Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that facilitates the obtaining of Russian citizenship for residents of Transnistria.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that simplifies the procedure for obtaining citizenship for residents of Transnistria, a region of Moldova occupied by Russia. According to the new decree, eligible applicants will no longer be required to meet residency requirements in Russia, take history and civic education tests, or demonstrate knowledge of the Russian language. This measure comes in the context where the Russian authorities in Transnistria, which have controlled the region since the 1990s, rely on support from Moscow.

Additionally, Russia has previously used passport issuance mechanisms to extend its influence in occupied territories. Similarly, in May 2025, Moscow simplified the process of obtaining citizenship for residents of the occupied regions of Georgia. Recently, the occupation authorities in Kherson have begun to force parents to obtain Russian passports, threatening them with the loss of parental rights.