Moldovan president urges crackdown on pro-Russian protests

Protests that began on 19 September are organised by the Shor Party, close to Russia. The party's populist leader, Ilan Short, has fled the state in 2019, after being sentenced to two years in prison for money laundering.

Some of the protesters have set up tents outside the Parliament and the presidency building, demanding the resignation of the pro-Western Sandus government. They have also expressed anger at rising prices.

Sandu urged the Government on 11 October to change the law to give more powers to law enforcement agencies, adding that “certain actors within the local administration are sabotaging state stability”. These statements appear to be reference to Chisinev's chairman, Ion Ceban, member of former President Igor Dodon's Socialist Party. He has Russia's support.

The Moldovan president's statement came after Ceban on October 10th used the municipality's vehicles to block the capital's main roads, in support of pro-Russian protesters who have blocked the boulevard by setting up tents.

Subtitles against home will be severely punished. Those who sow panic and want war will be punished according to law”, Sandu said.

She said protesters “have promised Moscow they will establish a government that will be loyal to Russia”.

Sand had defeated Dodon in the 2020 presidential election.

Moldova, located on the border with Romania and Ukraine, has pushed forward pro-Western policies, exacerbating reports with Moscow.

Sandu has condemned Ukraine's unpronounced Russian invasion, while Russia has threatened Moldova that it will cut off gas supplies due to disagreements over energy payment.

After the invasion began, Moldova, one of Europe's poorest states, has been invited to open membership negotiations with the European Union, along with Ukraine.

“We are doing everything to maintain peace and stability in our state”, she said. But the pressure on us is increasing day-to-day. There is more effort to destabilise the situation and create division between us”, Sandu said.

Fears that the conflict in Ukraine could expand have increased, as there are concerns that Moscow might try to create a ground corridor through southern Ukraine to the breakaway region of Moldova, Transniester.

Russia has about 1,500 soldiers in Transniester, who are said to guard a large Soviet-era weapons depot. / REL/

Share Now