Igor Smirnov, the man who’s been runing for more than 15 years the breakaway region of Transdniester, east of the Moldovan Republic, won another five-year term at the helm of the territory following a presidential poll on Sunday, the Central Electoral Commission in regional capital Tiraspol announced, quoted by Reuters.

The elections were validated hours before the polling stations closed with a voter presence above 50%.

Smirnov, 65, obtained 82.4% of the votes, against 7% and 9% respectively for his main adversaries. Prior to the announcement of results, Smirnov had said he would withdraw from presidency only after the independence of Transdniester is internationally recognized.

The poll was not recognized by the international community whose representatives have said its results would not be judicially valid.