US warns Russian-linked actors seeking to ‘foment manufactured insurrection’ in European country

Russia is seeking to destabilize Moldova, another country in Eastern Europe that has a troubled relationship with Moscow.

The former Soviet republic’s interior minister said the current atmosphere in Moldova is “extremely unstable” and that Russia plans to stage a coup to overthrow the pro-European government.

Although the US does not currently pose an immediate military threat to Moldova, it is clear that Russia intends to destabilize the country.

John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, told reporters, “As Moldova continues to integrate with Europe, we believe Russia is pursuing options to undermine the Moldovan government, possibly capital With the ultimate goal of seeing a more Russian-friendly administration in the U.S.” during a telephonic briefing on Friday.

The former Soviet republic of Georgia saw massive protests oust the ruling party as it sought closer ties to the European Union

Marina Tauber, vice president of Moldova’s pro-Russia Noise party, speaks during a protest against the pro-Western government and low living standards in Chisinau, Moldova, on February 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

The US believes that Russian assets, with possible ties to Russian intelligence, are looking to stage protests and start an insurgency against the Moldovan government. Kirby said the US expects Russian actors to help train and influence street demonstrations against the current government.

“Moscow is using its propaganda to deepen public discontent [Moldovan President] Maia Sandu’s government and prevent Moldova from getting closer to the European Union,” Natia Sescuria, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Fox News Digital.

“Regime change and the installation of a pro-Russian government would be the most effective tool for Moscow to keep Moldova within its sphere of influence. Organizing a coup d’état would be a way to achieve these goals without waging war against Moldova, which Russia is unlikely to do.” could.” Carry it now,” said Cescuria.

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This is not the first time that Russia has been accused of fomenting chaos in Moldova. In February, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, who is unapologetically pro-European, claimed that Russia was planning attacks in Moldova and taking people hostage. Sandu claimed that Russian agitators wanted to incite violent clashes in Moldova not only to overthrow the government, but as part of an overall strategy to sow division and prevent the country from joining the European Union.

Russia has also claimed that Ukraine is plotting to topple the government of the breakaway region of Transnistria, a claim categorically rejected by the US and Ukraine and attributed to ongoing Russian disinformation to destabilize Moldova. Seen as a campaign.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shaking hands with Moldovan President Maia Sandu after a joint press conference in Chisinau, Moldova, November 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Aurel Obreja)

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moldova has played a difficult balancing act, strongly supporting Ukraine and taking in thousands of refugees while remaining cautious in its rhetoric towards Russia.

Moldova is sandwiched between NATO members Romania and Ukraine and was once part of the Soviet Union until it declared independence in 1991. Tension with Russia continues over a small piece of Moldovan territory called Transnistria, a breakaway region where pro-Russia actors reject Moldovan independence and want to stay closer to Russia. Moscow intervened in 1990 after war broke out between newly independent Moldova and pro-Russian separatists in the region. Transnistria is still not recognized by the international community and is almost entirely dependent on Russia.

The conflict over Transnistria was the first example after the dissolution of the Soviet Union of Russia trying to destabilize and influence the former Soviet republic. About 1,500 Russian troops are stationed in the region as part of a peacekeeping mission agreed after the war.

People walk past a Soviet-era tank at a monument celebrating the Red Army’s victory against fascist Germany in Tiraspol, the main city of Moldova’s Trans-Dniester separatist region, in April 2014. (Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images)

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Since independence, Moldova has been deeply dependent on Russian energy, but after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine tried to distance itself from Russian natural gas, joining most of Europe in its goal to diversify its energy supply. Is.

Moldova also applied for EU membership on the same day as Ukraine shortly after the invasion, a decision that would have been impossible if not for Russia’s aggression.