Russia aims to destabilize the country's economy in order to influence the upcoming parliamentary elections, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi. He drew attention to a strategy by the Kremlin to favor the installation of a pro-Russian government in Chisinau, which would support Moscow's interests in the region, IPN reports.
The minister noted that the Moldovan authorities remain open and ready to provide support to the citizens of the Transnistrian region following the halt in natural gas supplies from Russia.
"Unlike the Russian Federation, we care about our citizens. We want to help them. We have international partners that want to lend a hand, but you know the old saying: you can take something from a person by force, but you cannot give it by force. Help cannot be offered by force. We remain open to offer all the support to the citizens living on the left bank of the Nistru," Mihai Popșoi said in the program "At 360 Degrees" on Radio Moldova station.
According to him, by stopping gas supplies to the Transnistrian region, Russia aims to influence the outcome of the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova in favor of pro-Russian forces, which could undermine the country's European path.
"Gazprom has a contractual obligation to supply gas. Alternative routes exist, through the Balkans. It is understandable to everyone that this crisis is an artificial one. They aim at the economic destabilization of the Republic of Moldova so that the citizens on the right bank of the Nistru feel economic difficulties and a pro-Russian government is installed after the parliamentary elections, which will promote the Kremlin's agenda, here, behind Ukraine," stated the minister.
Mihai Popșoi encouraged the citizens to remain vigilant, especially in an election year that is crucial for the country's European path. "We are confident that our citizens will not allow to be manipulated. I am convinced that the citizens will not allow an anti-Ukrainian, anti-Romanian, anti-European government to be created in the Republic of Moldova," pointed out the minister.
Gas supplies from Russia to the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova were interrupted on January 1 following the expiration of the gas transit deal between Russia and Ukraine. Gazprom made the continuation of supplies, through alternative routes, conditional on the payment of an alleged debt of over US$709 million, which Chisinau does not recognize.
