International community condemns russia's actions in the Transnistrian region

russia's presidential elections in 2024 have raised tensions in the Republic of Moldova after the russian federation decided to open polling stations in the breakaway region of Transnistria, despite vehement opposition from the authorities in Chișinău.

In a gesture of solidarity with the Republic of Moldova, the international community has strongly condemned russia's actions in the Transnistrian region, stressing the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova has issued an appeal to the international community to denounce these actions, which have resulted in the unauthorized opening of polling stations for the russian presidential election in the breakaway region.

In his message on social networks, Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi strongly underlined the condemnation of russia's unauthorized electoral activities on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the need to support an order based on the rule of law. His appeal was supported by foreign ambassadors in the country, including the ambassadors of Sweden and the Czech Republic.

Swedish Ambassador to Chișinău Katarina Fried reaffirmed her full support for Moldova's appeal and stressed the importance of respecting international law. Czech Ambassador Stanislav Kázecký also expressed his support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova.

The United States diplomacy also joined the condemnation, highlighting once again russia's lack of respect for Moldova's neutrality, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In addition to these reactions, Romania and Sweden condemned the opening of polling stations for the russian elections in the Transnistrian region, but also in other disputed areas such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the illegally annexed territories in Ukraine. Both countries stressed that these elections are illegal and illegitimate, and the results are invalid.

Controverse in Transnistria: Alleged Kamikaze Drone Attack Raises Questions

On the day of the presidential election, Transnistrian and russian publications reported on an apparent military misconduct incident in the Transnistrian region, fueling tensions in the disputed area. According to these reports, a military helicopter of the Transnistria forces was reportedly destroyed by a kamikaze drone attack.

The official Transnistria news agency, citing the Ministry of State Security (MGB), brought this information to public attention, indicating that the helicopter was hit at an airport near Tiraspol. However, notable discrepancies have emerged between official sources and social media reports, calling into question the authenticity of the event.

 While some news portals and Telegram channels affiliated with the Tiraspol regime have published photos and information about the alleged attack, authorities in Chișinău have adopted a cautious stance. The Moldovan government spokesman dismissed the reports, saying there was no confirmation from the Chișinău authorities or international partners of an attack in the Transnistrian region.

And Chișinău's reintegration policy bureau says it has been in contact with other Moldovan public authorities in connection with the explosion at a military unit in Tiraspol after an alleged kamikaze drone attack, reported by the Transnistrian press.

After reviewing video footage and information exchange, the Reintegration Office said that "the incident in question is an attempt to provoke fear and panic in the region. The military technique in the images has not been working for several years.
The authorities in Chișinau, in contact with the Ukrainian side, do not confirm any attack on the Transnistrian region," the Bureau's message said.

Molotov cocktail incident at the russian consulate in Chișinău: Tensions during russian presidential election

Agitations and tensions erupted in front of the Consulate of the russian federation in Chișinău during the russian presidential election. A man with dual Moldovan and russian citizenship threw two Molotov cocktails over the consulate fence, briefly disrupting the voting process.

The incident took place around 11:30 am, when several russian citizens were waiting outside the consulate to cast their votes. Eyewitnesses reported that a man wearing a medical mask threw two containers of flammable substances over the fence while several journalists were present in the area.

The man tried to flee the scene but was apprehended by the Moldovan Carabinieri guarding the russian consulate. During the arrest, the suspect shouted in russian, "I hate russia!" to russian voters who tried to reach him.

Moldovan police confirmed that the suspect is a 54-year-old man with Moldovan and russian citizenship. During the hearings, he explained his actions as dissatisfaction with the actions of the russian authorities.

The Consulate of the russian federation in Chișinău is the only polling station opened with the consent of the Moldovan authorities for the Russian presidential elections. However, Russia has opened six other polling stations in the Transnistrian region, despite opposition from the Moldovan authorities.

The russian federation's Ambassador to Chișinău, oleg vasnetsov, has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In connection with the russian federation Embassy's decision to open polling stations in the Transnistrian region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Chișinău has summoned Ambassador oleg vasnetsov. He was informed of the position of the MFA, which disapproves of the opening of polling stations of the russian federation in the Transnistrian region of Moldova. vasnetsov told the press that Chișinău's position was "unfounded" and that the rights of russian citizens in Moldova must be respected.

Premier Dorin Recean said that the state would not allow violations on the territory controlled by the constitutional authorities.

"Everyone must respect the state of the Republic of Moldova and by this the citizens of the Republic of Moldova," he said.

It should be noted that in the 2018 presidential elections in the russian federation, when the Democratic Party held power in Chișinău and Igor Dodon was president of the country, a total of 27 polling stations were opened in the Republic of Moldova, 24 of them on the left bank of the Dniester.

According to Promo-LEX, a governmental organization that aims to develop democracy in the Republic of Moldova, the decision to open polling stations on the territory of the Transnistrian region, despite the protest of the Moldovan authorities, completes the wide register of abuses committed by the russian federation against the integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of the territory of the Republic of Moldova. 

"The authorities of the russian federation justify the organization of the russian presidential elections in the uncontrolled territory of the Republic of Moldova with manipulative and cynical rhetoric. In specific terms, the organization of the russian presidential elections in the Transnistrian region is cloaked under the label of "defending the rights and interests" of the 250,000 russian citizens of the Transnistrian region, including the right to vote," says Promo-LEX.