Since April 2018, upwards of ten thousand persons have applied for recognition of Moldovan citizenship, and 72% of them, hailing from the left bank of the Nistru river and Bender municipality, have already acquired it, IPN reports.

The Public Services Agency says in a press release that before the procedure was simplified in April 2018, Moldovan citizenship was formally recognized for only about 300 people from the Transnistrian region a year.

As of April 2018, persons over 18 years of age, born on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, regardless of whether they hold the nationality of another state and reside in the country or abroad, can obtain the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova through simplified recognition. They are recognized as citizens of the Republic of Moldova from the moment the application is submitted in this respect, which contains the applicant's consent.