Russia wants to turn Moldova against Europe, said Moldovan President Maia Sandu in an address to the European Parliament today in Strasbourg, BTA reports.
In her speech, Sandu said that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova on September 28 will be the most significant in its history. The result will determine “whether we consolidate as a stable democracy“ or “Russia is pulling us away from Europe“, turning Moldova into a threat on the eastern border of the European Union. She stressed that the lesson of Moldova and its warning is that “if our democracy cannot be protected, then no democracy in Europe is safe“.
Sandu also touched on the EU accession process, stressing that many of the current EU member states were not full-fledged democracies when they joined the European Union. These same countries have struggled with dictatorships and overcome economic difficulties, and “none of them did it alone“.
According to her, even Bulgaria and Romania managed to join the EU less than two decades after shaking off their socialist past. “With much still to build at the time, accession gave them stability and space to grow“, she noted.
Sandu also stressed that for Moldova, EU accession is not just a technocratic process, “it is a race against time – to anchor our democracy in the Union, where it will be protected from the biggest threat we face – Russia“.
Sandu also commented on –Moscow's unrestricted hybrid warfare on a scale unseen before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine“.
“The Kremlin's goal is clear – to take Moldova through the ballot box, use us against Ukraine and turn us into a launching pad for hybrid attacks against the European Union“, she stressed. “That is why these elections are so important. By protecting them, we are protecting not only Moldova, but also regional security and stability (...) Moldova may be the testing ground. But Europe is the goal“.
Sandu also noted that Europe has survived by adapting, rebuilding and turning fragility into strength. By protecting fragile democracies until they become strong. The only way forward is to defend our democracies with our teeth and to defend them together“, she concluded.
Welcoming the President of Moldova to the EP rostrum, EP President Roberta Metzola stressed: “We are all deeply impressed by your determination, courage and unwavering commitment to the Moldovan people, as well as by your tireless work in guiding Moldova on the path of democracy. We are united in our support for Moldova and its democratic path towards membership of the European Union“.