The statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Transnistria about its readiness to hold a referendum on European integration on its territory in Chisinau was described as “manipulation carried out under the direction of external forces.” The Reintegration Policy Office announced today, October 11, that all citizens of Moldova, regardless of their place of residence, are expected to participate in the presidential elections and the referendum.
“For residents of the eastern regions of the country, 30 polling stations will be opened within the Security Zone, in settlements under the control of the constitutional authorities of the Republic of Moldova. “The opening of polling stations in an uncontrolled perimeter, where there is no guarantee of the security of the process, nor certainty that there will be no external interference that could affect the result, is contrary to the law,” – says the department’s press release.
The Office added that in recent weeks Tiraspol has created additional obstacles to the access of political party representatives, journalists and cultural figures from the right bank of the Dniester to the region. Chisinau drew attention to the fact that Transnistrian security forces carefully control all vehicles heading to Bendery and the Left Bank to prevent the distribution of electoral material or advertising related to the October 20 referendum.
“Tiraspol also rejected the request of the Reintegration Office, which asked that representatives of the electoral commissions be able to travel to the eastern regions with portable ballot boxes on the day of the referendum.” — concluded the Bureau, calling on the authorities of Transnistria to refrain from creating obstacles to the holding of elections and referendums.
Recall that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Transnistria allowed the possibility of holding a referendum on the attitude towards the European Union on its territory “to obtain the real opinion of all Pridnestrovians.”
Former president of Moldova Igor Dodón He described this decision as sensational and politically mature. According to the leader of the Socialist Party, for the first time in more than 30 years of the Transnistria conflict, the Left Bank authorities are ready to cooperate with Chisinau to organize a normal electoral process.
He called on Moldova’s leaders to step forward. However, Dodon believes that the current government will not do so “because it is interested in something completely different.”
