Moldova

Moldova is on the frontline of the hybrid war waged by Russia against democracy, actions which intensify on the eve of parliamentary elections. Heleen Bakker, Director-General for European Cooperation of the Netherlands, has made statements to this effect at a press conference held jointly with Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi and representatives of the BENELUX delegation.

Heleen Bakker warned about hybrid attacks and reaffirmed European solidarity in combating them.

"We see how misinformation, cyber-attacks and attempts to undermine trust in institutions are boosting, especially on the eve of the elections. We are here to convey clear message: Moldova is not alone. The BENELUX countries firmly support the sovereignty of Moldova, its resilience against threats, as well as the progress made in essential areas - from justice reform to energy diversification. We will continue to support you through expertise, resources and cooperation. Supporting Moldovan democracy also means defending European democracy. It is not just an act of solidarity, but an investment in our common security and European future," said Heleen Bakker.

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"Hybrid attacks on Moldova are intensifying ahead of the elections, but by virtue of our society's resilience and the constant solidarity and support on behalf of our friends and partners, the country is better endowed today, better positioned to counter these interferences, whether we are talking about those in the online space, the media, or attempts to destabilize the situation through protests paid for by fugitive oligarchs, or about constant threats and attempts to spread fear, to threaten Moldova, as the Kremlin does," said Mihai Popsoi.

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/36602053

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Moldovian President Maia Sandu warned that Russia would continue its aggression in other countries, including the Republic of Moldova, if not stopped in Ukraine.

"If Ukraine falls, believe me, Russia won't stop at Moldova," Maia Sandu stated. She noted that international support for Ukraine must become faster and more consistent: "We need to help faster, more extensively. Russia has enormous resources, enormous capabilities. Ukraine receives less and too late. We must reverse this situation. This is our mission."

President Sandu declared that Ukraine is not just a country under attack, but "a cornerstone of European security," and the stakes of the war unleashed by the Russian Federation transcend this country's borders: "It's not just about Ukraine, about its future; it's about the future of the whole of Europe, of the entire world."

President Sandu also spoke about the hybrid attack methods used by Russia: "Lies, manipulation, blackmail, interference in our political systems, distortion of democracy and truth." Maia Sandu added that the Republic of Moldova is similarly targeted: "Moldova knows what hybrid warfare means, what it truly looks like: energy blackmail, fake protests, disinformation, and organized crime disguised as political parties."

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cross-posted from: https://rss.ponder.cat/post/206193

Moscow may instigate a crisis in Moldova's Russian-occupied Transnistria region to destabilize the country ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for September, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on June 12, according to Moldovan outlet Newsmaker.

"All these years, Russia has been using the residents of Transnistria and can provoke an even greater crisis at any moment if it suits its plans in Moldova," Sandu said.

"We can expect this crisis to deepen in the coming months, before the elections."

The president's comments come after Transnistria declared a 30-day state of emergency on June 11, due to a sharp reduction in natural gas supplies.

The unrecognized region, located along Moldova's eastern border with Ukraine, has faced mounting energy shortages since January, when Russian gas giant Gazprom halted deliveries.

Sandu, a pro-European leader of the country, warned that Moscow could combine voter bribery and political manipulation with "blackmail" in Transnistria.

"Russia may promise assistance in exchange for votes on the Right Bank. We can expect all sorts of games," the president said.

In February, Moldova's government revealed that Transnistria rejected a 60 million euros ($62 million) EU energy aid package under pressure from Moscow.

The Moldovan president assured that the country's institutions are monitoring the risks and pledged that the elections would be "free and fair," despite growing instability.

Sandu emphasized that Chisinau is prepared to support the population in Transnistria but must first address "the main problem — the withdrawal of Russian troops."

"This is a key issue that we must resolve peacefully, because otherwise we will not be able to justify our financial support," she said.

Moscow continues to maintain a military presence in Transnistria, which has been under the control of pro-Russian separatists since the early 1990s. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in February that around 1,000 to 1,500 Russian troops are currently stationed in the region.

Chisinau has repeatedly called for the peaceful reintegration of Transnistria and the withdrawal of Russian forces, citing it as essential to Moldova's security and development.

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean earlier told the Financial Times that Russia plans to send 10,000 troops to Transnistria and establish a pro-Kremlin government in Moldova.

Read also: Russia preparing strategic reserves for conflicts beyond Ukraine, Ukraine warns

From The Kyiv Independent - News from Ukraine, Eastern Europe via this RSS feed

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/31954214

Tensions between Moldova and Russia ratcheted up on Monday after Moldova's decision to expel three Russian diplomats on Monday.

The Moldovan Foreign Ministry declared the three "persona non grata" and ordered them to leave, saying there was "clear evidence'' of actions that violated their diplomatic responsibilities.

Russia's Foreign Ministry pledged to take retaliatory measures, though it has not specified what those might be.

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The immediate trigger for Moldova's expulsion of Russian diplomats was the case of Alexander Nesterovschii, a member of parliament aligned with pro-Russian interests.

Nesterovschii was sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison after being convicted of illegally funding a political party linked to Ilan Shor — a fugitive businessman and former lawmaker.

Shor, who fled Moldova after being implicated in one of the country's largest bank fraud scandals, has since aligned himself with Kremlin-friendly causes.

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President Maia Sandu condemned what she described as direct interference in Moldova's judicial system.

"Interference by the Russian Federation with the judicial system of the Republic of Moldova is unacceptable,'' she said in a radio interview. "Imagine if Moldova interfered with justice in Russia.''

Moldova's pro-European government has frequently accused Russia of attempts to destabilize the country as it seeks closer ties with the European Union. Moldova aims to join the EU by 2030 and was granted candidate status in 2022.

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