Moldovan president says institutions confirm Russian plans to destabilize country

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Moldovan President Maia Sandu claimed on Monday that Russia plans to destabilize her country, three days after the country's prime minister, Natalia Gavrilita, resigned.

Moldova has been struggling with multiple crises since Russia’s war on Ukraine, including inflation, high energy prices and a refugee influx.

"President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy's statement about Russia's plans to destabilize the Republic of Moldova were confirmed by our institutions,” Sandu told a press briefing.

Sandu noted that Russia's plan to undertake “subversive actions” on Moldovan territory is not a new one, saying: “There were also attempts to destabilize the situation in the fall of last year, but they did not achieve their goal."

Elaborating on such a plan by Russia, Sandu claimed that it involved a group of people with military training taking violent actions against government buildings and taking hostages.

"Through violent actions disguised as protests by the so-called opposition, the change of power in Chisinau would be forced,” Sandu said.

She assured that state institutions are working to prevent these challenges and that the situation is under control, requesting all state institutions to show maximum vigilance.

She added that the Moldovan parliament must adopt the draft laws that will provide the country’s Security and Intelligence Service and the Prosecutor's Office with the necessary tools "to combat more effectively the risks to the country's security."

"All those who participate in such actions and those who protect them must be held accountable," she said.

During a special session of the European Council on Thursday, Zelenskyy said he informed Sandu about a detailed Russian plan to “undermine the political situation in Moldova.”​​​​​​​