 The February 1990 elections proved to be a turning point in the conflict between Moldova and Transnistria.In these elections, national revivalists won a large number of seats in the Republican Supreme Soviet (republican legislature) as well as the Chişinău city soviet while OSTK supporters won an overwhelming victory in the city soviets of the big cities in the east.With the communist party severely weakened, the OSTK, in essence, took control of local government in Transnistria.