The West has amped up its interference in the Republic of Moldova’s internal affairs, the spokesperson of the Russian MFA, Maria Zakharova, has told a press briefing. Similar accusations were also made during the campaign for the presidential election last year in autumn, despite the fact that Russian president Vladimir Putin wished Igor Dodon good luck and promised assistance for the Republic of Moldova with the campaign in full swing.
NEWS: “The United States and EU Member States continue their attempts to interfere with the domestic affairs of the Republic of Moldova. According to the official representative of the Russian MFA, Maria Zakharova, Russia must once again take note of the increasingly visible and aggressive rhetoric of Western states as the early election in Moldova draws closer.
Here’s just an example: On “The Expert Hour” show broadcast on May 18, the head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, Peter Michalko, made unwarranted and undiplomatic remarks about Moldovan institutions. More specifically, he highlighted the flaws in the judiciary and overtly declared that the new Parliament should “inspire more confidence”. As if Moldova wouldn’t be able to manage by itself”.
NARRATIVES: 1. The West is interfering with the internal affairs of the Republic of Moldova. 2. The results of the early parliamentary election of July 11 could be compromised.
BACKGROUND: The society in the Republic of Moldova is divided over the country’s foreign policy orientation towards either East or West, considering part of the population opts for EU integration, while the other part, particularly the Russian-speaking population and the elderly, favors proximity to Moscow and even the accession to the Euroasian Union, under Moscow’s control.
Moscow and Western officials constantly accuse each other of interfering with the domestic matters in the Republic of Moldova, particularly around an election.
Tensions peaked ahead at the presidential election of 2020, when the secret intelligence of the Russian Federation claimed the West was interfering with the election, while Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, promised the incumbent president, Igor Dodon, to offer assistance, while the campaign was in full swing.
According to opinion polls, Vladimir Putin currently enjoys the highest approval rating of all global leaders in the Republic of Moldova, whereas Igor Dodon claims to be a close associate of his.
The Kremlin’s accusations over the West’s involvement in the domestic affairs of the Republic of Moldova have again spiked in the context of the early parliamentary election, pitting pro-European parties in this country against factions opting for closer associations with the East.
The allegations are also an extension of the traditional rhetoric promoted by the Party of Socialists led by Igor Dodon, currently making up an election alliance with the Party of Communists led by the former president and Soviet general Vladimir Voronin, namely the “danger” of foreigners, of Moldova’s close relations with the West, including its NATO accession.
PURPOSE: To promote the idea that the West is interfering with the internal affairs of the Republic of Moldova, particularly around the election. To mobilize pro-Russian and anti-Western voters against the “danger” of the Europeanisation of the Republic of Moldova. Indirectly: to depict pro-European parties as entities controlled by external powers. To justify any overt involvement from Russia in the campaign for the July 11 early parliamentary election.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: The head of the EU Delegation to Moldova, Peter Michalko, spoke on “The Expert Hour” about the judiciary in the Republic of Moldova, employing the same official discourse the European Union has been using for over a decade – namely the need to ensure an independent judiciary and to combat corruption.
The EU insists on conveying such messages because it allotted hundreds of millions of Euro to the reform of Moldova’s justice system, which is showing no sings of progress. On the other hand, in 2014 the Republic of Moldova signed the Association Agreement with the EU and most political parties in this country want to join the EU, which involves the observance of certain regulations and criteria.
Both EU and US representatives to Moldova have said on numerous occasions they are ready to cooperate with any Cabinet in Chișinău willing to continue the line of reforms and ensure higher living standards for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova.
GRAIN OF TRUTH: The head of the EU Delegation to Chișinău, Peter Michalko, spoke about the need to reform the Moldovan judiciary in the televised show “The Expert Hour” on Jurnal TV.
WHO STANDS TO BENEFIT: Moscow, the Party of Socialists, the largest pro-Russian political party in the Republic of Moldova.
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