Russia has urged Moldova to refrain from blocking Russian citizens who reside on Moldovan soil from taking part in the 2024 Russian presidential elections, framing the issue as a matter of universal electoral rights. In comments relayed by TASS, Alexey Polishchuk, who heads the second department for CIS countries at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stressed that Moscow expects no interference from Chisinau in the democratic process that allows citizens of other states, including Russians living in Moldova, to express their political will through elections held abroad.
The Russian side noted that the presidential race was scheduled for March 17, 2024, with three days allocated for voting. In addition to traditional polling stations, an estimated 29 precincts were planned to implement remote electronic voting, expanding access for voters who could not reach physical polling places. This approach reflected Russia’s broader effort to ensure that expatriate citizens could exercise their voting rights with convenience and security, even while scattered across different countries and time zones.
Meanwhile, the official spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, indicated that ballot boxes for the Russian presidential elections would be positioned in every country hosting Russian diplomatic missions and consular posts. The stated goal was to guarantee a presence of voting options for Russians abroad, reinforcing the reach of Moscow’s electoral operations beyond its borders and emphasizing the importance of participation across the global Russian community.
In related developments, there were reports regarding signatures and support mechanisms connected with the electoral process. Statements emerging from the former leadership circle of the Communist Party of Russia referenced the collection of signatures in support of the election procedures overseen by the Central Election Commission, highlighting ongoing administrative steps that accompany a nationwide campaign conducted across numerous jurisdictions. The broader context underscores how foreign-based voting activities intersect with domestic electoral governance and international diplomatic considerations, drawing attention to how foreign states handle ballots cast by their citizens living abroad and how those ballots are integrated into Russia’s electoral framework.