According to narratives launched by pro-Russian politicians in Chisinau and officials in Moscow, the European Union offers the status of accession candidate using Russophobia as a criterion and, together with NATO, is building a war coalition against Russia. Such narratives have appeared in the context in which the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine received the status of candidate countries for EU accession.
NEWS: Former pro-Russian President Igor Dodon commented on his Facebook page about the Republic of Moldova obtaining the status of candidate country for EU membership: “... I believe that Moldova will not become a member of the EU in the near future. It is unknown at this time how long will the EU last after all. Bulgaria's pro-European government has recently been ousted, and political crises are only escalating. When countries as important and strong as the United Kingdom leave the EU, and Moldova, with its unresolved issues, including territorial ones, rushes somewhere, I think it is wrong”.
Former Communist President Vladimir Voronin has also said that the status of candidate does not offer any clear prospects for EU membership and that the Republic of Moldova is thus “tied by a chain, so that it cannot cooperate with its strategic partners – the Russian Federation.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that the countries interested in getting the EU candidate status are obliged to take a Russophobic stance, and Russia will look into whether they will “submit to the EU demands or maintain their independence. We do not believe that Russophobia will disappear, but the path is chosen by Europeans”. He has also said that the EU, together with NATO, is forging a coalition to fight against the Russian Federation, just as Hitler did against the USSR.
Earlier, in the same context, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov had stated that “an attempt is being made to turn the Republic of Moldova into a ‘second Ukraine’. And the Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zaharova said that “What we see now with regard to the EU accession has nothing to do with the actual economic reality, but with the political situation ... The main criteria are Russophobia and the anti-Russia oath”.
