Russia opened 15 polling stations in Moldova's breakaway Transnistria region for its 18–20 September parliamentary election, Reuters reported. Moscow says the region has about 220,000 Russian passport holders. [1]
Moldova permits one polling station at the Russian embassy in Chișinău and called the additional stations unacceptable and hostile. The foreign ministry summoned Russian ambassador Oleg Ozerov; Russia rejected the objections. [1]
ContextForeign Minister Mihail Popșoi told Moscow not to interfere with Moldova's stated goal of peacefully reintegrating Transnistria. A Russian military contingent remains in the territory; the dispute over the polling stations does not itself establish a new military movement. [1]