The president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has warned that her country's independence and European future are in peril after police arrested dozens of individuals accused of involvement in a plot allegedly backed by Russia to incite violent disorder.
Days before pivotal parliamentary elections, Moldovan police reported confiscating weapons and explosives during raids across the nation. Authorities claim some of the 74 detainees had travelled to Serbia for military training from Russian instructors.
In an address to the nation, Sandu accused the Kremlin of pouring hundreds of millions of euros into Moldova to incite violence and spread fear and disinformation. The Kremlin thinks we are all for sale, that we are too small to resist, she asserted.
Pro-Russian parties have dismissed Sandu's statements as intimidation tactics aimed at swaying the vote. Sandu urged her supporters to ensure a high turnout in the upcoming elections where her pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) is under threat from pro-Russian forces.
Despite Moldova's declaration of independence over 30 years ago, Russian influence remains significant, particularly in the breakaway region of Transnistria, where Russian troops are present.
Under President Sandu's leadership, Moldova has actively pursued EU membership, highlighted by a recent referendum that narrowly endorsed the constitutional goal of joining the bloc.
As tensions rise before elections, recent police actions indicate that Russia continues to attempt to undermine Moldova's stability. Reports suggest extensive Russian plans are underway to incite unrest ahead of the vote, further complicating the nation’s political landscape.
