Moldova rejects Kremlin proposals on polling stations

Pavel Postica, Deputy Head of Moldova's Central Election Commission (CEC), declared that the Kremlin has no right to dictate how many polling stations Moldova should open in Russia for the upcoming elections and the EU membership referendum. 

His remarks followed a statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who accused Moldova's ruling regime of fearing the opposition, Caliber.Az reports, citing Moldovan media.

“The decision to reduce the number of polling stations in Russia is an internal matter for Moldova, and the Kremlin has no authority to dictate where and how many polling stations we can open,” Postica stated.

Moldova's CEC had recently cut the number of polling stations for its citizens residing in Russia by more than two-thirds, from 17 to 5. According to the published list, only five polling stations will be operational for the presidential elections and the EU integration referendum, scheduled for October 20—two in Moscow, and one each in Saint Petersburg, Yaroslavl, and Surgut.

Additionally, the CEC rejected an opposition demand to disqualify President Maia Sandu from the upcoming elections.