The chief of the Security and Intelligence Service of Moldova (SIS), Alexandru Musteață, says that Russia will try to interfere in the presidential and parliamentary elections and provoke social conflicts in Gagauzia and Transnistria to compromise Moldova's accession to the EU.
What are the Kremlin's plans to disrupt the country's entry into the EU
Musteață announced this at a press conference on March 5.
The Security and Intelligence Service has data that indicate an unprecedented level of intensity of Russia's actions. The purpose of these actions is to compromise Moldova's accession to the EU, to undermine democratic processes and to keep Moldova in its sphere of influence, Mustiatse said.
According to him, the first stage began in 2023, when attempts were made to compromise local elections.
Now, they are trying to implement the next two stages with the intention of interfering in the electoral processes this year. Mustyatce said there is information about an attempt to compromise the referendum on European integration and the presidential elections and to slander institutions and candidates who will promote the idea of European integration.
Alexandru Musteață
SIS chief
According to him, another stage is planned for 2025. His goal is to take control of the Moldovan parliament.
This strategy includes three main elements: support for politicians who are under the direct or indirect control of the Russian Federation. They plan crises in the economic and social spheres, social conflicts with the aim of inciting inter-ethnic enmity, and crises of security and public order, in particular in Gagauzia or on the Left Bank of the Dniester. These crises will be launched sequentially or in parallel, often through concerted action and propaganda.
According to Musteață, the third element is large-scale information attacks to increase the psychological effect of crises.
The main actor that Russia is betting on is Ilan Shor's group. According to the data, Ilan Shor's main task for 2024 is to compromise the results of the referendum. Another group of political figures was tasked with promoting the doctrine of statesmen, which actually serves Russia's rhetoric, he added.
Russia is trying to take revenge on Moldova for supporting Ukraine
According to the ex-head of Moldova's intelligence, Yuriy Brichaeg, as soon as high-ranking officials from Moldova spoke more categorically against the war unleashed by the Kremlin, Moscow immediately imposed sanctions against them and continued to try to destabilise the situation in the country.
In particular, the scandalous deputy of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmytry Medvedev, declared in his typical manner that Moldova is a country that allegedly does not exist.
It is difficult to comment on the statement of a person who is registered with a narcologist. You see, he has mental problems. I would advise him to eat as often as possible. Drink less, eat more often and do sports. And all these statements of Russian officials. I look at them, all these people, they are just not in reality. These are people from the last century. Look at what they produce both in Russia and Ukraine. These are individuals who should be isolated from normal society. They should be kept somewhere far away and under lock and key, preferably in straitjackets. Because you shouldn't expect anything from them, Brichag emphasised.
He noted that Moldova's creation of a blacklist of Russian officials who support the war against Ukraine was the right decision.
