Russia has developed a strategy for political and economic control of Moldova, preventing its rapprochement with NATO and the European Union (EU), especially through neighboring Romania, and imposing the Russian language on the former Soviet republic.
This is stated in a document drawn up in 2021 by the Kremlin together with the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Federal Security Service (FSB), the military special services (GUR) and other special services, to which the consortium of media, international public organizations and the Dossier Center, which is directed by former oligarch and opposition figure in exile, Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
“There is a strategy of political and economic subjugation of Moldova,” the research platform said in Russian, adding, in addition, that “the Kremlin plans to prevent the country from rapprochement with Romania and the imposition of the Russian language in the country.”
The authors of the strategy set goals to be achieved in this decade, such as countering the influence of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Western defense bloc) and the EU in Moldova and forcing the country to participate in the post-Soviet military alliance led by Russia, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and other Russian international projects.
It also includes the task of resolving the conflict in the pro-Russian separatist territory of Transnistria, giving it a special status – always with Russia (which keeps troops in this Moldovan region) as an intermediary.
The plan also aims to create pro-Russian sentiment in civil society through propaganda and educational programs.
Russia originally intended to avoid restrictions on Russian media in Moldova, but that plan fell through as Moldovan authorities shut down six Russian TV channels last year to protect citizens from misinformation.
Therefore, the Kremlin intends to strengthen its influence in another way – by creating a network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the republic, where Russian “agents of influence” can be based.
One of these NGOs is the Moldovan-Russian Business Union, which was founded by the former president of the country, the pro-Russian socialist Igor Dodon, together with the son of the former Prosecutor General of Russia, Igor Chaika, recalls the Dossier Center.
“The Kremlin’s next step will be to increase the electorate of pro-Russian Moldovan politicians, create pro-Russian sentiments among the Moldovan elites and abandon the “Romanization” policy,” the consortium said in a statement.
Russia should also take advantage of its dependence on Russian imports to “neutralize” the Europeanist policies of the current Moldovan government and parliament, which are contrary to the interests of the Kremlin.
To this end, one of the main methods of pressure of Russian influence on Moldova is economic pressure, the Dossier Center notes, therefore it is important to maintain the volume of gas supplies to the country where the populist and pro-Russian Shor party is located. has been trying to provoke anti-government protests for months.
Moscow often threatens Chisinau with stopping gas supplies to Moldova or reducing the corresponding amount, allegedly due to non-payment of the accumulated debt.