Russia Simplifies Citizenship Path for Transnistria Residents

(MENAFN) Russia has moved to ease the process of obtaining citizenship for residents of Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova that operates with de facto self-governance, according to reports citing a presidential decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The measure applies to foreign nationals and stateless individuals who permanently reside in the region. According to reports, it is framed as a step intended to safeguard human rights and fundamental freedoms in line with international legal norms.

Transnistria, located along the Dniester River, separated from Moldova following an armed conflict in the early 1990s and has since functioned under a self-administration structure supported by a peacekeeping arrangement involving Russian, Transnistrian, and Moldovan forces.

According to reports, the decision comes amid increasing political and economic pressure on the region from Moldova’s central authorities in Chișinău and their Western partners, as part of what Moldova describes as a reintegration strategy.

Since 2020, Moldova has taken a more explicitly pro-European direction under President Maia Sandu, applying for European Union membership after the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022 and later advancing toward formal accession talks.

According to reports, Moldova’s government adopted a revised security strategy in 2025 identifying Russia as its primary external threat, a move that drew criticism from Moscow, which warned that such a stance could further escalate tensions between the two sides.

The latest citizenship adjustment is seen by observers as part of a broader pattern of engagement between Russia and the region’s predominantly Russian-speaking population, amid ongoing geopolitical friction in Eastern Europe.

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