Foreign affairs minister says Moldovan citizens on both banks of Dniester understand very well international circumstances country is in, risks of Russian citizenship

Our citizens, on both banks of the Dniester River, understand very well the international circumstances in which we find ourselves and the risks associated with citizenship of the Russian Federation. Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi today made statements to this effect. He emphasized that “these initiatives, coming from the Russian authorities, must be treated with maximum caution.”

According to the official, the issue of getting citizenship of the Russian Federation is a debatable one, “considering the increasingly limited opportunities that it offers.”

“These initiatives and the actions undertaken by the Russian Federation in recent times are well known to our citizens. I do not believe that they share the aspirations of the Kremlin authorities. Thus, no citizen wants to end up on the front line,” Mihai Popsoi said.

On the other hand, the deputy PM referred to the opportunities provided by the citizenship of Moldova, in the context of the country’s accession to the European Union.

“They are becoming more and more evident, including in terms of international travel, as well as other benefits offered by our peaceful state, which is respected on the international stage and takes care of its citizens without involving them in a war. Also, once we join the European Union, the citizens of Moldova will enjoy the same rights as those enjoyed by citizens of EU member states. Each time, the Moldovan authorities have taken measures to protect national security, including through initiatives to withdraw the citizenship of persons who act against the security and interests of the citizens of our country,” the official said.

The deputy prime minister also rejected claims of possible infringements of the rights of Russian citizens or Russian speakers in Moldova.

“Citizens of the Russian Federation and Russian speakers in our country feel very comfortable here and are protected by the Constitution of Moldova. We recall that situation when the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Chisinau asked citizens of the Russian Federation and Russian speakers of our country to report possible violations of their rights. The reaction was completely opposite to what Russian diplomats probably expected. Citizens of the Republic of Moldova, whether Russian speakers or speakers of other languages, said that their constitutional rights are observed and that they feel very good in Moldova. Our citizens know how to distinguish between good and evil and between what is beneficial or harmful for them,” Mihai Popsoi added.

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in mid-May 2026 signed a decree under which residents of the Transnistrian region will be able to get  Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure. The Moldovan authorities described the decision as “propagandistic.”