The Moldovan Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador in Chisinau for a talk against the backdrop of renewed tensions in relations between the two countries. The official reason for the emergency meeting was not explicitly announced, but several events directly related to Russia's actions in the region had taken place within a matter of days beforehand.
One of the key reasons is the decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on a simplified procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for residents of the unrecognized Transnistria. The document provides that people from this separatist region can become citizens of the Russian Federation without the requirement of mandatory residence in Russian territory and without taking a Russian language exam.
The measure is perceived in Chisinau as an additional tool for strengthening Russian influence over a territory that is internationally recognized as part of Moldova, but has been de facto outside the control of the central government since the early 1990s. Transnistria relies on political, economic, and military support from Moscow, and simplified citizenship could increase the number of Russian citizens in the region.
Prior to the adoption of the decree, another incident occurred in which Moldova sees a violation of its sovereignty. A Russian unmanned aerial vehicle flew over Moldovan airspace on a path from north to south, after which it disappeared from radar. The case provoked a sharp reaction from the Moldovan authorities and raised questions about border security and air control.
The combination of the simplified regime for Russian passports in Transnistria and the drone flight exacerbates the already sensitive situation in the region. Chisinau traditionally warns that such actions undermine the country's territorial integrity and contradict efforts for a peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.
Summoning the ambassador is viewed as a diplomatic signal that Moldova expects explanations and guarantees from Moscow. No official details about the conversation have been released at this time, but Chisinau is expected to insist on compliance with international law and the country's aerial sovereignty.