In Gagauzia, the collection of signatures has begun under an Open Appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to facilitate the opening of a Russian consulate in the region, - said on Thursday at a press conference at Infotag agency, public activist, head of the initiative group Alexandr Rotari.

He immediately made a reservation that he is not a member of any political party and does not act for electoral purposes.

“Many residents of Gagauzia have Russian citizenship and go to this country to earn money. Traditionally, people from the autonomy get married in a fraternal state, do business there. We are bound with Russia by many threads. However, the problems arising in this connection with documents and passports can still be solved only in Chisinau. It is a long way from the southern regions of Gagauzia, especially for those who live in the countryside,” Rotari stressed.

The activist drew attention to the fact that “the practice of opening consulates of different countries in the cities of the Republic of Moldova is quite widespread.”