Lavrov: The West considers Moldova the role of the “next Ukraine”

Western countries are considering Moldova for the role of the “next Ukraine”, whose president Maia Sandu seeks to join NATO, declared Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with Rossiya Segodnya CEO Dmitry Kiselev.

“Now Moldova is being looked at for this role, primarily because they were able to put a president at the head of the country by quite specific methods, far from free-democratic, which is simply eager to join NATO. She has Romanian citizenship, she is ready to unite with Romania and is generally ready for almost anything,” he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, in turn, categorically rejected Lavrov’s statement, pointing out that such words are “part of the already well-known threatening rhetoric of Russian diplomacy.” They stressed that the country has set a course for joining the European Union, and this decision was supported by citizens.

Earlier on January 20, Sandu told Politico that in Moldova goes serious discussion about the country’s ability to defend itself and the possibility of joining a “larger alliance”. The conflict in Ukraine has caused a “revaluation of values” in the republic in relation to the neutrality enshrined in the constitution, the publication reported.

“And if at some point we as a nation come to the conclusion that we need to change neutrality, this should happen through a democratic process,” the president said. Politico notes that Sandu tried not to mention NATO in her comment. After that, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov declared “Vedomosti” that the entry of Moldova into NATO could lead to the destruction of the statehood of this country.

On June 2, 2022, the Moldovan parliament adopted a law on the protection of the information space, which prohibits the rebroadcasting of news and analytical programs and military films from Russia. On June 19 of the same year, a law came into force in the republic banning Russian news programs.

After the start of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, a state of emergency was introduced in Moldova for two months. For this period, the authorities limited the display of Russian programs, in addition to this, the Sputnik Moldova website and other resources were blocked.