site.btaMoldova Relocates Four Polling Stations in Transnistria over Security Concerns

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Moldova has decided to change the locations of four out of 12 planned polling stations in Transnistria due to security concerns. The commission made the decision on September 25 following requests from the General Police Inspectorate and the Information and Security Service, which identified security risks, including possible bomb threats and other provocations. The CEC also published the new addresses of the polling stations on its website.

Transnistria is a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova that declared independence in 1992. However, it is not recognized by any country worldwide, including Russia, which maintains a contingent of around 1,500 troops there. Many Bulgarians also live in Transnistria, primarily in the village of Parkany and the cities of Tiraspol and Bender. Most of the approximately 10,000 residents of Parkany are ethnic Bulgarians.

Evgeni Dobrov, chairman of a civic organization called Bulgarian Community in the Village of Parkany, told BTA that relocating the polling stations is likely to affect voter turnout.

The polling station in Varnitsa will be moved to Anenii Noi, the one in Hadjimust will be relocated to Causeni, and the stations in Dubasari and Dorotskaya will be transferred to Chisinau, the CEC announced.

Dobrov noted that the polling stations, which were previously around 5 km from voters in the Bulgarian community in his area, are now further away.

CEC Deputy Chairman Pavel Postika said the decision to move the polling stations was difficult. “If the pessimistic scenarios outlined by our colleagues from the General Police Inspectorate and the Information and Security Service come true, we may find ourselves in a situation where it will not be possible to organize the electoral process for voters in the Transnistrian region at all. For this reason, we decided to relocate only four polling stations, those directly affected according to the information presented,” Postika said, as reported by local media.

At the upcoming parliamentary elections on Sunday, September 28, a total of twelve polling stations will be opened in Transnistria, which is eighteen fewer than in previous elections, local media report.

Members of the unrecognized administration in Tiraspol described the decision to relocate the polling stations as a “political restriction of citizens’ electoral rights,” reported the news site Stiri.md.

Nearly 2,300 polling stations will be available for the parliamentary elections in Moldova, including 301 abroad.