Moldova protests Russian polling plans in Transnistria amidst contraband and nicotine pouch concerns

Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Russian plans to open unauthorized polling stations in breakaway Transnistria for Moscow's upcoming September legislative elections, calling the move unacceptable and a breach of national sovereignty. Concurrently, Moldovan police intercepted an illicit smuggling network in the north, confiscating nearly 1.9 million contraband cigarettes following searches targeting two suspects. Meanwhile, health and education authorities launched an awareness campaign warning parents about the risks nicotine pouches pose to youth. The warning comes as tobacco manufacturer Philip Morris introduced the product shortly before a legal ban, claiming its own interpretation permits sales through June 2027.

Sources: HotNews, Moldova1, Point, Ziarul de Gardă.