Kremlin says relations between Russia, Moldova ‘very tense’

ISTANBUL

The Kremlin on Monday said relations between Russia and Moldova are currently “very tense” as the leadership is “focusing on everything anti-Russian.”

“We already have very, very tense relations with Moldova. At the same time, the Moldovan leadership is probably focusing on everything anti-Russian. It also slides into anti-Russian hysteria. Such a lack of constructivism can hardly help Moldova itself, and, of course, it harms our bilateral relations,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing.

Peskov said the Moldovan authorities also should be cautious in their assessments of Transnistria, an unrecognized breakaway state.

The comments come days after Moldova’s new government led by pro-Western economist Dorin Recean was sworn in.

Natalia Gavrilita resigned as the country’s premier on Feb. 10 after 18 months in power, a period marked by economic turmoil and tensions sparked by the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, President Maia Sandu had said Russia wants to stage a coup d’etat in Moldova, and called for heightened security measures.

Separately, border police had discovered debris from a fallen missile, originating from Russian air attacks, in the Larga commune that borders Ukraine. It was the fourth instance where remnants of missiles from strikes on Ukraine fell in Moldova.

The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected Sandu’s claims, saying: “Unlike Western countries and Ukraine, we do not interfere in the internal affairs of Moldova and other countries of the world.”

• Dmitry Peskov
• Moldova
• Russia
• Ukraine