The Republic of Moldova could revoke the citizenship of those people who go to fight on the side of Russia in Ukraine, after they were called to arms because they also hold Russian citizenship, Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced on Monday, according to Moldpres.

„We discussed the potential consequences of the escalation of the military conflict in Ukraine, including the risks of nuclear incidents. The rapporteurs referred to several categories of risks: the increase in refugee flows, the interruption of the natural gas supply, the disruption of the electricity supply, exploiting crisis by criminal groups and foreign agents to cause destabilization”, the Moldovan President said.

Around 200,000 people with dual citizenship, Moldovan and Russian, live in the separatist region of Transnistria. Maia Sandu said that there is a risk that some of these people could be called to arms by Russia.

„Currently, the risk of using nuclear weapons is assessed as unlikely, but not impossible. In this context, it was recommended to the Government to check the degree of preparedness of the institutions and the population for the possible consequences of nuclear incidents and to resume the communication campaign about the protection measures in the event of a nuclear accident. I ask citizens to pay attention to the communications of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations on this issue. There is also the risk of mobilization of citizens of the Republic of Moldova from the eastern districts of the country. In order to discourage such actions, we are analyzing the possibility of revocation of citizenship for those with the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation who will fight on the side of the aggressor. We are also considering the possibility of toughening the punishments for those who only have the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova, without the Russian citizenship, and enlist on the side of the aggressor.

It is obvious that security risks are increasing. This means that we need to strengthen the defense, security and law enforcement sectors. All institutions in these sectors are mobilized to adequately respond to these risks. In the future, our main objective remains the maintenance of peace in our country. All those who through their actions will try to destabilize the situation in the country, who incite hatred, inter-ethnic dissensions, war, revanchist actions will be investigated”, Maia Sandu said.

Moldpres