In 2016, Moldova joined a growing group of countries offering citizenship by investment (CBI) schemes. However, in 2020, the parliament repealed the amendments to Moldova’s citizenship law that permitted CBI, the same year that Cyprus also repealed its CBI scheme. Why was Moldova’s foray into CBI so short-lived?
Igor Dodon, the President of Moldova, has signed a decree that revokes the citizenship of Traian Basescu, the former President of the neighbouring Romania. Dodon maintains that Basescu had obtained the Moldovan citizenship illegally. For Basescu, the revocation of citizenship Read More …
The former president of Romania Traian Basescu and his wife are seeking the citizenship of Moldova. They base their decision of shared origins with the Moldovan people. Around half a million of Moldovan citizens benefitted from Romania’s external citizenship policy Read More …
By Roxana Barbulescu, EUDO CITIZENSHIP expert A recent study (Iordachi 2012) finds that Romanian authorities have dealt with 226,509 requests of reacquisition of Romanian citizenship including applications from Moldavians over a period of 20 years (from 1991 to 15 August Read More …
Read the article on novinite.com.
by EUDO CITIZENSHIP expert Costica Dumbrava A group of deputies belonging to the Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova (PCRM), now in opposition, asked Romanian ambassador in Chisinau to take measures in order to withdraw Romanian citizenship from several Moldovan-Romanian Read More …
In 2010 Romania has granted citizenship to 17,000 Moldovans, Romanian President Traian Basescu announced. More than half a million Moldovans work in EU countries, most of them on the black labour market, he admitted. Read the article by Euroactive
by EUDO CITIZENSHIP expert Viorelia Gasca
July 5, 2010
On April 27, 2010 the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights issued its judgment on the case Tanase versus Moldova (see the link to full text of judgment), forcing Moldova to lift its ban on dual citizens from holding public posts.
The ECHR argued that the measure was disproportionate with the government’s purpose of ensuring loyalty of its Members of Parliament. This is the final judgment on this case. The previous Chamber judgment on 18 November 2008 established that Moldova had to amend the law that bans holders of dual nationality from holding public posts, including seats as MPs.
Moldova was the only Council of Europe member state that tolerates dual nationality but does not allow dual nationals to hold public office or running for elections (see an earlier EUDO CITIZENSHIP news item on this topic).
On 7 December 2007 the Moldovan Parliament adopted a law on dual nationality, banning individuals with dual nationality from holding public posts.
Shortly afterwards, the lawyer Alexandru Tanase, who himself has double Moldovan and Romanian citizenship, brought the Moldovan government to court arguing that the law violated his right to stand as candidate in free elections and to take his seats in parliament if elected.
Romania’s recent offer of citizenship to potentially large numbers of Moldovans has caused great concern in the European Union. There are fears that up to 1 million Moldovans might qualify for Romanian citizenship and could then use their free movement rights as EU citizens to migrate to other member states.
Constantin Iordachi (Central European University Budapest) explains for the EUDO citizenship observatory why these fears are exaggerated.
**UPDATE** July 13, 2010: Read the article “Romanian Passports For Moldovans. Entering the EU Through the Back Door” by Der Spiegel International (English)
ECHR: Moldova is the only CE member that allows dual nationality, but bans holders from holding public post (Nov. 2008)
For the actual Chamber Decision of the European Court of Human Rights, click here.
