Fears are growing that the small European nation of Moldova could be next on Vladimir Putin’s hit list.
Thousands of pro-Moscow protesters rallied in Chisinau on Sunday demanding the resignation of Moldovan President Maia Sandu.
Moldova’s parliament last week approved a new pro-Western government after the previous government resigned en masse after months of political and economic scandals.
The new government, led by Prime Minister Dorin Recan, has vowed, much to Russia’s chagrin, to follow a pro-European path and also called for the demilitarization of Transnistria, the Moscow-backed breakaway region on the border with Ukraine. be home to thousands of people killed, including Russian troops.
Sunday’s protests were organized by a newly formed pro-people movement with the support of members of Moldova’s pro-Russian Shor party, which has just six seats in the former Soviet republic’s 101-seat parliament.
Some protesters who gathered in the capital held posters with the faces of some Moldovan leaders and politicians next to pictures of big houses and fancy cars.
“You have millions. We are starving,” they said.
But few doubt that larger geopolitical games are being played out.
On Friday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told Ms Sandu: “We are very concerned about some of the conspiracies that we see coming from Russia to try to destabilize the country.” [Moldovan] Government.”
On February 13, Ms. Sandu spoke about what she believed was Moscow’s alleged plot to overthrow the government to make the country “accessible to Russia” and thwart its overnight course towards joining the European Union.
Three days earlier, the government collapsed after pro-Western Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita resigned after a tumultuous 18 months in office marked by economic turmoil and the aftermath of a Russian war in neighboring Ukraine.
Shortly before Ms. Gavrilita’s resignation, a Russian missile violated Moldovan airspace, and the Moldovan government called on the Russian ambassador to protest.
Sandu has appointed her defense adviser Dorin Recean as the country’s new prime minister.
Mr. Recean, a former interior minister, has said he intends to keep Moldova’s membership in the European Union. He said the economy, peace and stability are his government’s priorities.
This was stated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky of Germany. World A newspaper that Kyiv handed over to Ms. Sandu’s intelligence service, which suggested that Russia was planning a coup d’état in Moldova.
“Maia Sandu never asked me for help, but she thanked me for the information. She knows our situation very well. Ukraine will always be ready to help Moldova,” he added.
The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia’s relations with Moldova are very strained, accusing the Moldovan leadership of implementing an anti-Russian program. “The leadership always focuses on everything anti-Russian, they slide into anti-Russian hysteria.”
The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia’s relations with Moldova are very strained, accusing the Moldovan leadership of implementing an anti-Russian program. “The leadership always focuses on everything anti-Russian, they slide into anti-Russian hysteria.”
Source: I News
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