CHISINAU, July 22. /TASS/. Moldova’s Central Election Commission (CEC) intends to open two polling stations in Russia, home to hundreds of thousands of Moldovans, for the upcoming parliamentary elections on September 28.

According to the preliminary list of polling stations published on the CEC website, both of these will be located at the Moldovan Embassy in Moscow, as they did during last year’s presidential election.

The CEC plans to open 293 polling stations in 40 countries. Most of them will be located in Italy (73 sites), Germany (36 polling stations), France (26 facilities), as well as in the UK and Romania (23 sites each). Ukraine and Israel will also have two polling stations each. The CEC stated that the decision was made based on a recommendation from the Moldovan Foreign Ministry. The final list of polling stations is expected to be approved by August 24.

Earlier, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Russian government was ready to provide all conditions for Moldovan citizens to participate in the election. According to her, based on the analysis of the turnout at the three previous elections and the current requests to ensure the rights of Moldovan citizens in Russia, it is necessary to open at least nine polling stations in key cities across the country.

At last year's Moldovan presidential election, huge queues appeared at two polling stations in Moscow, leaving some people unable to vote. Foreign observers noted abuses of administrative resources and unequal opportunities for competitors. Afterwards, Moldovan opposition parties said that the election was rigged by the authorities and called Maia Sandu an "illegitimate president."

On July 22, Chisinau announced the formation of an opposition bloc around Moldova's Party of Socialists, which will advocate the reestablishment of relations with Russia.