Mihai Popșoi: Issuing visas for the Afghan delegation was legal, but not politically wise
The issuance of visas for the Ministry of Agriculture delegation in Afghanistan followed legal procedures. However, it revealed issues related to political expediency and coordination among institutions. This statement was made by Mihai Popșoi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who noted that preliminary checks did not uncover any legal violations.
“Based on the preliminary information, there was absolutely no violation of any legal provisions. The procedures were followed precisely,” declared Popșoi after the Government meeting on August 5.
The official expressed his belief that, at all stages, there was good intent from both the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, who initiated the visit to support farmers from the Republic of Moldova in increasing exports, and the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He noted that all opinions, including those from security institutions, were positive. When asked why there were no direct consultations with the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS), Popșoi clarified that the legal procedure requires input from the General Inspectorate for Migration and the Border Police, which work closely with the SIS.
However, the minister emphasized that compliance with the law does not automatically imply political appropriateness.
“We are once again convinced that there is a difference between legality and opportunity. In this case, coordination could have been beneficial. As the Prime Minister said yesterday, it was an unfortunate situation that should not occur in the future,” stated the head of Moldovan diplomacy.
Popșoi was unable to provide details about the Afghan delegation's program in the Republic of Moldova, scheduled until August 7, explaining that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not consider the visit official.
Since the beginning of 2026, 130 visas have been issued to Afghan citizens, approximately 120 of which were transit visas intended for use at Chisinau International Airport.
"Just yesterday, we issued a visa for an Afghan and an Iranian citizen simultaneously. This individual holds dual citizenship and is a football player for a club in Europe who comes to us. This is a natural and normal procedure; all stages were followed," the minister explained.
Mihai Popșoi emphasized that the issuance of visas is a standard administrative process managed at a technical level and does not require the approval of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. According to him, the Republic of Moldova issues hundreds of visas every week, and since the beginning of the year, approximately 7,500 visas have been granted.
Prime Minister Vasile Tofan characterized the visit of the Afghan delegation to the Republic of Moldova as "embarrassing and unacceptable," stating that its approval was "an error in evaluation and institutional coordination."
