Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on Tuesday accused European countries of planning “to occupy Moldova” and build a NATO task force along the Romania-Moldova border to intimidate Transnistria.
Why does Russia accuse the EU of planning to occupy Moldova?What accusations has Sandu made about Kremlin funding in Moldova?
According to the press bureau of the SVR, Russian state news agency TASS reported that the European Union and NATO are “determined to keep Moldova in line with their Russophobic policy.”
Why does Russia accuse the EU of planning to occupy Moldova?
NATO troops have already arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, with the deployment intended to “intimidate” Transnistria, an unrecognised breakaway state situated between Ukraine and Moldova. According to the SVR, Brussels plans to “occupy” the country following the parliamentary election set for the end of this month.
“They plan to do this at any cost, including by introducing troops and de facto occupying the country. At this stage, a concentration of armed forces units from NATO countries is being carried out in Romania near the Moldovan border,”
The agency said.
What concerns does Moscow raise about Moldova’s upcoming election?
“European officials fear that the gross falsification of the election results being prepared by Brussels and Chisinau will force desperate Moldovan citizens to take to the streets to defend their rights. Then, at the request of President Maia Sandu, the armed forces of European states will have to force Moldovans to accept a dictatorship under the guise of European democracy,”
The agency stated.
Moldovans will vote on 28 September in an important snap parliamentary election that will shape the country’s future. The election occurs at a critical point for Moldova, an aspiring EU member, situated near Russia’s conflict in Ukraine and facing numerous hybrid threats from Moscow.
What accusations has Sandu made about Kremlin funding in Moldova?
Meanwhile, Moldovan President Maia Sandu accused Russia on Monday of investing “hundreds of millions of euros” to undermine her country’s parliamentary election this weekend, Politico reported.
“The Kremlin is pouring hundreds of millions of euros to buy hundreds of thousands of votes on both banks of the Nistru river and abroad,”
She stated.
“People are intoxicated daily with lies. Hundreds of individuals are paid to provoke disorder, violence, and spread fear.
“If Russia gains control over Moldova, the consequences will be immediate and dangerous for our country and for the entire region. Every Moldovan will suffer, no matter who they voted for,”
She also said.
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