Democrats' leader says parliamentary polls due in 2018 to be crucial for Moldova

Chisinau, 28 December /MOLDPRES/ - The parliamentary polls due in late 2018 will be crucial and Moldova needs firm support of its western partners, in order to counteract Russia’s attempts to keep the country in the sphere of its influence, thus undermining the democratic transformations. The leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM), Vlad Plahotniuc, has made statements to this effect for a U.S. publication.  
According to Plahotniuc, the pro-Russian forces, led by President Igor Dodon, will boost their activity before the parliamentary elections due next year, by using all instruments tested by Russia in the campaigns in the West.
“The parliamentary elections due in the end of 2018 will be crucial, offering officials from EU and USA opportunity to denounce the electoral interference and put an end to the advancement of the pro-Russian forces. Moldova is a multi-ethnical state, dedicated to reforms and democracy. Yet, Russia’s intervention undermines our progress. We need the power of our western partners, in order to maintain ourselves on the way of progress,” the PDM leader said.   
Plahotniuc noted that, after 25 years of Moldova’s independence, the Russian troops are still on its territory and Moscow refuses to recognize Moldova’s sovereignty, providing economic and military support to breakaway groups.  
“The incitement to inter-ethnic hatred and promotion of distrust in the West are Moscow’s ways to try to make a mess of the democratic reforms. We are determined to put an end to this propaganda; yet, we need the West to acknowledge the challenges faced by Moldova and invest in the independent media market,” Plahotniuc added.     
In the end of the legislative session of this year, the parliament maintained its vote for the anti-propaganda law, which will limit the re-broadcasting of foreign analytical programmes on the territory of Moldova, including from Russia.  
(Reporter A. Zara, editor A. Raileanu)