A surge in applications from residents of the left bank of the Nistru River for Moldovan citizenship shows growing interest in the stability of the Republic of Moldova, guests of the program National Consensus on Realitatea TV said. They believe the trend reflects the severe economic situation in the Transnistrian region and Moldova’s European integration process.
At the same time, experts warned Moldovan authorities to apply greater caution when granting citizenship.
George Balan, an expert with the Unified Control Commission, said residents of the left bank seek jobs on the right bank after several regional enterprises suspended operations.
“People link their future to the Republic of Moldova because they see it as a country that can protect their rights and ensure a stable future for themselves, their families, and their children. The European integration process also plays an important role. It offers freedom of movement within the European Union and all the benefits linked to this process,” George Balan said.
In the context of rising interest in Moldovan citizenship among left bank residents, lawyer Vadim Vieru stressed that authorities must strengthen verification procedures.
“The state must apply a more thorough verification process. Authorities need to know whether people coming from an uncontrolled area, who have the right to obtain documents, committed acts that harm the national interests of the Republic of Moldova. For several years, the Promo LEX Association has published lists of individuals responsible for human rights violations, based on names from ECHR case files,” Vadim Vieru said.
Hundreds of residents of the Transnistrian region applied for Moldovan citizenship at the end of last year. According to media reports, the number of applications increased by 50 percent in the last four months of 2025 compared to the same period of the previous year and reached 2081 people. Data from the Public Services Agency show that nine out of ten residents of the left bank of the Nistru hold Moldovan citizenship.