KYIV
\nMoldova\u2019s spy chief said on Tuesday that Russia was planning fresh attempts to meddle in the country\u2019s internal affairs by provoking protests, interfering in upcoming presidential elections, and disrupting plans to join the European Union.
\nAlexandru Musteata, head of the Information and Security Service, said his agency had intercepted a record level of activities by the Russian security services since 2023 and expected more destabilising actions this year and next.
\n\u201cRussian intelligence services intend to interfere in the election processes this year as well,\u201d Musteata told media.
\n\u201cWe have information that attempts are being made to compromise a referendum on the European integration, interfere in the presidential elections, as well as discredit government institutions and politicians who support Moldova\u2019s accession to the European Union.\u201d
\nRelations between Moldova and Russia have disintegrated as the government has steered a pro-European course and accused Moscow of trying to destabilize it. The ex-Soviet state\u2019s pro-Western president Maia Sandu has denounced Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine as she leads Moldova on a path to join the EU and defense alliance NATO.
\nMoscow denies the allegations of interference and accuses Sandu of stoking anti-Russian sentiment in the country, which lies between Ukraine and Romania.
\nSandu plans to run for a second term in the presidential election expected this autumn, and her party won more than 40 percent of the votes cast for mayors, city officials, district and village councils. The government also plans a nationwide referendum on its pro-European drive although no dates have been set yet.
\nMusteata said Moscow tried to meddle in the local elections last November in Moldova, one of Europe\u2019s poorest countries. Moscow has denied such interference.
\nMusteata said Moscow was also planning to interfere in the presidential vote by supporting pro-Russian politicians and parties. Russia would likely provoke protests in Moldova in March and April and stir up separatist sentiments, especially in the east and south of Moldova, he said.
\nLast month, the pro-Moscow head of Moldova\u2019s Gagauzia region asked Russia for its support and to maintain close ties. Also in February, Moldova\u2019s breakaway Transdniestria region asked Russia to help its economy withstand Moldovan \u201cpressure.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KYIV Moldova\u2019s spy chief said on Tuesday that Russia was planning fresh attempts to meddle in the country\u2019s internal affairs by provoking protests, interfering in upcoming presidential elections, and disrupting plans to join the European Union. Alexandru Musteata, head of the Information and Security Service, said his agency had intercepted a record level of activities […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-391742","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n