Tom Zenovich

Tom Markovich Zenovich
Born (1939-02-25) February 25, 1939 (age 85)
DiedMay 8, 2022(2022-05-08) (aged 83)
OccupationFormer presidential candidate from Transnistria
Years active1995-2003
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Political partyIndependent
Parents
  • Viktor Zenovich (father)
  • Mari Zenovich (mother)

Tom Markovich Zenovich (Russian: Том Маркович Зенович; February 25, 1939–May 8, 2022) was a politician and former presidential candidate from Transnistria, a break-away region of Moldova. Prior to his presidential run in 2001 he was mayor of Bender, Transnistria's second largest city.[1]

He claims that as a result of opposing Igor Smirnov, he was subject to antisemitic propaganda that spread rumours that he was a Jew (which is not true) and was forced to give up his seat as mayor. In the biography of his political program posters he described his occupation as "unemployed". He told the British Helsinki Human Rights Group that he feared for his personal safety after the elections.[2]

He is an advocate of conditional re-unification with Moldova and pro-Vladimir Putin.

Tom Zenovich is fluent Russian, Romanian, but he almost doesn't speak English.

As a presidential candidate in the 9 December 2001 Transnistrian presidential election he came second, failing to beat the incumbent Igor Smirnov but getting more votes than his other rival, human rights activist Alexander Radchenko.

  1. ^ Isachenko, Daria (2012-03-20). The Making of Informal States: Statebuilding in Northern Cyprus and Transdniestria. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 85–. ISBN 9780230360594. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  2. ^ "BHHRG". www.bhhrg.org. Archived from the original on March 10, 2007.