Ex-minister of defense of Moldova Valeriu Pleșca considers the incident in the Kerch Strait, where a conflict arouse between Russian maritime border guards and Ukrainian sailors, was a provocation staged by Ukraine. The issue was developed in the talk show “Important” on TVC21 channel, IPN reports.
According to the former minister, this was most probably a political technology move planned by the team of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko before the presidential elections. “The signing of that decree confirms this,” he stated, referring to the decree on martial law signed by Piotr Poroshenko.
Valeriu Pleșca said that in period during which the martial law will be in force, the main rights and obligations of the citizens will be regulated specifically – meetings could not be organized and particular control over media outlets will be imposed. “Furthermore, the President aimed to make himself heard given that his rating is not the highest,” stated the ex-minister.
The Kerch Strait incident occurred on November 25, 2018 when a Russian cargo ship stopped three Ukrainian Navy vessels from passing under the Kerch Strait Bridge. Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its territorial waters. According to Russia, Russian officers repeatedly asked the Ukrainian vessels to leave Russia’s territorial waters. Since Ukrainian Navy refused, Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian vessels off the coast of annexed Crimea, injuring three servicemen. Ukraine also described the incident as a provocation. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on the martial law and Parliament approved it the next day, instituting the martial law in the regions that border Russia and the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova for a 30-day period. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova expressed its concern about the tensions in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait.
