Four Russian athletes represent Moldova at the Winter Olympics, held in Milan. These are Elizaveta Hlustovici, Maxim Makarov, Pavel Magazeev, and Alina Stremous.
On February 3, 2020, citizenship was granted to Pavel Magazaev, Alina Stremous, and Andrei Usov. The first two are athletes, while the latter is a sports journalist. The decree was signed by Igor Dodon.
In December 2020, Moldovan citizenship was also granted to Maxim Makarov. His name was on a list of several foreign athletes, most of them originally from the Russian Federation, who became Moldovan in documents on the same day as the Olympian.
Elizaveta Hlusocivi’s name does not appear in any decree granting citizenship of the Republic of Moldova. The young woman was born on March 19, 2007, and recently came of age, so she could have obtained citizenship earlier only if one of her parents held it or obtained it.
Also in 2020, by decree of Igor Dodon, the dancer from Russia Polina Barîshnikova received Moldovan citizenship.