Moscow accuses Moldova of 'anti-Russian hysteria'

The Kremlin on Monday accused Moldova of “anti-Russian hysteria” after statements by the prime minister calling for the demilitarization of the pro-Russian separatist region of Transdniestria, at the heart of tensions reignited by the conflict in Ukraine.

Thursday, during a session in the Moldovan Parliament, the new Prime Minister Dorin Recean affirmed that it was “important to continue our efforts so that the Russian troops withdraw” from Transdniestrie.

“The Transdniestrian zone must be demilitarized,” he insisted. On Saturday, the new spokesman for the Moldovan government, Daniel Voda, told him that this demilitarization was “fundamental” to ensure a “peaceful reintegration” of the country.

Asked about these statements, the spokesman of the Russian presidency, Dmitry Peskov, underlined Monday that the relations between Moscow and Chisinau were “very, very tense”.

“The Moldovan government, in a way, insists on everything that is anti-Russian and also falls into an anti-Russian hysteria”, added Mr. Peskov, during his daily press conference.

“Obviously, I would recommend to our Moldovan counterparts to be extremely careful” about their statements, warned Dmitry Peskov.

Tension is high between Moscow and the pro-European Moldovan authorities, who accused Russia last week of wanting to foment a coup in Moldova, accusations denied by Russian diplomacy.

Former Soviet republic of 2.6 million inhabitants located between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova, which has a large Russian minority, has taken a pro-Western turn in recent years, arousing the anger of Moscow.

Transdniestria, an industrial region located on the border with Ukraine broke away de facto from Moldova in 1992 after a short war. Since then, Russian soldiers have been deployed there and this territory has large stocks of weapons.

After the massive Russian attack on Kyiv in February 2022, the Kremlin was accused of stirring up the threat of new clashes in Transdniestria, to destabilize Ukraine and Moldova.