Published: 26.12.2025
An investigation reported that citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova obtained fraudulent Romanian documents and citizenship to gain access to the EU and circumvent sanctions. Following raids by the authorities, the case has focused on a network involving forged documents and fictitious residences; since 2024, proof of Romanian-language knowledge has also been required for citizenship restoration.
The sources describe an uncovered abuse scheme rather than a new legal citizenship route. For genuine applicants, the case underscores the importance of proving ancestry, residence and document authenticity, particularly in restoration-of-citizenship procedures. The sources also state that proof of Romanian-language knowledge has been required for such restoration since 2024. This is especially relevant to Russian and other applicants seeking an EU passport or attempting to bypass sanctions, as fraudulent documents can lead to refusal and criminal proceedings.