Moldova: Eligibility for Moldovan citizenship of an ethnic Moldovan born in Tiraspol, Dniester Moldovan Republic (DMR), of Moldovan parents, who served in the 14th Soviet Army in the DMR between June 1991 and June 1993, and who became a Russian citizen; current international status of the DMR and whether it grants DMR citizenship
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 9 August 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MDA32399.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Moldova: Eligibility for Moldovan citizenship of an ethnic Moldovan born in Tiraspol, Dniester Moldovan Republic (DMR), of Moldovan parents, who served in the 14th Soviet Army in the DMR between June 1991 and June 1993, and who became a Russian citizen; current international status of the DMR and whether it grants DMR citizenship, 9 August 1999, MDA32399.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad6454.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 4 August 1999 correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, a representative of the Chisinau-based Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova,which is a member of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) based in Vienna, stated that in 1991 the 14th Soviet Army fell under the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and became de jure the 14th Russian Army. With respect to the right to Moldovan citizenship for an ethnic Moldovan who is a citizen of the Russian Federation and who was formerly enrolled in the 14th Russian Army, the representative stated that the normal procedure to obtain Moldovan citizenship would apply, as it would be in case of a citizen of the Ukraine, in accordance with the Law on Citizenship dated 5 June 1991.
The representative also thought that the treatment of this citizenship case could depend on whether the person first obtained Moldovan citizenship, then changed to Russian to serve in Russian Military until 1993, or whether he immediately gained Russian citizenship when the Soviet Union came to an end.
For a copy of the original version of the Moldovan citizenship law, please refer to MDA12863 of 1 February 1993 which is available in Regional Documentation Centres. No updated version of the Moldovan citizenship Act or any details on subsequent amendments could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
On the current status of the Dniester Moldovan Republic (DMR) and on
DMR legislation and regulations on citizenship, the representative stated that:
The DMR is not internationally recognized. All parties involved in settling the conflict (Russian Federation, the Ukraine, OSCE and Moldova) always stated the solution [lies] within the Republic of Moldova.
Another representative of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova stated that, according to the 1989 census, 40.7 per cent of the 640,000 inhabitants of the Moldovan Dniestrian Republic (DMR), excluding the city of Bender, are ethnic Moldovans (10 Aug. 1999). The representative also stated that, as a result of the adoption of the Moldovan Citizenship Act, more than 100,000 inhabitants of the districts located on the left bank of the Nistru (Dniester) river elected to become citizens of the Republic of Moldova, while the other inhabitants chose to become Russian or Ukrainian citizens.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova, Chisinau. 4 August 1999. Correspondence.
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Moldova, Chisinau. 10 August 1999. Correspondence.
Additional Sources Consulted
Conseil de l'Europe, Strasbourg. April 1999. Bulletin européen sur la nationalité.
REFWORLD. July 1998 and January 1999 versions.
Electronic sources: WNC.
