Merz: Russia wants to bring Moldova back into its fold!

(Patria) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz accused Russia of trying to undermine Moldova's freedom and prosperity with the aim of bringing it back under its wing. The visit to Moldova was also marked by a message from French President Emmanuel Macron that EU membership is "Moldova's clear and sovereign choice" in which it has France's full support.

Merz emphasized that Europe and the United States are making every effort to stop the war in Ukraine, but not at any cost. "We do not want Ukraine's capitulation because that would only be buying time for Russia, and Putin would use it to prepare for a new war," warned the German Chancellor.

According to Politico, Moscow is waging a hybrid war against Moldova using disinformation and vote-buying. Parliamentary elections were accompanied by accusations of monetary rewards for voters supporting pro-Russian options. The referendum on EU membership ended narrowly – 50.4 percent of citizens voted for closer ties with the Union, while 49.6 percent were against. Key support for the pro-European government came from around 250,000 Moldovans from the diaspora.

Security expert Stanislav Secrieru warns that the risk of disinformation spreading among the diaspora is growing, as well as manipulation at polling stations abroad. The ruling party's candidate, Nicu Popescu, claims that Russia is injecting "millions and millions of cash" to buy votes, so the upcoming elections will be decided by literally every vote.

Although it is of strategic importance for Brussels that Moldova remains on the European path, there is no consensus on the speed of approaching membership. Politico states that the EU is considering the possibility of opening negotiations before the elections, in order to strengthen the position of pro-European forces. Moldova, along with Ukraine, received candidate status in June 2022, while some EU member states, particularly Germany, also provide military assistance.

Moldova, to which Russia claims historical rights, continues to face the problem of separatist Transnistria, where Russian troops have been stationed since 1992. The region still functions as a de facto occupied territory, although it is internationally recognized as part of Moldova.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for September 28, and their outcome, according to analysts' assessments, will have a significant impact not only on Moldova's future but also on the stability of the entire region.