Moldova Summons Russian Ambassador, Delivers Formal Protest Note Over Transnistria Polling Stations

Moldova's Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov and handed him a formal note of protest over Moscow's plan to open 16 additional polling stations across Transnistria for the September 18-20 State Duma election, moving from Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi's September 2 announcement that a note was being prepared to actual delivery. The ministry reiterated that any electoral process on Moldovan territory requires the prior, direct consent of Moldovan authorities and urged Russia to refrain from opening the additional stations on the left bank of the Dniester, where Chisinau has authorised only the single Russian Embassy polling station in the capital. Russian and Ukrainian outlets both confirmed the summons; there was no indication Moscow would rescind the plan.