The joint military exercises of the Transnistrian paramilitary forces and the Russian troops deployed on Moldova’s territory are a serious challenge to national security, said experts invited to the talk show “Emphasis on today” on TVR Moldova channel, IPN reports.

Speaking about the increasing number of military exercises in Transnistria, ex-minister of the interior, General-Major Victor Catan noted that these exercises go against the Moldovan-Russian agreement on the peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, which says that the military forces that are temporarily on Moldova’s territory will respect the neutrality status. “If the Russian Federation can train not only the own forces, but also the Transnistrian paramilitary forces, it means that they train openly, defying the Republic of Moldova,” he stated.

Chairman of the parliamentary commission on security Roman Botan said the Transnistrian paramilitary forces and the Russian forces deployed on the country’s territory are very well equipped. President Igor Dodon is daily informed about the situation in the country, including the eastern districts, and knows about all the exercises that are staged there. “President Igor Dodon is himself one of the most serious threats to Moldova’s security, besides the illegal presence of the military forces in the eastern districts of the country,” stated the MP.

Security expert Rosian Vasiloi said this game between the government and the President as regards the appointment of the minister of defense is at least unclear as long as the separatist regime that is supported by the Russian Federation does what it wants in the Transnistrian region and the last military exercises staged there show that Russia’s tasks in Moldova expand.