Applications to determine belonging to the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova and those to recognize persons as citizens of the Republic of Moldova will be coordinated with the Security and Intelligence Service. The period for examining applications for the recognition of Moldovan citizenship will be extended by at most six months if there are sound reasons for further examination. This is stipulated in a draft law that was given a first reading by Parliament, IPN reports.

Bill author, MP Igor Chiriac, said that stricter rules are necessary to exclude weaknesses and risks to state security and public order. He referred to the risks caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. In the last two years, the number of applicants for citizenship of the Republic of Moldova had grown. 70% of the applications were filed by persons from the Russian Federation and 20% -by persons from Ukraine. Moreover, the authorities also identified multiple attempts to fraudulently obtain the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova, based on documents of unknown origin submitted by applicants.

According to the draft law, not all the persons who were born and live in the Republic of Moldova, who don’t have the citizenship of other states and request recognition of the country’s citizenship will receive it. The exception concerns persons who, during the period of examination of the application, are serving or have to serve a jail term based on a court sentence, have an unbroken criminal record or are under criminal investigation.

The applications submitted by these persons, as well as the applications to determine belonging to the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova and those to recognize persons as citizens of the Republic of Moldova, which will contain false information or conceal pertinent data, will be rejected.

The draft law is to be given a final reading and adopted by Parliament.