Moldovan president explains why Russia wanted to take control of power in Moldova

Chisinau, September 30 /MOLDPRES/ - Through the vote cast in the parliamentary elections on September 28, the citizens of Moldova have showed that they can withstand the pressure from the Russian Federation and continue their path of development according to their own will. President Maia Sandu made statements to this effect at the Moldova 1 public television channel.

According to the head of state, Russia attempted to get involved in the elections, in order to take control of power in Chisinau and use Moldova against the European Union.

“Moldova is a small country; we do not have metals or other large riches. Russia didn’t want control for us, but because the ultimate target was the EU. Moldova was just a platform from which it could do evil to the European Union,” emphasized Maia Sandu.

The Moldovan president stressed that the honest and courageous vote of Moldovans was a direct response to Moscow and an example for other post-Soviet states.

“Through this response, through our honest vote and courage proved, we have shown that we can resist and that decisions in Moldova are made at home. I believe that our example can also be followed by other countries from the former Soviet Union, where Russia tries to take control and limit sovereignty,” said the head of state.

Maia Sandu also said that there were no reasons to fear that Moldova could be blackmailed again by Russia.

“Moscow does not have what to do to us: they cannot cut off our gas, and soon we will put into operation the Chișinău-Vulcanesti power line, which gives us alternatives. Our market is no longer dependent on the Russian Federation; yes, we still have some exports, but the same economic blows as in the past can no longer be applied when our economic agents suffered because of the embargoes even when pro-Russian forces were governing,” the president said.

She emphasized that the country would follow its internal agenda in peace, needing leaders devoted to the national interest.

“We have many problems to solve, but it is good that there are people loyal to this country in leadership, not those who would drag us back to the gray zone,” added the head of state.

Also, Maia Sandu called on the European Union to become more resilient and defend its democracies from authoritarian regimes.

“We want to live free; we want small countries like Moldova to matter. The Russian narrative is that only big states are important and the others must align or submit. We don’t want that. We want to be masters in our own home and preserve our democracy,” concluded the president of Moldova.