Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a sweeping presidential decree that simplifies the process for residents of the unrecognized Moldovan breakaway territory of Transnistria to obtain Russian citizenship, Astra Telegram channel reported.
The document, published on the Russian state legal portal on May 15, marks a major intensification of Moscow’s hybrid campaign in Eastern Europe.
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Eliminating legal hurdles
Under the terms of the new decree, foreign nationals and stateless persons aged 18 or older who permanently reside in the self-proclaimed Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) can apply directly for an expedited Russian passport.
Applicants are completely exempted from standard Russian federal citizenship requirements, including the mandatory five-year permanent residency in Russia, proof of Russian language proficiency, and knowledge of Russian history and state legislation.
The decree explicitly extends this fast-track eligibility to orphans, children left without parental care, and legally incapacitated individuals residing in Transnistria, allowing applications to be processed via their legal guardians or the directors of care organizations.
Residents can submit their paperwork without entering Russian territory, operating directly through existing Russian diplomatic missions and consular offices in the region.
The Kremlin officially justified the decree under the pretext of “protecting human and civil rights and freedoms,” a rationale Moscow has historically deployed to justify interventions in neighboring sovereign states.
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