The expectations of President Igor Dodon’s visit to Moscow are not big because the Kremlin administration during may years made it clear that it is ready to impose rules of the game, not yet to accept equal-partner cooperation relations with the Republic of Moldova, political analyst Victor Gurau stated for IPN.
“I don’t think something will change in the dynamics of the relations between the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation because the situation is identical to that of 2001, when the Communists came to power with a constitutional majority and the expiations were big. But the illusions that a pro-Russian political power in the Republic of Moldova could change Russia’s foreign policy view or conception on Moldova later disappeared,” stated Victor Gurau.
According to the analyst, Vladimir Putin suggested that the relations between Moldova and Russia cannot be analyzed at bilateral level, but rather at trilateral level, which is they would accept a discussion between the Republic of Moldova, the European Union and the Russian Federation. “The Republic of Moldova became a kind of ‘bargaining chip’ in Russia’s foreign policy for negotiating possible advantages as it is known that Russia has enough problems with the EU, especially at the level of economic sanctions,” stated Victor Gurau.
As regards the Moldovan migrants, the analyst said many of the Russian entrepreneurs want to have Moldovan employees. Victor Gurau does not believe that the Moldovan migrants can obtain a special status in terms of social assistance, health insurance or legal logistics.
As to the resumption of Moldova’s exports to Russia, Victor Gurau said at this chapter too, Moscow uses the geopolitical, geostrategic trump card, applying selective policy as the business entities in the Transnistrian region and Gagauzia were favored. “I think we should not put too much hope as the capacity to obtain favors from the Russians of citizen Dodon compared with that of general Voronin is rather reduced,” he stated. According to the analyst, Moldova should make use of the legal leverage it possesses, namely to challenge the actions of the Kremlin administration in the context of the free trade principles of the WHO.
