Parliament demands urgent clarification after new security law blocks native-born citizens
Moldovan authorities are expected to submit formal proposals today to resolve administrative gridlocks caused by the nation’s recently updated Citizenship Law.
Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu announced that the government must decide whether the current issues require further legislative amendments or simply a revision of internal Cabinet instructions. The move follows reports of native-born residents being denied identity documents due to overly restrictive interpretations of new security-focused regulations.
Security vs. individual rights
The legislative friction intensified after the case of a young man, born in Moldova to local parents, gained national attention. Despite completing his mandatory military service, the Public Services Agency (ASP) informed him he must undergo a formal "reacquisition of citizenship" procedure to obtain his ID.
The People’s Advocate (Ombudsman) intervened, clarifying that citizenship by birth is an inherent right and cannot be revoked due to administrative delays or lack of physical documentation. Experts suggest the current crisis is a byproduct of a law intended to protect national borders, not exclude citizens.
The geopolitical context
The new Citizenship Law, which took effect on December 24, 2025, introduced rigorous vetting processes to counter regional security threats following the invasion of Ukraine. Between January 2022 and November 2025, Moldova saw a surge of 37,626 citizenship applications.
Over 55% of these applicants were citizens of the Russian Federation. This influx prompted authorities to enforce stricter personal filings and mandatory Romanian language and Constitution proficiency tests to prevent fraudulent claims based on unverified ancestral links.
Clarifying the legal framework
Former Constitutional Court President Alexandru Tănase emphasized that the fundamental principles of citizenship remain unchanged. The law is designed to filter foreign applicants, not penalize Moldovans born at home or to the diaspora.
For the children of Moldovans born abroad, the law maintains that those who fail to confirm their status before the age of 18 must follow a standardized administrative reacquisition process. Today’s proposals aim to ensure these safeguards do not inadvertently disenfranchise native residents.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
