(Washington) A White House spokesman on Friday accused Russia of seeking to destabilize Moldova, a Romanian-speaking country in the former Soviet Union, including through protests, with the aim of installing a government there. to his cause.
“We believe that Russia is seeking to weaken the government of Moldova, certainly with the end goal of seeing a more favorable administration” at the head of the country, said John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council of the executive. American.
PHOTO ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
US Executive National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby
Moldova, formerly in Russia’s zone of influence, is now ruled by resolutely pro-European authorities, like its neighbor Ukraine, which has been fighting for more than a year against the invasion of its territory by Russian troops.
In June, the European Union granted the status of candidates for entry into the bloc of 27 to both Ukraine and Moldova.
Washington believes that Moscow is seeking to destabilize Transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova.
This territory on the border with Ukraine, which has declared its independence but is not recognized by any state, assured Thursday that it had foiled an attack against its leaders attributed to Kyiv, accusations rejected by Ukraine.
“Russian actors, some linked to Russian intelligence, are seeking to orchestrate protests in Moldova and use them to foment an insurrection against the Moldovan government,” Kirby said.
“We have confidence in Moldova’s democratic and economic institutions and their ability to respond to these threats and, of course, we will continue to provide them with strong support,” he added.
The United States has stepped up its sharing of information with Moldovan leaders on Russian activities in Moldova so that “they can further investigate” and “thwart Russian plans”, John Kirby stressed.
