The fact that the pro-European authorities in Chisinau have not yet given Moscow an answer to their request regarding the opening of polling stations in the March presidential elections of the Russian Federation has infuriated Russian officials, who sharply criticized the leadership of the Republic of Moldova on Wednesday, reports Agerpres.

Since Maia Sandu became the president of the Republic of Moldova, this country has artificially reduced the number of polling stations in the presidential elections of the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Moldova is opening as many polling stations as possible in European countries, Ella Pamfilova, the President of the CEC of Russia, said on Wednesday, RIA Novosti quotes.

The Republic of Moldova was a country for which Russia always offered the best voting conditions, but with the coming to power of the “puppet” Maia Sandu, the circumstances changed, Ella Pamfilova also noted.

“If they asked to open a certain number of sections, we offered them exactly that number. The situation is different in recent years, after the puppet came to power. If earlier we had many branches, even much more than in Europe and other countries, now, despite the fact that many Moldovan citizens who worked for us requested the opening of these branches, they began to artificially reduce their number . This is a political strategy of the current situation, adopted at the expense of the wishes of the voters, citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” said Pamfilova, whose statements were quoted by the Chisinau publication Deschide.md.

The organization of voting in Transnistria is a “tough” issue

For his part, Pavlo Andreev, a member of the Russian election committee, said that the most difficult situation with the opening of polling stations abroad was registered in the Republic of Moldova and, in particular, in the Transnistrian region, reports RIA Novosti.

The Central Election Commission of Russia expects to open at least one polling station in the Republic of Moldova at the Russian Embassy, ​​he said.

“Of course, an acute problem is the organization of voting in Transnistria, where, as is known, a large number of Russian citizens live, who traditionally participate in elections (in Russia). Now we are fixing a rather complex problem with the dispatch of diplomatic staff to speed up the organization of work at the polling stations in Transnistria. Now there is practically no such possibility. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now actively engaged in this,” said Andreev.

Fewer sections in the Republic of Moldova and other “unfriendly” countries

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia will open fewer polling stations in the Republic of Moldova and other “unfriendly” states in connection with the presidential elections this spring, Deschide.md reminds.

In Chisinau, they are still debating whether to open polling stations in the presidential elections in Russia, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popsoy admitted. At the same time, according to Popsoy, the Republic of Moldova cannot prohibit the opening of a polling station in the Moscow embassy in Chisinau. However, the minister emphasized, the opening of polling stations in the Transnistrian region is unacceptable, and if this happens, Chisinau will have to take measures, the Newsmaker.md portal reported the day before.

“This is a topic that is currently being discussed. When we have a solution, it will be announced. This is a decision that needs to be consulted so that it is the best, most expedient,” said the minister, asking during a program on Radio Moldova whether the Moldovan authorities would agree to the opening of polling stations in the Republic of Moldova for the Russian presidential election in March.

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