The interim Cabinet on July 22 annulled the right of the Moldovans from Transnistria to receive identity cards and the first passport free of charge, IPN reports.

Acting ICT Minister Pavel Filip said the budget costs associated with the issuing of identification papers must be optimized. The annual budget allocations for issuing identification papers to the citizens from the Transnistrian region were used up during the first six months of this year.

Pavel Filip noted that the given legislative amendment is also aimed at ensuring parity in relation to the other citizens of the country, who pay for the national identity cards and passports.