Moldovan president Maia Sandu announced on Tuesday, May 26, that Romania's former president Traian Băsescu has become a citizen of Moldova for a second time, after his citizenship was withdrawn by pro-Russian former president Igor Dodon in 2017. During his mandate, which lasted between 2004 and 2014, Băsescu gained a reputation as a supporter of Romania’s smaller neighbor.  “President Băsescu has supported the citizens of the Republic of Moldova with all his strength and unconditionally, regardless of governments. He knows how much struggle has taken place on this land to preserve our identity, the Romanian language, and to break away from the Soviet past to move forward, toward a European future,” said Maia Sandu in a post on Facebook.