The demonstration is directed against the pro-European government and President Maia Sandu.
(Photo: Reuters)
Vienna Due to protests against the pro-European government in the center of the capital Chisinau, the situation in the Republic of Moldova is tense on Sunday. The police reported the arrest of 54 demonstrators “with questionable behavior and prohibited items”. Many of the participants are close to the pro-Russian Shor party.
Already on Saturday, police had arrested around 25 people who were allegedly preparing to stir up disturbances during today’s protests. Police chief Viorel Cernauteanu said at a press conference. Those arrested were allegedly coordinated from Russia, he added. The police also said they had information that “acts of destabilization and mass disorder” were planned during the protests.
For months, demonstrators in Chisinau have been protesting against the government and President Maia Sandu. The Shor Party, whose founder Ilan Shor is on the US sanctions list and now lives in Israel, regularly calls for the protests.
In Moldova, however, these are considered to be orchestrated: the Vice President of the Shor Party, Marina Tauber, recently admitted that the demonstrators would be paid for taking part in the protests.
The economic situation in one of the poorest countries in Europe has recently deteriorated. Since the start of the Ukraine war, energy prices have risen massively, inflation was recently around 30 percent, and the economic pressure on the population is enormous.
Alleged Wagner soldier prevented from entering the country
In the course of the past week, the border guards have refused entry to Moldova for 182 foreign nationals, including a man whom the authorities have identified as a possible representative of the private Russian mercenary group Wagner. He was picked up at Chisinau Airport on Sunday and “returned to the country of origin by air”.
>> Read here: US government warns – Russia wants to destabilize Moldova
A bomb threat had led to a brief evacuation of the airport on Sunday. A little later, the border police reported that it was a false alarm. Overall, the authorities spoke of four bomb threats on Sunday.
Moldova borders Ukraine and Romania. The country has been under increasing pressure since Russia invaded its neighbor. Moldova’s President Maia Sandu had already warned in February of alleged coup attempts by Russia in the country. Sandu had previously received relevant information from Ukraine.
On Friday, the US government warned that Russia was trying to destabilize Moldova. “Russia is pursuing ways to weaken the Moldovan government, presumably with the aim of creating a more pro-Russian government,” said National Security Council communications director John Kirby.
Russia regularly openly threatens Moldova. At the beginning of February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Moldova would be the next to meet the fate of Ukraine. According to eyewitness reports, the protest seemed to have largely ended around 4 p.m. local time.
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