Russia may turn Moldova into a springboard for attack on Odesa region — Sandu

President of Moldova Maia Sandu. Photo: Getty Images/OLEKSANDR GIMANOV

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has made an emergency video address in which she has declared a direct threat to the country's sovereignty and independence from Russia. According to her, if the Kremlin's destabilisation plan is implemented, Moldova's territory could be used as a springboard for the invasion of Odesa region.

The video message was posted on the President's official Facebook page.

«Today, I tell you with all confidence that the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and European future of our country are under threat. The Kremlin is spending hundreds of millions of euros to buy hundreds of thousands of votes on both banks of the Dniester and abroad,» said Maia Sandu.

According to her, people are being «intoxicated by dozens of false messages every day», and «hundreds of people are paid to provoke chaos, violence and intimidate society». The Moldovan president also outlined the catastrophic consequences that await the country if the Russian plan succeeds.

«If Russia gains control of Moldova, the consequences will be immediate and they threaten our country and the entire region. All Moldovans will suffer, regardless of who they voted for. Europe will stop at the border with Moldova. Freedom of movement may come to an end, and our land may become a springboard for penetration into the Odesa region. The Transnistrian region will be destabilised. These are their plans, and they are open about it,» she said.

Maia Sandu stressed that the Kremlin has accomplices in Moldova who are ready to sell even their own country for money.

«They do not believe in Russia or Europe, but only in money,» the president added, calling on her fellow citizens to resist the attempts of these forces to take revenge, she concluded.

As a reminder, on 22 September, during large-scale searches in Moldova, 74 people were detained on suspicion of having been trained in Serbia to organise mass unrest during the 28 September parliamentary elections.