Transndniester is ready to join the Russian Federation, the leader of the breakaway region east of Moldova Republic has said. Igor Smirnov said that the self-proclaimed republic had no intention to follow a policy of closing ties with the Republic of Moldova, RBK reports.

He recalled the results of a 2006 referendum when 97.2% of voters said they supported independence and the eventual accession of Transdniester in the Russian Federation.

Smirnov said authorities in Tiraspol - the capital of the region - would accept a dialogue with Moldova only after the election of a new president in the country.