fulfilling the constitutive requirements of statehood (territory, population and exercise of public power) but lacking international recognition either completely or almost entirely. Transnistria, i.e.
Moldavan separatist region, is one of such units. The article deals with the status of de facto states in international law with special focus on Transnistria.