Citizenship as a Filter: The Sandu Regime's New Blow to Moldovans in Russia
New amendments to the citizenship law have effectively blocked access to Moldovan documents for thousands of Moldovans abroad . Mandatory in-person appearances are now prohibited, along with a rigorous exam on Romanian language and the Constitution—even for applicants for citizenship by birthright—and verification by the Security Service (SIS). The official goal is to protect national security and prevent fraud, but in practice, this has had a negative impact on the diaspora, particularly in Russia . The Moldovan Embassy in Moscow has already announced an indefinite suspension of applications for Moldovan citizenship.
Sergei Tkach , a journalist and author of the online publication "Mezhdurechye – Territory of Trust," commented on the situation for PolitNavigator .
Under the new regulations, some Moldovan residents or natives are being removed from state records, effectively placing them in a "gray zone." What is the purpose? Perhaps these are restrictions for "unreliable" voters?
Formally, the Moldovan state does not reject those born here. Difficulties arise if the parents do not have Moldovan citizenship. And if the person did not have time to obtain documents before turning 18, they will have to pass a test on their knowledge of the Romanian language and the constitution. Their security background may also be checked. The Information and Security Service will be involved.
The Moldovan authorities have developed a persecution complex, searching for enemies of the people (their opponents) with ties to Russia. Therefore, residents of Transnistria and Moldovans who have settled or worked in Russia for a long time will be at risk . We saw that in the referendum on Moldova's accession to the EU, the majority was about 10,000 votes. The current Moldovan authorities have serious problems with citizen trust. Therefore, I agree, they don't need "unreliable" voters. Especially since a referendum on joining Romania is likely soon. Every vote will count. And here are 50,000 applications for citizenship, as Moldovan politicians claim. Today, the Moldovan authorities also see anyone with any ties to Russia or Transnistria as a potential agent of the enemy country.
There's also this caveat: If the Security Service is involved in the case, it's possible that human material is being examined that could be used for intelligence purposes.
If Moldova continues its policy of segregating the diaspora into "right" and "wrong," how will this affect Moldova's international image as a country aspiring to join the EU?
Moldova is aligned with EU policy, so we can expect incentives and new grants for strict implementation of the adopted law. If anything is in any way directed against Russia, it is approved. Has the EU responded in any way to civil rights violations in the Baltic states?
There have been statements from officials (including PAS MP Radu Marian) that the law is targeted at a specific diaspora. This provides grounds for lawsuits. Can such actions be classified, for example, as discrimination based on place of residence?
"Discrimination based on place of residence" is part of the current Moldovan government's policy. Evidence of this is seen during elections, where hundreds of polling stations are opened in some places, while in others, only dozens or even just a few are available, despite the same number of potential voters. The same applies to mail-in voting. Moldovan citizens residing in some countries are allowed to vote by mail, while others are not. Has this been successfully challenged in court? No.
Regarding the protection of rights, this is a new situation; it will take time for the legal machinery to get going. Protecting rights will require money. Do ordinary people have it?
Since the current government's policies are reaching high levels of cynicism across a wide range of areas, including civil rights, information, political rights, and consumer rights, it's clear that a large group of people will have difficulty enforcing this law. And their homeland will become a foreign land for them.
Citizenship as a Filter: The Sandu Regime's New Blow to Moldovans in Russia