cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/8247230
cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/8246742
The Republic of Moldova has declared its readiness to help European countries holding elections counter disinformation and destabilization campaigns attributed to the Kremlin.
Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, stated that the country’s accession to the European Union is not only a security guarantee for Chisinau, but also an advantage for the entire European bloc.
“Moldova’s accession is often described as a security guarantee for our country. And it truly is. But it is equally a strategic investment in Europe’s own security,” she said.
In turn, national security adviser Stanislav Secrieru emphasized that Moldova brings direct experience in countering hybrid threats.
“We come with something unique. We have hard-earned knowledge and solutions tested directly on the ground to deal with Russian hybrid threats,” he stated.
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According to authorities, Moldova has also dismantled a cross-border network that allegedly trained young people in camps in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia for destabilization actions in European countries. Participants reportedly trained to operate drones, use incendiary devices, and evade law enforcement during protests.
Officials say Moldova has already shared its experience with EU member states preparing for elections, including Hungary, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland. French authorities have already warned about potential Russian interference.
President Maia Sandu continues to promote Moldova’s EU accession, stressing that integration is essential for regional security.
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During a recent visit to Ireland, Sandu emphasized that ‘Russia is a threat to everyone’.
“Russia has also learned that it’s easier to impose its will through hybrid wars than through boots on the ground,” she said.
Sandu ... said this has been seen in Moldova in terms of Russian efforts to interfere in elections which she said have been “brutal”.
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A small, landlocked country, Moldova sits between Romania and Ukraine. Sandu outlined how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine saw more than a million refugees cross into Moldova and that “for a population of 2.4 million this was quite a challenge”. Some 130,000 Ukrainians are still living there.
The war sparked an energy crisis for Moldova – which has since eliminated its dependency on Russian gas – and the economy has been “significantly affected”.
Sandu said Moldova’s airspace had been “violated constantly” and Russian Shahed drones had landed in people’s yards and on their roofs. A recent attack on a hydropower plant in Ukraine left 300,000 people in her country without safe drinking water.
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[Edit to add the original link.]