While pro-Russian politicians in Moldova downplay the exposure of a network aimed at destabilizing the country, the US and EU are paying close attention to the incident.
Protests of the pro-Russian opposition against the government in Chisinau (03/12/2023)
A day after the arrest of several people in the Moldovan capital Chisinau, who are accused of violence and disturbance during protests against the pro-European government, the background is becoming increasingly clear. A veritable network is said to have been trained by Russia's domestic intelligence service, the FSB, to attack the police at demonstrations organized by the pro-Russian opposition and to destabilize the situation in the country. Pro-Russian politicians have disputed the authorities' official version and are trying to convey the idea that pro-Russian mercenaries were recruited by the Moldovan government to justify the crackdown on opposition protests and boost the standing of pro-Western President Maia Sandu.
The Moldovan authorities have been talking for several months – including in international institutions – about Russian plans to destabilize Moldova, a country neighboring Ukraine, and to block its European path by installing a government loyal to Moscow. So far, Chisinau says it has thwarted at least three Russian attempts to overthrow the constitutional order in Moldova through hybrid warfare.
Traitors come to court
After the violent protests on Sunday (March 12), Moldova's Interior Minister Ana Revenco said that traitors would soon have to answer in court, “regardless of how much money and support they received to destroy the country.” Her ministry will not allow criminals and traitors to hide their violent plans under the guise of the right to protest. Investigations have been launched into all those who attacked civilians and police officers during the protests. “Treason is the most despicable behavior of a person who was born and lives here,” said Revenco.
Moldovan Interior Minister Ana Revenco (right) in a DW interview (with DW journalist Dora Diseri on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference MSC 2023)
Moldovan Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu said the purpose of the protests organized by the pro-Russian party “Zor” was to make his country available to Moscow to be used in Putin's war against Ukraine. The failed attempt to destabilize the country was carried out “by some political parties and their affiliated criminal groups” who exploited the problems of socially vulnerable people, Grosu added – a reference to the fact that mostly poor people from the provinces with money and food to join the protests.
Lately the Moldovan authorities have uncovered plans aimed at endangering peace and stability in Moldova on an almost daily basis, said the speaker of the parliament: “The purpose of these actions is to overthrow the constitutional order, to change the legitimate power in Chisinau ” to stir up trouble and stop the process of European integration.
EU and USA stand behind the Moldovan government
On Sunday, President Maia Sandu informed EU Council President Charles Michel by telephone about the security situation in the Republic of Moldova. The European Parliament is scheduled to debate the threats facing the Republic of Moldova later this week. In April, a resolution on this subject is to be passed in the EP plenary. “Moldova is as important for the security of Romania and the European Union as Ukraine is,” said Romanian Liberal MEP Siegfried Muresan. According to Muresan, the EU must get involved and help the Republic of Moldova as much as possible to master the current challenges in order to prepare the country for the start of EU accession negotiations.
Romanian Liberal MEP Siegfried Muresan pledges EU support to Moldova
The USA is also following Russia's attempts to endanger the peace in the Republic of Moldova with the greatest attention. At the end of last week, the United States accused Russia of wanting to destabilize the country with targeted street protests. “Russia wants to weaken the government of Moldova with the goal of pro-Moscow administration in Chisinau,” National Security Council communications director John Kirby told AFP. He also said that the US has intensified information-sharing with Moldova about Russian activities in the country in order to eliminate the threats. When US President Joe Biden met Moldovan President Maia Sandu during his visit to Warsaw, the Russian war and US aid to Moldova were discussed. “Like Maia Sandu, we see no immediate military threat to Moldova at this time, but we share Maia Sandu's concerns about Russia's attempts to destabilize her country,” Kirby said. In the spirit of partnership with Moldova, the US would share its own information – including intelligence – about Russia's efforts to destabilize Moldova.
A press release from the US embassy in Chisinau said the warning signals President Maia Sandu was sending out in public spaces were “concerning, though not necessarily surprising, for many Moldovan citizens who have witnessed Russia's malign influence in Moldova for decades “. The US embassy called on the population as well as Moldovan businessmen and foreign investors to trust the government of the Republic of Moldova. This is well positioned. She can implement the reforms that are important for economic development and for the country's defense against external forces that want to harm Moldova.
“We will continue to cooperate with the armed forces of Moldova and are closely monitoring their requests. It's important to have an army that can protect Moldova's constitutional neutrality, and we want to find ways to help,” said Kent D. Logsdon, US Ambassador to Chisinau.
Adaptation from Romanian: Robert Schwartz