Expert explains whether Putin's decree on citizenship for Transnistrians is dangerous for Odesa region

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree on simplified admission to Russian citizenship for residents of the Transnistrian region of Moldova is aimed at Moldova rather than Ukraine.

This opinion was expressed to Intent by Artem Filipenko, former head of the Southern Region Research Sector of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, who is currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"This is primarily a tool to put pressure on Moldova. The fact is that there are already about 220,000 Russian citizens in Transnistria, which is from half to two-thirds of the population of the Transnistrian region. That is, whoever wanted to, got Russian citizenship. In addition, these Russian citizens simultaneously have Moldovan and Moldovan citizenship, and in some places Ukrainian and Romanian citizenship. That is, there are enough Russian citizens there to declare the need for their "protection," "violation of rights," and so on," the expert noted.

The main difference after this decree is that, according to the expert, Transnistria has not been formally recognized as a separate region by Russia. Those Moldovan citizens who were eligible for Russian citizenship received it. Currently, Transnistria has been singled out as a priority region of Moldova for Russia.

"This is a tool of pressure on Moldova to activate pro-Russian forces that constantly accuse President Maia Sandu and her PAS party of "dragging Moldova into war"; it is a tool of pressure on the EU to reduce its willingness to accept a country with a significant number of Russian citizens into its ranks; it is an attempt to slow down Moldova's reintegration and ensure that Russia has the final say in this matter; it is, after all, a test to see what kind of response Moldova will give," Artem Filipenko emphasized.

According to the decree, adult foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in Transnistria at the time of the document's entry into force are entitled to simplified citizenship. For them, the requirements for five years of residence in Russia, proof of knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and the basics of Russian legislation are canceled.

It should be noted that the day before, at a meeting with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas noted that after the change of leadership in some European countries, Chisinau found itself in "favorable conditions" for EU accession and Brussels would not mind speeding up this procedure.

Кирило Бойко