Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said he would raise the issue of Russia opening a consulate in Tiraspol, the capital of the Transdnestr breakaway republic, at a meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow we will once again raise the issue in Chisinau concerning a Russian consulate in Tiraspol, or find different forms for carrying out the necessary exchange of passports for Russian citizens (living in Transdnestr),” Rogozin said at a meeting with Transdnestr President Yevgeny Shevchuk.
The passport exchange is a very serious issue that arose with the breakup of the Soviet Union, said Rogozin, who is the Russian president's special envoy for Transdnestr.
“Former Soviet citizens have the right to choose the citizenship they want. The majority of them choose Russian citizenship,” he said.
“Russia as the legal heir of the Soviet Union bears complete responsibility for ensuring their security and well-being,” he said.
