Moldova President: "The Biggest Crisis Since Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Maia Sandu, the president of Moldova, a neighboring country of Ukraine and the poorest country in Europe, stated that the recent situation in her country is the most dangerous moment since its independence from the former Soviet Union. As the security crisis in the pro-Russian separatist region of Transnistria in eastern Moldova continues and the possibility of Russian escalation arises, concerns are growing that Moldova may also face a Russian invasion.

On the 3rd (local time), President Sandu said in an interview with the British weekly magazine The Economist regarding the security crisis in eastern Transnistria, "This is the most dangerous moment since our independence from the Soviet Union in 1991," adding, "We are doing our best to prevent the war's repercussions, but maintaining neutrality alone cannot guarantee 100% protection."

Recently, as concerns have been raised about Russia potentially expanding the conflict from Ukraine to Moldova, this statement is interpreted as directly indicating the security crisis within Moldova. Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, Lieutenant General Rustam Minnakayev, deputy commander of Russia's Central Military District, mentioned plans to fully control eastern and southern Ukraine and advance into Transnistria, which has strongly fueled speculation about a Russian invasion of Moldova.

President Sandu said, "We are aware of what happened in Ukraine, so the Russian general's remarks are very concerning." Moldova currently maintains a neutral status, has never pursued membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and is not a member of the European Union (EU). However, with recent mysterious shelling attacks on the Transnistrian national security building and radio broadcast towers, security instability has intensified, leading to analyses that Russia might be engaging in a 'false flag' operation to create a pretext for war.

In particular, unlike Ukraine, Moldova is known to have virtually no defense capability, making it highly likely to be quickly overrun if invaded by Russian forces. Moldova's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) is only about $3,300 (approximately 4.15 million KRW), it does not possess military aircraft such as fighter jets or helicopters, and its tanks are limited to old models displayed in museums, leading to an assessment of having no real self-defense capability.

Moldova applied for EU membership just one week after Russia invaded Ukraine, but it is expected to take several years before actual accession. President Sandu emphasized, "We immediately responded to 366 items in the questionnaire sent by the EU, but about 2,000 more questions have come in," adding, "Our small administration is managing to handle the questionnaire somehow." She further expressed hope, "The EU will be able to provide safety and assistance to us as a democratic country."

President Sandu lamented, "There is a bigger problem than the fear of a Russian invasion," explaining, "Pro-Russian political forces in Moldova are already calling for large-scale protests, demanding the government's resignation and immediate general elections," adding, "They intend to hold the government accountable for the economic crisis and the sharp rise in energy prices."

Formerly an advisor to the World Bank, President Sandu was elected in 2020 pledging to eradicate corruption by her pro-Russian rival Igor Dodon. Former President Dodon currently leads the opposition in parliament, criticizing the government and still leading pro-Russian forces.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.