Moldova, a neighbor of Ukraine, has decided to declare a national state of emergency for 60 days over fears that natural gas supplies from Russia will be suspended.
The parliament of the former Soviet republic voted on Friday in favor of imposing the state of emergency starting from Monday.
The decision comes because the gas supplies the country receives via Ukraine are expected to stop. Ukraine said it will not extend its transit contract with a Russian gas company after it expires on December 31.
Moldova depends on natural gas to generate electricity. The government says the suspension of Russian gas will lead to a humanitarian crisis.
Moldova has said Russia could supply the gas on a different route, such as through Romania, if Ukraine ends the transit.
Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean condemned Moscow for trying to destabilize the situation in Moldova.
The Moldovan government and the Western countries have criticized Russia, accusing it of meddling in Moldova’s presidential election in November, in which pro-EU Maia Sandu was reelected.