A secret plan drawn up by Russia’s Federal Security Service lays out detailed options for destabilizing Moldova, CNN reports.
Among the possibilities are support for pro-Russian groups, use of the Orthodox Church and threats to cut off natural gas supplies.
The document was probably prepared on purpose to thwart Moldova’s drive to orient itself towards the West, i.e. closer relations with NATO and application for membership in the European Union. It repeatedly mentions the importance of preventing Moldova from joining NATO.
It appears that the document was written in 2021. from the Directorate for Cross-Border Cooperation of the FSB, its title being “Strategic goals of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Moldova”.
It is exposed in it A 10-year strategy to include Moldova in Russia’s sphere of influence.
The plan includes making Moldova dependent on Russian gas imports and stoking social conflicts, as well as attempts to block Chisinau’s efforts to gain influence in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria, where some 1,500 Russian troops are stationed.
The document consists of five pages and has multiple sections with short, medium and long term goals. Among the immediate goals are “support for Moldovan political forces advocating constructive relations with the Russian Federation,” and “neutralizing the initiatives of the Republic of Moldova aimed at eliminating the Russian military presence in Transnistria”.
Moldova is not afraid of a war with Russia, while Ukraine behaves
Despite Moscow’s attempts to destabilize the country
The medium-term goals include “opposing Romania’s expansionist policy in the Republic of Moldova” and “opposition to cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and NATO”.
The long-term goals are defined as “the creation of stable pro-Russian groups of influence in the political and economic elite of Moldova” and “the formation of a negative attitude towards NATO”.
Asked about the document, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We know nothing about the existence of such a plan. I do not rule out the possibility that it is another forgery. Russia has always been and remains open to building good-neighborly, mutually beneficial relations, including with Moldova.”
He regretted that the current leadership of Moldova is experiencing “completely unjustified and unfounded prejudices against Moscow”.
Moscow accused Kiev of planning to take over Transnistria, which borders Southwestern Ukraine. Last month, the Russian Defense Ministry warned that Ukrainians were building up forces in several border villages. However, both Moldova and Ukraine rejected this claim.
And London is supporting Chisinau in repelling the hybrid Russian attack
Chisinau will receive 12 million dollars from London to finance economic and political reforms
In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin revoked a 2012 decree supporting Moldovan sovereignty. He explained that the move aims to “guarantee the national interests of Russia in connection with the profound changes that are occurring in international relations”.
In recent weeks, Moldovan authorities have detained several suspected pro-Russian activists, as well as an employee of the Wagner group who tried to enter the country.
Meanwhile several protests organized by a pro-Russian party also took place in the capital Chisinau.
Ukraine and the US have already warned of Russia’s efforts to destabilize the Moldovan government.
The White House said that “Russian actors, some of whom are currently linked to Russian intelligence, are attempting to organize and use the protests in Moldova as a basis to foment a fake uprising against the Moldovan government.”
Western intelligence officials believe the Russian strategy is not surprising in itself, but it may have accelerated as the Moldovan government intensified its efforts for closer cooperation with the US and European countries.
At the end of 2020, the current Moldovan president Maya Sandu replaced Igor Dodon, who was close to the Kremlin. The pro-Western PAS party won the parliamentary elections the following year.
Russia threatened the West not to interfere with its “peacekeepers” in Transnistria
Moscow will regard any action against them as an attack on itself
The pro-Russian Shore party organized weekly demonstrations in the capital Chisinau this year, which attracted several thousand people in protests against high energy prices. The formation is headed by businessman Ilan Shor, connected to Russia. He was accused of stealing billions of dollars from Moldovan banks in 2014 and later convicted of fraud, but denies wrongdoing.
In October of last year, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Shor, his wife and the party on the grounds that “Shor worked with Russian individuals to create a political alliance to control the Moldovan parliament, which then supported several pieces of legislation in the interest of Russian Federation”. Shor is currently believed to be in Israel.
The US has pledged budget support for the Moldovan government, to help it cope with high energy prices. Last year, natural gas rates rose due to the conflict in Ukraine.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley visited Chisinau on Thursday, where he assured that the UK would not stand idly by until “Moscow is brazenly undermining their democracy, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Cleverley announced additional financial support for Moldova to tackle high energy prices.
Marina Tauber, one of Shore’s leaders, said the party is demanding the government cover people’s energy bills during the winter months. She denied that Russia helped organize or finance the protests.
Russian officials have often emphasized the importance of a Moscow-friendly Moldovan government, as well as the importance of Transnistria.
Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the then commander of Russia’s Central Military Region, Major General Rustam Minekaev, stated that one of the goals of the so-called “special military operation” is the creation of a corridor through southern Ukraine to Transnistria.
