Russia accelerates passport issuance for Transnistria residents

The Russian Ambassador to Moldova, Oleg Ozerov, has announced an acceleration in the issuance of Russian passports to residents of the Transnistria region. This follows a simplified procedure established by a decree from President Vladimir Putin in May 2026, which allows permanent residents of the region who are 18 or older to apply for citizenship without meeting standard requirements.

On September 8, Ambassador Ozerov traveled to Tiraspol to hand over the first eight passports issued under this mechanism. Reports suggest that over 60,000 individuals in the region have already applied for Russian citizenship through this simplified process.

Moldovan officials have criticized the move. Valeriu Chiveri, the Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, described the action as “unfriendly and irresponsible,” arguing that it undermines Russia's credibility as a mediator in the Transnistrian conflict settlement process.