The People’s Movement, formed around the SOR party, plans to organize a new protest in Chisinau on Sunday, given the growing number of warnings and signals, including from Washington, that Moscow will take action to provoke these demonstrations, which will lead to destabilization countries.

The National Police of the Republic of Moldova said on Saturday that it has information that destabilization and mass riots are planned at the protest scheduled for March 12, and the law enforcement officers asked the organizers and participants of Sunday’s demonstrations not to allow actions that would endanger security state and citizens. The police warned that they will not tolerate any form of provocation or aggression, News.ro reports with reference to NewsMaker.md.

“We ask, in particular, the public association with illegal badges and insignia, which is moving ahead of the column of participants, to be open-faced,” the police said. At the same time, the law enforcement officers appealed to the organizers of the action with a request not to allow unaccompanied minors to the protest action.

“Please notify the police immediately if anyone notices suspicious objects, suspicious persons, in a state of alcohol or drug intoxication. If you witness a situation of destabilization of public order, immediately call the unique number 112 or inform the nearest police officer,” law enforcement officers said on Saturday.

The police warned the residents of Chisinau that starting at 1:00 p.m. Štefan cel Mare si Sfant and Mihai Vityazul will partially block traffic.

Maya Sandu trusts state institutions

Asked on Saturday whether there was a risk of destabilization during Sunday’s protest, President Maia Sandu said that “such risks are always there,” NewsMaker.md reported.

“There are always such risks, but so far our institutions have demonstrated that they know how to keep the situation under control. I am sure that from now on they will ensure public order,” said Maya Sandu.

Earlier, SHO MP Maryna Tauber said that on March 12 there will be “even more” protesters than at the protests on February 19 and 28.

Protesters want to come to parliament on Sunday to demand the government pay their bills in full for the winter months. Also, according to the statement of the SOR party, the demonstrators will demand that the government clearly say “No war in Moldova”, without specifying what that means.

“Men in Black”

The last protest action of the “People’s Movement” was on February 28, and the demonstration was not without tension. Several buses and minibuses carrying people who wanted to join the protest were stopped at the entrance to the city, although public gatherings were banned in Chisinau due to the visit of the Greek president. Police said many of the vehicles did not meet technical specifications and posed a danger to passengers, and the organizers of the rally accused the police and indirectly the authorities of deliberately blocking the access of the demonstrators.

At the protest action on February 28, a group of men dressed in a special black uniform with the inscription “People’s Shield” was at the head of the column of demonstrators, which was taken to the center of the capital. In addition to leading a number of protesters, the men appeared to be keeping a close eye on the crowd.

After President Maia Sandu announced last month that Moscow-led destabilization was being prepared in Moldova, SOR MP Marina Tauber called on all parties in the country to protest. Maja Sandu said that “in carrying out the plan, the authors rely on several internal forces, especially criminal groups such as the ŞOR formation and all its derivatives, some veterans, former law enforcement officers and several people known for their connections with Plahotniuk “.

Oligarchs Vlad Plahotniuk and Ilan Shor, who are wanted by the Republic of Moldova, were included in the sanctions list of the United States and Great Britain.

Washington accuses Moscow of wanting to destabilize Moldova, including through protests

On the other hand, the authorities in Chisinau this week announced that they are documenting the actions of approximately 80 young people from Chisinau and other areas of the Republic of Moldova, who were allegedly organized by the SOR party to go to Turkey for three days, to participate in training on organizing challenges during protests in Chisinau.

On Friday, the White House accused Russia of trying to destabilize the Republic of Moldova, including through protests, in order to install a government more favorable to its cause. Although the United States does not see an immediate military threat to the Republic of Moldova, the Biden administration believes that Russia is trying to weaken the small European country, fabricate an uprising and install a pro-Moscow government, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby explained. The official said that “Russian actors” linked to Moscow’s intelligence 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 Moldovan government.”

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Joane held a meeting with Moldovan Interior Minister Ana Revenko on Friday and said that Moldova is facing intense Russian propaganda and an extremely wide range of hybrid threats.