Moscow is dissatisfied with Moldova's pro-Western orientation and is doing everything possible to change it, Gheorghe Bălan, security expert and former deputy prime minister for reintegration, stated in a public debate hosted by IPN News Agency.
The statement was made in the context of falsehoods about Chisinau’s planned "military operation" in the Transnistrian region, spread by the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of the Russian Federation.
"It is the first stone thrown into the puddle to make waves to prepare the atmosphere for the parliamentary elections. This document tries to cause destabilization using all the tools at its disposal: telegram channels, political parties, opinion makers, ethnic minorities, the Transnistrian region," said the former deputy prime minister for reintegration.
According to him, the communiqué distributed by the SVR at the beginning of this month is like a "ball raised to the net" for those who promote neutrality or convey the ideas of a possible war in the Republic of Moldova and that Moldova would like to attack the Transnistrian region.
"Aberrant and impossible statements. We have never had this intention and all the Moldovan authorities have declared that they do not want and will not attack the Transnistrian region because our citizens are there. We will carry out the reintegration peacefully, in the interests of all residents," said Gheorghe Bălan.
An important sign is that, until now, particular falsehoods were spread by people, politicians or representatives of "civilian" institutions, but now this is what an institution responsible for security is dealing with - a sign that Moscow has clear plans in relation to the Republic of Moldova and will continue this hybrid war, the expert noted. According to him, Russia has long-term plans and its goals and intentions are clearly against the pro-European views of the Republic of Moldova.
As for the energy crisis and the possible humanitarian catastrophe in the Transnistrian region, Gheorghe Bălan said the blame here is borne entirely and exclusively by the Russian Federation.
"If there had been desire on the part of the Russians, the gas could have been redirected through the Trans-Balkan pipeline and the reservation of capacity for gas transit could have been made by December 16, which Gazprom did not do, again shifting the blame onto the Moldovan authorities," he stated.
The public debate entitled "What do Russian fabrications bank on? What does Chisinau respond with?" was held as part of the project "Developing political culture through public debates". IPN Agency implements the project with support from the German "Hanns Seidel" Foundation.
