President Maia Sandu has signed a decree revoking the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova for five men from the Transnistrian region who were enlisted in the Operational Group of Russian Forces (OGRF), illegally stationed on Moldovan territory. The decree was issued on November 27 and takes effect immediately.
According to official documents, citizenship has been withdrawn from Oleg Bots, Vladimir Coblai, Pavel Morozov, Vladimir Osipenco, and Maxim Vasilatii. Presidency spokesperson Igor Zaharov stated that all five individuals are serving in the Russian military contingent located unlawfully in the region.
On the same day, President Sandu also signed a separate decree revoking the citizenship of Igor Frolov and Davor Trajkovic, who allegedly obtained Moldovan citizenship through fraudulent means.
This action is not unprecedented. In July 2025, the president stripped another five Moldovan nationals of their citizenship for voluntarily joining a Russian military unit in Transnistria.
Under Moldovan law, citizenship may be withdrawn from individuals who:
- voluntarily enlist in the armed forces of a foreign state,
- obtain citizenship fraudulently, or
- commit serious acts that harm the state.
The Presidency emphasizes that these measures aim to uphold national security and ensure respect for Moldova’s constitutional order.