The Ukrainian citizens travel free by trolleybuses in Chisinau if they present an ID, said ticket inspectors working in public transport. Asked by IPN to provide details, the authorities in charge of the sector said they do not know anything about this. They could not say when such a possibility was introduced or who will cover the costs for such concessions.

Dorin Chernyi, director of the Chisinau Electric Transport Company, said such decisions can be taken only by the Chisinau Municipal Council, but he does not possess such information.

Communicator of the General Public Transport and Communications Division Veronica Baltag said such a decision hasn’t been made. “As usual, such decisions are taken based on an order made by the Chisinau Municipal Council, but we haven’t issued any document concerning this issue,” she stated.

The acting head of the Division’s Transport Management Unit Lilian Copaci noted that he didn’t see any document – a decision by the Commission for Exceptional Situations or by the Chisinau Municipal Council – to allow for such concessions. 

Contacted by IPN for a comment, Natalia Ixari, spokeswoman for mayor of Chisinau Ion Ceban, said that there is no such an order for now.

There are about 94,000 Ukrainian citizens in the Republic of Moldova at present.