President Vladimir Putin has eased entry and employment rules for Moldovan citizens coming to Russia for work. The decision comes during strained relations between Moscow and Moldova’s pro-EU, pro-Ukrainian government.
Moldova, a former Soviet republic, borders Romania and Ukraine. About 15% of its population speaks Russian fluently.
Under a decree signed on Friday, Moldovan nationals arriving in Russia from October 1 will be granted more time to complete registration procedures and will be allowed to work without a permit.
Those entering between October 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, will not be required to declare their purpose of travel and will be permitted to work without a special permit for about a year. They will also be shielded from deportation, provided they are not charged with criminal offenses in Russia, including illegal border crossing.
Roughly 500,000 Moldovans currently reside in Russia, opposition MP Vadim Fotescu told Izvestia last month.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu has accused Moscow of interfering in the country’s internal affairs and attempting to topple her government. Russia has denied the allegation. Opposition figures, including former President Igor Dodon, have in turn accused Sandu of stifling dissent and abandoning Moldova’s traditionally close ties with Russia.
Earlier this month, Moscow condemned the prosecution of Evghenia Gutul, the governor of Moldova’s largely Russian-speaking autonomous region of Gagauzia, who opposes Sandu’s pro-EU agenda. Gutul was detained in March and charged with campaign finance violations.
In June, Russia arrested two Moldovan nationals on suspicion of espionage, prompting Chisinau to issue a travel warning and accuse Moscow of “harassing” its citizens.
“All law-abiding Moldovan citizens are always welcome here. And they know it,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at the time.
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