Moldovan petition challenges Romania's ID cancellation policy
Over four thousand Moldovans have signed a petition addressed to the Romanian Presidential Administration, Senate, Chamber of Deputies, and Government, urging the defence of Romanian diaspora rights regarding the cancellation of Romanian IDs if more than 10 people are registered at one address.
The petition was initiated by a company providing Romanian citizenship acquisition services. The General Directorate for Persons' Records in Bucharest maintains that individuals holding Romanian IDs lose their identity documents only if they violate the law.
According to Ion Guștiuc, administrator of a legal company providing citizenship acquisition services, individuals who own property in Romania but do not reside at that address for more than 15 days risk losing their Romanian IDs after 2-3 police checks. Guștiuc stated, "The Romanian state has decided that there must be 10 people registered at one address. Also, a Romanian citizen residing in Romania, if they intend to leave their domicile for more than 15 days and the police cannot find them, is obligated to go to the police station and register their new address."
Nicoleta Ene, Deputy General Director of the General Directorate for Persons' Records at the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, mentioned for our radio station, "Police conduct verifications as provided by the current regulations, and depending on the situations observed, legal measures are taken."
The General Directorate for Persons' Records at the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs confirms that Romanian authorities have conducted checks to counter situations where hundreds of people are registered at one address. However, they specify that identity cards have not been retained or annulled as speculated, but rather already annulled identity cards have been retained.
These legislative provisions not only affect Moldovan citizens holding Romanian IDs but also those from other states who similarly hold identity cards, stated Laura Haritinian, advisor at the Romanian Chamber of Deputies.
"Since June last year, the rules have changed for everyone, for all Romanians living at an address other than their domicile. It seems that the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Bucharest is slightly exceeding its duties."
The Romanian Presidential Administration has also acknowledged the petition, stated State Counselor Gabriel-Cristian Piscociu.
In response to Radio Moldova's request, Cătălin-Aurel Giulescu, Director-General of the General Directorate for Persons' Records in Bucharest, specified that the institution does not understand the request from the legal company in Moldova, which it considers erroneous.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
