Vitaly Nyagu: residents of Transnistria strive to obtain Russian citizenship for the sake of social guarantees

TIRASPOL, September 14 - RIA Novosti. Residents of Transnistria want to have solid social guarantees from Russia, so they are trying to obtain Russian citizenship, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Transnistrian Moldavian Republic (PMR) Vitaly Nyagu said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

On May 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on special rules for admitting residents of Transnistria to Russian citizenship. In accordance with it, residents of the PMR will be able to apply for Russian citizenship in a simplified manner.

“The fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a historic decree on a simplified procedure for granting Russian citizenship to residents of Pridnestrovie is a huge step towards our people... More than 220 thousand Russian citizens already live in Pridnestrovie. People want to have solid social guarantees, Russian pensions, maternity capital, and the opportunity to study at Russian universities,” Neagu said.

According to him, tens of thousands of residents of Transnistria instantly joined the queue for Russian citizenship and are already receiving their first passports.

“Pridnestrovie mentally, culturally and historically considers itself part of the Russian world. At the 2006 referendum, our people clearly voted for independence with subsequent free entry into Russia,” Neagu noted.

He also said that the Transnistrian authorities will do everything to ensure that the consular post of the Russian Embassy in Tiraspol works at its maximum, and every Pridnestrovian can receive a Russian passport if they wish.