CHISINAU, May 16. /TASS/. The decision to simplify granting of Russian citizenship to the residents of Transnistria was extremely timely because of the increasing pressure on the unrecognized republic from Chisinau, an official of the Russian embassy in Moldova told TASS.

"The adoption of this decree, as indicated in the text of the document, is dictated solely by humanitarian considerations. The decision seems extremely timely against the background of increasing pressure on Transnistria from Chisinau, which negatively affects, among other things, the socio-economic situation on the left bank," the official said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a decree "On the Admission to Citizenship of the Russian Federation of Residents of Transnistria.".