The Moldovan authorities will open polling stations abroad for the September 28 parliamentary elections only if doing so does not endanger the safety of citizens, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi confirmed, addressing the possibility of organizing voting in Israel and the Russian Federation.
Popșoi emphasized that the security of citizens remains the top priority. Regarding Israel, he noted that the decision will depend on the evolution of the security situation in the region.
“The tense situation in Israel has existed since the state’s founding. Now, it’s in an especially heated phase. We hope things will improve by September. If security conditions don’t allow it, we will not put people at risk. But if the situation stabilizes, we will make every effort to ensure our citizens can vote,” Popsoi said on the “Pe Fata” program on Moldova’s public broadcaster.
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As for the Russian Federation, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that authorities will evaluate the risks carefully, in coordination with the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), before deciding.
“We’ve seen increased cases of Moldovan citizens being stopped, detained, or facing obstacles at the Russian border. We will review whether circumstances have changed since the previous elections. Our decision will be based entirely on ensuring our citizens’ safety and the integrity,” he added.
In the 2024 presidential elections and referendum in Russia, Moldova opened only two polling stations inside its Embassy in Moscow. Although the CEC had initially approved five, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended reducing the number due to security concerns.