On Monday, Moldova’s foreign ministry announced that it would be summoning the Russian ambassador to provide an explanation for Russia’s plan to open six polling stations in Moldova for the upcoming Russian presidential election, instead of the agreed-upon single station.
The ministry specified that Russia Ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov was directed to appear at the ministry on Tuesday for this purpose.
The Russian ambassador would be questioned regarding reports in the media indicating that six polling stations would be functioning in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transdniestria.
This move contradicted the initial agreement to establish just one station at Russia’s embassy in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, a country situated between Ukraine and Romania.
From March 15 to 17, Russians will participate in a presidential election in which incumbent Vladimir Putin is widely expected to secure victory over three opposing candidates, none of whom openly criticize him.
The pro-Russian president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has openly condemned Moscow’s incursion into Ukraine, accused the Kremlin of orchestrating a coup to oust her, and identified Russia as the primary threat to her nation’s sovereignty.
On the other hand, Russia has accused Sandu of fueling anti-Russian sentiments and labeled her attempts to secure European Union membership as harmful for the country.
Transdniestria became separated from Moldova during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, engaged in a short conflict against the newly independent state, and has since existed along the country’s eastern border with minimal instances of violence or unrest for over thirty years. Approximately 1,500 Russian “peacekeepers” are stationed in the territory.
Oazu Nantoi, a parliament member from Sandu’s PAS party, viewed the decision to open unauthorized polling stations as one of many provocative actions by Russia, accusing Moscow of using such tactics to argue that Moldova harbors Russophobic sentiments and infringes upon the rights of Russian citizens, following a scenario similar to that of Kyiv.
Transdniestria has long been considered a potential hot spot near Ukraine, especially with tensions escalating due to the ongoing war in the region.
The situation was further exacerbated by the introduction of customs tariffs by Moldova’s central authorities on goods entering and exiting the Transdniestrian enclave. Elected officials in Transdniestria made a plea to Russia last month for “diplomatic assistance.”
Additionally, Moldova faces another regional challenge from Gagauzia, a predominantly Turkic-populated region in the south. The region’s leader, supported by a businessman in exile who has been convicted in absentia for fraud, consistently advocates for closer ties with Russia and recently met with Russian leader Putin.
(Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Editing by Michael Perry)
