Putin Eases Russian Citizenship for Transnistria Adults 18 and Older

3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 16

A decree signed late Friday lets foreign nationals and stateless people aged 18 or older who permanently lived in Transnistria apply for Russian citizenship under a simplified process.
Eligible applicants can bypass Russian residency requirements as well as history and civic tests, sharply lowering the barriers to obtaining passports.
The move targets Moldova’s pro-Moscow breakaway region of Transnistria, extending Moscow’s reach in a territory where Russia already holds strong political influence.
By widening passport access in Transnistria, the Kremlin adds another lever in its long-running involvement in post-Soviet separatist regions.

Is Russia's passport scheme a prelude to annexation or a strategy to sabotage Moldova's integration with the West?

With its economy in crisis, are Russian passports a lifeline for Transnistria or a trigger for a new conflict?