The authorities of Moldova said it is difficult to cope with the sharp increase in the number of applications for granting citizenship from Russians. Currently, 70% of applicants are Russian citizens.
Why Russians want to get Moldovan citizenship
As the country's General Inspectorate for Migration stated, the geopolitical situation in the region, created by the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine, increased the number of people who wish to obtain Moldovan citizenship.
The agency reported that 70% of applicants are citizens of the Russian Federation, and 20% are citizens of Ukraine. At the same time, it did not provide specific figures regarding the number of persons wishing to obtain Moldovan citizenship.
In connection with the sharp increase in the number of requests for Moldovan citizenship, the agency asks the government to extend the period for considering applications to six months instead of the current 20 days, the General Inspectorate for Migration said.
Moldova is trying to protect itself from Russia.
Earlier, the president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, said that her country is trying to protect itself from the risks of destabilisation, but vulnerabilities remain.
Sandu reminded that she expects attempts by the Russian Federation to destabilise the country in the spring of this year, at the height of the campaign before the presidential elections.
Presidential elections in Moldova should be held in the fall of 2024.
Before that, the President of Moldova stated that it is essential to continue supporting Ukraine, as the Russian Federation can spread its aggression to other countries.
According to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia is creating informational conditions in the unrecognised Transnistria for further operation under a foreign flag to destabilise Moldova.
