US: Russia aims to destabilise Moldova

The United States has accused Russia of trying to destabilise the former Soviet republic, Moldova, including through protests, in order to eventually install a pro-Moscow government.

“We believe Russia is following options to weaken the Moldovan Government, perhaps in the end in order to have a more friendly administration with Russia”, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

The Moldova government is seeking to establish closer ties with Western institutions and is close to the pro-Western Government of neighbouring Ukraine, which for more than a year is facing Russian invasion.

Part of Moldovan territory -- the Transnistria region -- is controlled by separatists backed by Russia and Washington -- believes Moscow is aiming to boost the expansion of instability.

Russian “Actors, some of whom are linked to Russian intelligence, are seeking to organise and use protests in Moldova as the basis for promoting a fabricated uprising against the Moldovan government”, Kirby said.

The American official said that “we have confidence in Moldova's democratic and economic institutions and in their ability to respond to these threats and of course we will continue to provide strong support”.

Kirby said the US is sharing information with Moldova about Russian activities in this country, “so that they can investigate further and undermine Russian plans”.

Moldova's president, Maya Sandu, said weeks ago that Ukrainian intelligence has shared with Moldovan authorities a Moscow plan, which, according to her, targets a coup in Moldova. These charges have been dropped by Moscow.