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Crimea and Sevastopol

Moldovan president-elect says Crimea is 'de facto' Russian territory

Dodon reminded that Moldova has the Dniester problem, and it was very important to refrain from any decisions on Crimea's official recognition "for now"

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/. The leader of Moldova’s Socialist Party, Igor Dodon, who emerged the winner in last Sunday’s presidential election, believes that the Moldovan authorities should refrain from any decisions as to whether to recognize Crimea as part of Russia for the time being.

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"We have the Dniester problem. Making any decisions on that issue would be wrong", Dodon said speaking to the Echo of Moscow radio station.

At the same time, Dodon remarked that Crimea was Russian 'de facto'.

According to early returns announced by Moldova’s Central Election Commission, Dodon emerged the winner in the November 13 presidential election. The winner, who collected 52.18% of the votes is an advocate of strategic partnership with Russia. His rival, a common candidate from the European opposition, Maia Sandu, who leads the Action and Solidarity Party, received 47.82% of the votes. The final returns will be announced when all local election commissions send in their protocols. Under Moldova’s laws they are expected to do so within a five-day deadline.

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Crimea and Sevastopol

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