The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky in the course of video conference with heads of state authorities and government bodies commented on Russian President Vladimir Putin's signing of a decree granting Russian citizenship to residents of Pridnestrovie who have reached the age of 18 and permanently reside in the republic.
"I have carefully reviewed comments on this topic from Moldovan leaders, public figures, and political figures. Almost all commentators have little or no understanding of the current situation in Pridnestrovie. Let me try to clarify. Our Pridnestrovian people are multinational. Our Pridnestrovian citizens actually hold multiple citizenships. Citizens of Pridnestrovie hold Moldovan, Ukrainian, and Russian citizenship, among other citizenships. The situation has developed in Pridnestrovie: tens of thousands, I repeat, tens of thousands of citizens have no citizenship other than Pridnestrovian. This is probably breaking news for those who commented. Why is this so? There are several reasons.
The first reason is the Moldovan authorities' refusal to grant Moldovan citizenship to residents of Pridnestrovie for various reasons—political and otherwise. There are many such cases. There are refusals even if a person was born in Moldova. That's the first. The second reason is the deprivation of Moldovan citizenship (again, for political reasons) from Pridnestrovian citizens, followed by their deportation from the Republic of Moldova. This is where people become fearful. The decree of the President of the Russian Federation is aimed precisely at resolving these problems – purely through humanitarian means.
The next factor that must be noted is historical. Somehow everyone forgets, or wants to forget (which is impossible), that once upon a time all of us, both commentators and the Pridnestrovian people lived in a single state. Family ties, cultural, humanitarian, and linguistic, have been strengthened over many decades of coexistence in one state consequently. If citizens lack, let’s say, Russian citizenship or no citizenship at all other than Pridnestrovian, then restoring these ties was problematic. The decree of the President of the Russian Federation also addresses these issues.
I would like to call on all leaders and "experts" on our problems not to politicize the situation. I understand that Moldova is accustomed to politicizing absolutely everything – from the economy, the environment, law enforcement, and especially the issue of citizenship. There is no need to politicize it.
Furthermore, obtaining citizenship of any state is a voluntary act. Do not interfere with people making a voluntary democratic choice," Vadim Krasnoselsky noted.
The PMR President on behalf of the Pridnestrovian people expressed gratitude to the Russian leadership and personally to Vladimir Putin for their understanding of the situation and the decision taken in humanitarian terms. He announced that further instructions would be issued and regulatory legal acts would be prepared for the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic.
