Romania didn’t introduce visas for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. The only change applied on the Moldovan-Romanian border is the one determined by the pandemic, Romanian senator Viorel Badea said following reports that the Moldovans need to have a visa for being able to cross the border with Romania. He noted this false information is disseminated for electoral purposes, IPN reports.

“Nothing changed on the border, if only the change dictated by the pandemic. When we speak about visas, we refer to long-stay visas for those who work in Romania and have work contracts. They can enter Romania based on the work contract and on the long-stay visa. The citizens of the Republic of Moldova who hold biometric passports can enter Romania if they fall within the exceptions stipulated by law,” Viorel Badea stated in the talk show “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.

According to the politician, the idea of introduction of visas by Romania is disseminated for electoral purposes and is aimed at harming Romania’s image before the Moldovans.

“Using such theses is a sacrilege. They try to make the citizens of the Republic of Moldova go against the Romanian state, to increase the electoral advantages and to implant the idea that Romania places obstacles and introduces visa. No visa has been introduced since 2014. The liberalized visa regime with the European Union remained untouched,” stated Viorel Badea.

Currently, the citizens of the Republic Moldova who have biometric passports can enter Romania if they fall within the exceptions provided by law, such as family members of Romanian citizens, family members of citizens of other EU member states, persons who have a long-stay visa, personnel of diplomatic services, persons who are in transit or go to studies.