DISINFO: Moldovan President Maia Sandu considered an armed provocation in Transnistria
SUMMARY
The most dangerous thing is that Sandu is the only Moldovan politician of the last decades who considered an armed provocation against Russia in Transnistria as an effective mechanism for realising her domestic political ambitions.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin narrative about the Moldovan government allowing an attack on Transnistria.
Transnistria, a separatist region supported by Russia, but officially part of the Republic of Moldova, located on the border with Ukraine near Odesa, was never the subject of discussions of a possible intervention by force. The frozen conflict in Transnistria has been ongoing since 1992, but the authorities of the Republic of Moldova have always supported a peaceful settlement.
These types of narratives resumed with a new intensity after Russia began, in February 2022, the full scale aggression in Ukraine, but it was also used in Moldova's presidential election campaign and for the referendum on EU membership, both of which took place on October 20 2024. Read our analysis of the attempts to create turmoil in Moldova by inflaming the Transnistria issue.
No evidence is provided to back the claim. Since Moscow began its full-scale assault on Ukraine, Chișinău has been concerned that the Kremlin could use Transnistria to open a new front in southwestern Ukraine, in the direction of Odesa. Maia Sandu stated that the only option in relations with Transnistria is to maintain peace, and the resolution of the Transnistrian conflict can only take place peacefully. The latest statement from Maia Sandu was made in March 2024: “I want to be very clear: the situation in Transnistria is stable, and this has been our priority since the beginning of the war.”
Se here similar cases: Ukraine is preparing a provocation against Transnistria with the UK and US, Operation Kursk is being transferred to Moldova – Transnistria, EU - Moldova security and defence deal may indicate preparations for war against Russia.