Moldovian President pleased after Transnistrian leader’s pledge to ease border controls

Moldova’s acting President Marian Lupu says he is encouraged by pledges from the new leader of the country’s breakaway Transdniester region to ease border controls.

Yevgeny Shevchuk, who won a runoff presidential election in Transdniester on December 25, said that as of January 1 people living in the separatist region would not have their documents checked by border guards as they cross into Moldova proper.

Lupu called Shevchuk’s statement “encouraging,” adding that he hoped the new leader would keep his word.