The war in Ukraine brought into public focus the foreign bodies of the Russian Federation and the actions taken by these to support Moscow’s interests in third countries. The Russian Center of Science and Culture in the Republic of Moldova, which is a branch of the Federal Agency of Russia ”Rossotrudnichesstvo”, is one of these institutions that promote Russia’s interests, especially in the field of propaganda. This was opened in Februarys 2009 as the representative office of ”Rossotrudnichesstvo” that has been present in the Republic of Moldova since 2002. Both ”Rossotrdnichesstvo” and the Russian Center operate based on a bilateral agreement signed by the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of the Russian Federation on October 30, 1998, which was later ratified by Law No. 204-XV of May 25, 2001.
At present, the employees of the Russian Center include six Russian diplomats, plus three family members and a number of citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who work as local specialists or as ancillary personnel.
The Russian Center is led by Andrey Muravyov, who earlier served as the head of the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Malta and as a specialist of the same Center in Kyiv and India. On the territory of the Republic of Moldova, he distinguished himself as a supporter of the former Shor Party as he took part in a number of events staged by this party.
Artyom Naumenkov, who is in charge of the Transnistrian region, is another employee of the Russian Center in Chisinau. Social media data show that he deals only with Transnistria and actively promotes the image of the Center and the Russian Federation on the territory of the region controlled by the separatist regime, taking an active part in the organization of events on the territory that is not controlled by the Moldovan constitutional authorities.
Natalia Nenasheva is another diplomat of the Russian Center in Chisinau. She is responsible for ATU Gagauzia. She developed important relations in Gagauzia, supporting and acting to promote a pro-Russia identity of the Gagauz region.
Work done by Russia’s Center in Chisinau
Starting with 2021, the published data have pointed to a considerable decline in the projects implemented by the Russian Center and to a decrease in Moldovan citizens’ interest in events organized by this body. The reasons for such reduction include the absence of financial resources for supporting events and promoting the image in different districts of the Republic of Moldova and also Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which distanced a lot the young people from the Center’s activities. In its activities, the Russian Center tries to hide its work, avoiding direct involvement and using third persons close to the Center. In the online sphere, it prefers to appear not as the organizers, but exclusively as “supporters” of activities. Owing to the shortage of funds, the Center’s support amounts only to donation of books, clothing articles with the Center’s logo, participation diplomas and insignificant trophies, in contrast to the countries of the European Union, which invest hundreds of millions of euros a year in the Republic of Moldova’s development.
Nevtehrless, the Russian Center of Science and Culture in the course of last year staged a number of trips to Moscow for doctors from Transnistria and Gagauzia, and of trips to the occupied Crimea for children from these regions.
It should be noted that in 2022, ignoring the dangers posed by the war and Crimea’s exposure to Ukraine’s attacks, the Center played the role of an intermediary organizer of the trip paid by children from the Republic of Moldova to the summer camp Artek. Moreover, the Russian Center tried to resend another group of children this year, on July 13, 2023, but the trip to the Crimea, which is now seriously affected by the war, was annulled due to the cancellation of the flight, as sources in the Border Police said.
Over the past two years, the Russian Center has concentrated its activities primarily on Transnistria, which is controlled by the secessionist regime, and on Gagauzia, as well as on the PSRM and the former Shor Party.
The main beneficiaries of the projects launched by the Russian Center in Moldova are:
- Community of Russian Compatriots, Chisinau;
- Community of Russian Compatriots, Drochia;
- Organization ”Victory Volunteers” – a branch of the youth organization of the PSRM’s “Youth Guard”
Also, among those who are supported and invited to the Center’s events are members of the youth organization of the former Shor Party, ”START” and the organization “NAȘ” (Anti-Crisis People’s Staff) led by the deputy of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia Victor Petrov.
It should be noted that this February, Romania closed the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Bucharest for the reason that this conducted under cover cultural, propaganda activities, including activities to justify the war against Ukraine.
President Maia Sandu repeatedly warned and condemned the Russian Federation’s actions in the Republic of Moldova, like the attempts to destabilize the country made by Moscow through the agency of fugitive oligarchs. In the “European Moldova “ Assembly of May 21, President Sandu said the Republic of Moldova chose the European integration path so as to no longer live under Russian blackmail, in poverty and corruption.
“During 34 years, they have tried to block our future, to divide us, to keep us in poverty, to blackmail us. They wanted us to be dependent, to freeze and fall. But we resisted!” said then Maia Sandu.
The article was taken from the portal Deschide.MD
