Moldova rejects Russian election plans in Transnistria amid domestic tobacco enforcement

Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Russia's plans to open unauthorized polling stations in Transnistria for its upcoming legislative elections, calling the move an unacceptable violation of national sovereignty.

On the domestic front, Moldovan authorities are confronting illicit tobacco activity and public health challenges. Law enforcement officers seized approximately 1.9 million contraband cigarettes during raids targeting an illegal smuggling network in the country's north.

Concurrently, the Ministry of Education launched an awareness campaign warning parents about the health hazards of youth nicotine pouch usage, noting their packaging resembles candy. The warning follows tobacco company Philip Morris introducing nicotine pouches locally ahead of a June 2026 ban, relying on a contested legal interpretation asserting sales remain permissible until June 2027.

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