Moscow says Moldova hit by 'anti-Russian hysteria'
Moscow has denounced Moldova for pursuing an "anti-Russian agenda" after its prime minister called for the demilitarization of a separatist region of the landlocked country in Eastern Europe.
On Monday, the Kremlin accused the leaders of the pro-EU Moldova, wedged between Ukraine and Romania, of "anti-Russian hysteria" after Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean called for the demilitarization of the Russia-backed separatist region of Transnistria.
Bordering Ukraine, the narrow region is internationally recognized as a part of Moldova, but since a brief war in 1992, it separated from Moldova as a breakaway state, self-proclaiming itself as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR). Since the separation, Russian soldiers have been deployed there.
"Our relations with Moldova are already very tense. The leadership always focuses on everything anti-Russian, they are slipping into anti-Russian hysteria," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, warning, "The lack of a constructive dialog harms Moldova itself."
Relations between Russia and Moldova, a poor country of 2.6 million people with a sizeable Russian minority, have increasingly deteriorated since Moscow launched what it called "a special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24 last year.
Peskov warned that Moldova must be "very, very careful" with its statements. He was referring to remarks by Recean, who said last week that Moldova should continue its "efforts so that Russian troops are withdrawn" from Transnistria.
"The Trasnistrian area must be demilitarized," the pro-West Moldovan prime minister addressed the parliament.
Last week, Moldova's parliament approved a new pro-Western government after the previous administration step down en masse following months of political and economic scandals.
Recean's government has vowed to pursue a pro-European path.
Moldova is not a member of NATO, although it did apply to join the European Union less than two weeks after the onset of war in Ukraine.
If the plan moves forward, NATO members would provide modern weaponry to Moldova, replacing its Soviet-era equipment. They will also train soldiers on how to use it, according to reports.
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