The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Moldova Oleg Vasnetsov, when leaving the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he was summoned today, said that the right to vote is a fundamental right of all the citizens, which is stipulated in the Constitution and other normative documents. The diplomat expressed their dissatisfaction with and protest against the situation created in connection with the number of polling stations that will be established in Moldova for the Russian presidential election, IPN reports.
Oleg Vasnetsov told journalists that the task of any diplomatic mission is to contribute to the defense of the rights and interests of the citizens of the represented state. The number of Russian citizens living in Moldova, including the Transnistrian region, totals a quarter of a million. Both the electoral body of Russia and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Moldova received requests from Russian citizens to ensure their right to vote.
The ambassador also said that the official Chisinau allowed opening a polling station within the Embassy. Together with the Tiraspol administration, it was decided to establish a few more polling stations, but their number is not as high as the previous years. For example, 30 stations were opened in Moldova in 2020-2021, of which 27 were on the left bank of the Nistru River.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ambassador Oleg Vasnetov was told about the protest against the opening of polling stations in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova, contrary to the request of the Ministry. “Thus, the Russian Federation defies the norms and principles of international law and undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to assess the situation and will additionally inform about other reactions,” reads a press release issued by the MFA.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean also had a reaction. “The state Republic of Moldova always asks to be respected and, accordingly, this means respect for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” the Premier told reporters.
In accordance with the decision taken by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Moldova, on Sunday, March 17, electors in the Transnistrian region will be able to vote in the Russian presidential election. Polling stations will be available in Tiraspol, Bender, Rybnitsa and Grigoriopol, according to local media.
