By Helen Fawkes BBC News, Tiraspol

Tiraspol has been decked out for the 'independence' parade

The breakaway Trans-Dniester region is to mark the 15th anniversary of its self-proclaimed independence from the former Soviet Republic of Moldavia.

Officially Trans-Dniester remains part of what is now Moldova, but Russian peacekeepers have guarded the borders since a civil war in the early 1990s.

Soldiers and tanks are expected to sweep through the capital, Tiraspol, in a Soviet-style military parade.

But 15 years on, the breakaway republic is not recognised internationally.

Sandwiched between Ukraine and Moldova, there is growing concern in the West about this separatist state.

It is home to one of the largest stockpiles of weapons in Europe, left behind by the Red Army.

TRANS-DNIESTER REGION Largely Russian and Ukrainian-speaking Declared independence in 1990 Not recognised internationally Separatist capital is Tiraspol Population under a million 1,400 Russian troops established in Trans-Dniester

Analysts claim that the region is a smugglers paradise and that people and weapons are being trafficked.

Attempts to bring peace to the region have so far failed.

As part of the latest plan Trans-Dniester is to hold parliamentary elections in December, but the authorities fear there may be mass protests like the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, which led to the opposition leader coming to power.