The Russian Federation wants the Republic of Moldova to be a weak, blackmailable state with poor citizens, said Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan. According to him, Moscow wants to destabilize the situation in the Republic of Moldova so as to bring it back under its sphere of influence. Last Sunday’s protest staged by the Movement for People was a test for the police force and this test was passed successfully, IPN reports.
Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan shares President Maia Sandu’s opinion that Russia tries to take over in the Republic of Moldova by destabilization and violent acts. The Kremlin does not support the actions taken by the Government in Chisinau and tries to thwart Moldova’s European course.
“Categorically, the current administration of the Republic of Moldova does not suit the Russian Federation as the people in the last presidential and parliamentary elections voted and said that they want to modernize the Republic of Moldova, to turn it into a strong republic on its feet, in which the people want to live as in EU member states. The Russian Federation wants exactly the opposite. The Russian Federation wants a weak, blackmailable Republic of Moldova with poor, controllable people. That’s why it’s clear that the courageous direction followed by the Republic of Moldova does not suit the Russian Federation. It’s clear that there is permanent preoccupation in the Russian Federation to try and disinform, manipulate and even destabilize,” Siegfried Mureșan stated in the program “In Depth” on ProTV Chisinau channel.
In connection with last Sunday’s protest organized by the Movement for People, the Romanian MEP said the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly should be guaranteed in a democracy. However, he urged the citizens of the Republic of Moldova to be vigilant and not to allow to be manipulated by politicians in conflict with the law.
“Sunday’s protest was an important test. I was glad to see that the police fully controlled the situation throughout the protest. This protest does not reflect the will of the majority of citizens of the Republic of Moldova. As long as a protest is peaceful, it can take place, but it is important for the people to know that those who incite to protests do not want to do something good for the people. They incite for their own benefit. There are several heads in conflict with the law who take the people to the streets. It is not right to use the own citizens in one’s own interests, to take them to the street to get benefits,” stated Siegfried Mureșan.
The antigovernment protest mounted on February 19 in central Chisinau by the National Movement for People, which consists of political parties, public associations, experts and civil society members from the country and the diaspora, involved 40,000 people, according to the organizers, while the police put the figure of participants at 3,600.
Siegfried Mureșan heads the European Parliament’s Delegation to the EU – Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee.
