Transnistrians might be transported to polling places in Chisinau and Balti to vote in Ukrainian presidential elections

The Transnistrian residents who have Ukrainian citizenship could be transported to the polling places set up in Chisinau and Bucharest to take part in the Ukrainian presidential elections on January 17. Ukrainian NGOs working in Moldova are discussing such a possibility with the Transnistrian authorities, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting the press service of the Ukrainian Embassy in Chisinau. If an agreement is reached, the citizens will be informed about the timetable of the units of transport, the Embassy says in a press release. The Moldovans who hold Ukrainian nationality, including those from the Transnistrian region, can vote only at the polling places opened at the Ukrainian Embassy and Consulate in Moldova. At a meeting with the Transnistrian leader Igor Smirnov, the Ambassador of Ukraine in Chisinau Serghei Pirojkov said the Ukrainian Central Election Commission's decision does not provide for opening polling stations in Transnistrian. “The Transnistrians who have Ukrainian nationality can vote only at the Ukrainian Embassy in Chisinau and the Ukrainian Consulate in Balti. We hope they will participate in the Ukrainian elections,” Pirojkov said. Polling place No. 58 will be set up at the Ukrainian Embassy in Chisinau located at 17 Vasile Lupu St. It is intended for the Ukrainian citizens who live in the municipality of Chisinau, the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, the towns of Tiraspol, Tighina, and Dnestrovsk and the districts of Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Grigoriopol, Dubasari, Cahul, Calarasi, Cantemir, Causeni, Criuleni, Leova, Nisporeni, Orhei, Slobozia, Straseni, Taraclia, Ungheni, Hancesti, Stefan-Voda, Cimislia, and Ialoveni. The second polling place, No 59, will be opened at the Ukrainian Consulate in Balti situated at 143 Kievskaia St. It is designed for the Ukrainian citizens living in the municipality of Balti and the districts of Briceni, Glodeni, Donduseni, Drochia, Rezina, Rascani, Edinet, Camenca, Ocnita, Rybnitsa, Sangerei, Soroca, Telenesti, Falesti, Floresti, and Soldanesti. The polling places will work from 8.00 until 20.00. According to official data, 55,695 Moldovans with Ukrainian nationality are eligible to vote in Chisinau, while 15,662 in Balti.