Moldovan Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii notably mentions “disinformation” and a “set of provocations” to “change the political order” in place.
Moldova is not facing a “imminent military danger» but to «a hybrid warled by Moscow tooverthrow the governmentpro-European, said Monday, March 13 the Minister of Defense of Moldova, Anatolia Nosatii, in an interview with AFP.
Fears have been reignited in recent weeks in the former Soviet republic neighboring Ukraine, whose European ambitions are viewed with suspicion by the Kremlin.
A Russian destabilization
“There is currently no imminent military danger against Moldova, but there are other types of risks that affect security“said Anatolie Nosatii, interviewed in his offices in Chisinau. He mentioned “misinformation, tensions in society generated by Russia», «a set of provocationsintended to sow chaos and tochange the political order“.
The day before, the police had announced the arrest of members of a network they suspect of being orchestrated by Moscow. The alleged troublemakers are accused of having wanted to destabilize the country by intervening during the anti-government demonstrations which regularly shake the Moldovan capital.
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The question of Transnistria
The White House had accused Moscow on Friday March 10 of “seek to weaken the government of Moldova“, with the aim of installing a government won over to its cause. Russia last month denied any coup plans, denouncing claims “absolutely unfounded and without evidence“.
At the heart of the concerns, the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria, where Russia has some 1,500 soldiers and a large Russian stockpile of ammunition. The minister renewed calls to demilitarize the area. “We have consistently called for the unconditional evacuation of Russian forces illegally stationed on Moldovan territory“, he said.
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The Kremlin recently castigated “anti-Russian hysteriaafter similar statements by Prime Minister Dorin Recean. Transnistria, populated by Russian speakers and home to key industries (energy, steel, cement), broke away de facto from Moldova in 1992 after a short war.
“The situation there is stable and under control.Despite recent remarks from Moscow and local authorities, assured Anatolie Nosatii. The leader of the separatists, Vadim Krasnosselskiï, said last week that an attack plan had been hatched by Ukraine against several senior officials in the separatist territory. kyiv had denounced a “provocationinspired by the Kremlin. In this “hybrid warfare“, the economic aspect plays an important role, added the 50-year-old Moldovan official. Chisinau has been denouncing for several months “Russia’s energy blackmail», which halved its gas deliveries.
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A dilapidated defense system
Anatolia Nosatii also lamented “violation of airspacerepeatedly by missiles targeting Ukraine, while Moldova does not have sophisticated means of detection. Equipped with an army of 6,500 soldiers, with outdated equipment dating from the Soviet era, the country must “review the entire defense system“, which requires “time and funding“Said Anatolia Nosatii.
The task is not easy in this nation of 2.6 million inhabitants, one of the poorest in Europe. Faced with these challenges, Anatolie Nosatii welcomed the support of the European Union (EU), which granted the country candidate status in June 2022 and has provided it with significant financial assistance since the start of the war. “Moldova is not alone and will not be alone in the face of dangers and threats, including military“, he insisted, calling on Europe to “remain united and determined in its aid to Ukraine» and his defense of «peace and security“.
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