Moldova’s demands do not run cinder to the national interests of Russia, the head of the Center of Political and Electoral Technologies of Moldova Vitaly Andrievschi stated for the Moscow publication Взгляд. The article appears in the Bulgarian media (Поглед.инфо). The expert believes Russia cannot be at the top of the foreign policy priorities of the Republic of Moldova, which signed an Association Agreement with the European Union.
Vitalii Andrievschi said the major importance of the ties with Romania and Ukraine is due to the neighborhood factor. “Moldova said that it is open to the world and will cooperate with the West and the East. The most important thing is for this cooperation to be put into practice. The country’s place among the priorities is not key,” he stated, noting that Moldova wants to have normal commercial and economic relations with Russia, free from politically motivated bans.
The publication reproduces the politologist’s assertions that the demands formulated by the new prime minister of Moldova, including about the withdrawal of the Russian service members from the Eastern districts of Moldova and the refusal to pay the Transnistrian region’s debts for gas are not anti-Russia. “The national interests of Moldova do not run counter to the national interests of Russia. If Russia permanently insults Moldova and finds faults, the will of Chisinau to stabilize the bilateral relations can diminish.”
Andrey Suzdaltsev, pro-dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs of the Higher School of Economics of Russia, spoke about Moldova in an interview to a subdivision of RIA Novosti: „...any updating in the relations with Russia? – Surely not... Sandu manifested herself as a wise politician. I think she will soon make effort to normalize communication with the Kremlin, with the establishment of Russia,” stated the expert.
As to the main causes of the defeat of the pro-Russian forces in elections in Moldova, the expert said their leader Igor Dodon is perceived as a demagogue by most of the voters. “The permanent insolvency of Dodon that fuels the illusion that Russia has the duty and should do something for Moldova no longer catches the voters’ attention. The people are tired of having been promised changes during two decades, that Russia will make available all its resources. But Russia does not give anything..”
According to Suzdaltsev, namely such policies led to the decline of the former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and the leader of Belarus Alexandr Lukashenko.
