Moldovan President Maia Sandu has criticized the decree signed the day before by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on simplified obtaining of Russian citizenship for residents of unrecognized Transnistria. According to her, it can be used as a tool to mobilize the region's residents for war against Ukraine.
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“They (Russia — ed.) probably need more people to send them to war in Ukraine,” Sandu said.
She suggested that Moscow's decision is an element of Russia's strategy to pressure Moldova through its efforts to re-integrate Transnistria.
“Since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, most people from the region have obtained Moldovan citizenship because they felt safer having citizenship of the Republic of Moldova rather than Russian citizenship,” the Moldovan president said.
Asked whether Putin could block Moldova's EU membership over the Transnistria issue, Sandu stressed that “only the EU can decide whether Moldova can become part of the EU or not.” She also stressed that Russia “has nothing to do with this.”
As a reminder, Moldova received the status of candidate for EU membership in 2022, and began official negotiations on membership in the bloc in 2024.
On the eve of Putin signed a decree on simplified admission to Russian citizenship for residents of unrecognized Transnistria. In particular, according to the document, the right to obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure was granted to foreigners or stateless persons who have reached the age of 18 and permanently reside in Transnistria. For such people, the requirements for five years of residence on Russian territory, confirmation of knowledge of the Russian language, history and the basics of Russian legislation are canceled.
Commenting on the relevant decree, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that this means not only the search for new military personnel, but also Russia's designation of the territory of Transnistria “as if it were its own.”