A Moldovan leader warned that external interference is pushing border regions toward collapse, and residents are increasingly crossing into Chisinau to find work.
The speaker of the Moldovan Parliament, Igor Grosu, expressed his view on Russia’s role in Gagauzia and Transnistria, noting that the country is only making things worse as people flee these regions.
According to Grosu, Russia is trying to “save” the regions, but the consequences are the opposite.
“I would say that they (Russia – ed.) should first save and defend themselves. To what a mess this country has come. And when Russia tries to ‘save’ the Gagauz autonomy or Transnistria, you see the situations in which these regions ultimately end up. Look at Transnistria. People are fleeing from there.”
– Igor Grosu
Context on Gagauzia and Transnistria
He emphasized that residents of the unrecognized Transnistria cross the Dniester daily to reach Chișinău to earn a living.
“And this is a civic model, a state model, being built or promoted by the ‘Russian world,’ which is rotten, full of nostalgia and brings only death,” said Grosu.
The speaker also believes that the crisis around elections in Gagauzia is linked to Russia, which “supports and fuels this situation with the help of its ambassador to Moldova.”
“We will not allow anyone to interfere in Moldova’s internal affairs. And so that our Gagauz colleagues understand that the sooner you discard this stereotype, nostalgia, the dream that someone will come and fund you – the better. Because it will not happen. This is Moldova, and here the legislation of the Republic of Moldova is applied.”
Zakharova’s Comment and Reaction to the Regions
In the context of Russia’s support for Gagauzia and Transnistria, Zakharova articulated a thesis about how foreign policy affects the regions. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokesperson Maria Zakharova, the populations of the regions do not see themselves in Romania or in the European Union; they seek to preserve the closest mutually beneficial relations with Russia, seeing it as a defender.
“The people of Gagauzia and Transnistria do not see themselves in Romania, nor in the European Union. They seek to preserve the closest mutually beneficial relations with Russia. They see Russia as a defender.”
– Zakharova
Overall, the statements reflect the influence of foreign policy on Moldova’s regions, underscoring the importance of sovereignty and adherence to the country’s laws.