In a televised address today, the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, expressly warned the population against further attempts to disrupt the political situation in the country.
The pro-European president has officially confirmed a Russian plan to destroy the democratic order in her country, mentioned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week.
The first attempts of this type had already been made in the autumn in the context of the serious energy crisis in the country, but now the “new plans made available by Russia, provided by Ukrainian partners” foresee “mercenaries disguised as civilians” to enter Moldova, in order to “”Violent riots” against government offices and even hostage taking, Sandu said.
The “change of power” must occur
The plan, intercepted by Ukrainian intelligence and confirmed by the intelligence services of their country, contains, among other things, information on the rules of entry into force in Moldova for Russian, Belarusian, Serb and Montenegrin citizens, as well as relevant instructions.
In fact, the plan aims to bring about a “shift of power” in Moldova by the mercenaries who arrived, with the support of “internal groups” around the two fugitive Moldovan oligarchs Ilan Shor and Vlad Plahotniuc and some war veterans.
“Good documentation on site”
Documents intercepted by Ukrainian partners would show “good on-site documentation, including targeted locations” and adequate logistical preparations, according to Sandu.
However, the Moldovan authorities are determined to maintain control over the situation in the country, the president emphasized. She therefore assures all citizens that the Kremlin’s plan to “bring violence to our country” will not work, Sandu continued.