Moldovan foreign affairs ministry takes note of involvement of Operational Group of Russian Forces in recruiting children from Transnistrian region in military public movements from Russia

Chisinau, 15 June /MOLDPRES/ - Moldova’s Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry (MAEIE) has taken note with perplexity about the ‘’solemn manifestations’’, recently organized by the Operational Group of Russian Forces (GOTR), on the occasion of the recruiting of a group of children from Moldova’s Transnistrian region in the public movement Юнармия (Young Army) from Russia. Information on this is contained in a press release published on the official webpage of Russia’s Defence Ministry, the MAEIE public diplomacy, strategic communication and media interaction service has reported.      

The concerned act is part of a string of other provoking actions of the Operational Group of Russian Forces, the stationing and activity of which in Moldova without its acceptance and clearly expressed will represents a violation of the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and permanent neutrality of Moldova and is incompatible with the international law norms.  GOTR’s actions are so much the more blamable as they represent repeated attempts to involve minor children from a conflict-stricken zone in activities with military aspect.   

In the context, MAEIE reconfirms the Moldovan authorities’ approach on the need to fully and unconditionally withdraw the Russian forces, with its weaponry and ammunitions from Moldova, in accordance with the commitments taken and the relevant international documents.  

The ministry also reiterates Moldova’s position on the necessity to transform the current peacekeeping operation at Dniester into a multinational civilian mission with international mandate, taking into account that this will effectively contribute to strengthening the trust and creating a friendly atmosphere to identifying peaceful solutions to the Transnistrian conflict, based on the parameters established in the OSCE documents, adopted including with Russia’s support.