Russia Says Moldova Cannot Deny Transnistria Residents Voting Rights

Russia's Foreign Ministry has said that the Moldovan government in Chisinau has no right to deprive Russian citizens residing in the breakaway region of Transnistria of the opportunity to vote, according to a report by the Russian state news agency TASS.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was quoted by TASS as saying that "Russian citizens have the right to freely express their will," describing it as "one of the fundamental human rights."

The statement, as reported by TASS, addresses the voting access of Russian nationals living in Transnistria, a breakaway territory on Moldova's eastern border that has operated outside the control of the central government in Chisinau since a conflict in the early 1990s. The region maintains close ties with Moscow, and many of its residents hold Russian citizenship in addition to other passports.

TASS did not provide further details in the excerpt regarding the specific voting process, election, or Moldovan government action that prompted Zakharova's remarks. The report attributes the comments solely to the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Moldova and Russia have had strained relations in recent years, with Chisinau's pro-European government frequently at odds with Moscow over the status of Transnistria and allegations of Russian interference in Moldovan affairs, claims Russia has denied. This report reflects the Russian government's position as conveyed through its state media.