In a public call to the Russian Federation, Prime Minister Dorin Recean urged to show respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and for the rights and freedoms of the citizens. The statement comes in the wake of the decision to establish polling stations for the Russian presidential election in the breakaway Transnistrian region, with which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldov disagrees.

Dorin Recean reiterated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over a note of protest to Russia’s Ambassador Oleg Vasnetov, stating that the Russian Federation defies the norms and principles of international law and undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

“The Republic of Moldova will ensure public order on the constitutionally controlled territory. And, correspondingly, what is happening on the uncontrolled territory was already condemned by the MFA,” said Premier Recean.

According to the decision taken by Russian Embassy in Moldova, polling stations will be opened in Tiraspol, Bender, Rybnitsa and Grigoriopol on Sunday, March 17, as the local press reported.

On Tuesday, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Moldova Oleg Vasnetov was summoned to the MFA. The diplomat argued the polling stations in the Transnistrian region will be established because the right to vote is a fundamental right of all the citizens, which is stipulated in the Constitution and other normative documents.