Chisinau could open only two polling stations in Russia. MAE cites security reasons
In the Russian Federation, only two polling stations could be opened, instead of five, as previously established. A request in this sense is currently on the table of the CEC and is to be analyzed in a "reasonable" and " short" term, said the deputy-chairman of the electoral authority Pavel Postica. The recommendation was formulated taking into account the "mandatory security requirements", the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) explained to Teleradio-Moldova.
Thus, for the October elections, only two polling stations could be opened in the Russian Federation - both in Moscow. The Constituency Electoral Council recommends that one of the sections be opened in the Embassy headquarters, and the second - in the Consulate headquarters.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers the recommendations of the competent institution, which formulated, as a result of a complex risk analysis, a series of mandatory security requirements. They cannot be held during the elections on Russian territory, except the Embassy's premises", said the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Liliana Barbăroșie, for Teleradio-Moldova.
The diplomatic representative from Chisinau says that the CEC will take the final decision: "For now, it is only the decision of the Constituency Council. It is not definitive".
The deputy-chairperson of the CEC, Pavel Postica said in the “In Profunzime” show on ProTV that the electoral authority "carefully analyzes all the arguments that were the basis of this decision of the Council": "In a reasonable time, we will come with a reaction".
We remind you that the CEC decided on September 14 to open 234 polling stations abroad. In the Russian Federation, the number was reduced from 17 to 5. The decision of the Chisinau authorities was harshly criticized by Moscow. The spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zaharova, said then that the reduction in the number of polling stations would be a sign of "fear and insecurity" on the part of the Chisinau authorities. In response, the deputy-chairperson of CEC, Pavel Postica, told Teleradio-Moldova that such decisions "exclusively depend on the internal politics of the Republic of Moldova", and the Kremlin "is not authorised to dictate to us where and how many polling stations we can open".
We remind you that the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are expected at the polls on October 20, to choose their future president. On the same day, the constitutional referendum on the country's accession to the European Union will be held.
