The spokesman of the National Security Council from the White House, John Kirby, on Friday accused Russia of trying to destabilize the Republic of Moldova, including through protests, in order to install a government more favorable to it, the international press reports.

Although the United States does not see any immediate military threat to the Republic of Moldova, the US administration believes that Russia is trying to weaken the small European country, fabricate an uprising and install a pro-Moscow government, Reuters reported, citing News. ro.

“We believe that Russia is seeking to weaken the government of the Republic of Moldova, certainly the ultimate goal is to see a more favorable administration at the head of the country,” John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, was quoted as saying by AFP. .

The US believes that Russia is considering several “options to weaken the government of Moldova” and prevent it from strengthening relations with Europe. Kirby said that “Russian actors” connected to Moscow’s special services “are trying to organize and use the pretext of protests in the Republic of Moldova as a basis for a fabricated uprising against the government of Moldova,” writes The Independent.

According to Kirby, the US is also seeing signs that actors linked to the Russian government may be training anti-government demonstrators in Moldova. “In past years, we’ve seen Russia try and fail to destabilize other European countries,” John Kirby continued, noting that such an attempt was made in Montenegro in 2016.

USA: The activities of Russian groups are worrisome, but they should not be overestimated

“Even if the activity of Russian groups trying to target the Republic of Moldova is worrying, we should not overestimate their capabilities. I want to emphasize that the government of Moldova is stable and is working effectively to counter these threats,” said John Kirby. “We are confident in the democratic and economic institutions of the Republic of Moldova and in their ability to respond to these threats,” he added.

Kirby told White House reporters that the information he shared Friday was recently declassified by intelligence agencies, and said the U.S. provided the information — along with “additional details” — to Moldovan authorities “so they can continue their investigation and break Russian plans”. .

The Biden administration also believes that Moscow is working, including with the help of disinformation, to destabilize Moldova, writes CNN. An example is last month’s announcement by the Russian Defense Ministry that Ukraine plans to invade Transnistria, a separatist region of Moldova that Moscow supports. US officials said the claims were “baseless, false and cause unwarranted alarm,” according to CNN.

On the other hand, CNN recalls that the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, publicly stated last month that the Russian government was planning “a series of actions involving military-trained saboteurs disguised as civilians to carry out violent acts. actions, attacks on government buildings and hostage-taking”.

Washington will help the government of Moldova

Kirby also said the U.S. will “continue to work closely” with Chisinau and “continue to shed light on the identities and activities of these Russian actors,” including by imposing sanctions, as it did in October, when “nine individuals and 12 entities, involved in the destabilization of the Republic of Moldova, including oligarchs who are widely recognized for corruption in the institutions of the Moldovan state.” (Two of them are fugitives Vlad Plahotniuk and Ilan Shor, the latter organizes anti-government protests in the Republic of Moldova through his agents – no)

John Kirby (Photo: Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia)

“We will continue to support the people and government of the Republic of Moldova, who are experiencing the consequences of Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and at the same time trying to better integrate into Europe,” he said. “The United States strongly supports the political, economic and anti-corruption reforms of the Republic of Moldova and the deepening of its European integration. Moldova and its people have clearly demonstrated that they want to look to a brighter future. And we want to see this future even brighter. And we will be with Moldova every step of the way,” said John Kirby, quoted by The Independent.

In this context, Kirby announced that the Biden administration would provide Moldova with $300 million in energy aid and exchange information with that country.

The Biden administration does not see an immediate military threat to the Republic of Moldova

However, the Biden administration does not see an immediate military threat to Moldova, US officials said, quoted by CNN. US intelligence agencies have been closely monitoring Russia’s activities in the Republic of Moldova, concerned about Moscow’s continued efforts to destabilize Europe. President Joe Biden met with Maya Sandu last month in Warsaw, where they discussed Russia’s malicious influence activities, CNN writes.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also met with Maya Sandu at the Munich Security Conference in mid-February and expressed “deep concern” about Russia’s efforts to destabilize the Moldovan government.

“We strongly support the Republic of Moldova in maintaining its security, independence, territorial integrity, very important reforms implemented by the president and the government,” said Blinken. “At the same time, we are deeply concerned about some of the conspiracies we’ve seen from Russia to try to destabilize the government, but we certainly appreciate the efforts, which are good efforts, that Moldova is making to protect itself from that,” Blinken said.

The U.S. is now declassifying all of that information in an effort to dissuade Russia from advancing its plans, just as the U.S. routinely declassified information about Russia’s intentions in Ukraine to expose its plans, U.S. officials told CNN.

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