Moldovan president warns about attempts to build drones on left bank of Dniester

President Maia Sandu, in a recent interview, has said that Moldova faced attempts to introduce components for manufacturing drones in the Transnistrian region. According to the head of state, Moldovan institutions managed to block these imports, but the risks stay significant.

"We have seen attempts to bring parts for building drones in the Transnistrian region. We stopped this process because we do not want the region to become a military base against Ukraine. The question is: would a government controlled by Moscow stop these actions? Who guarantees that they will have the courage to tell Moscow: 'No, we will not allow these drones to be built in Transnistria'? And if drones are built there, what happens to them? Recently, drones launched from Belarusian territory reached Poland. Why wouldn't Russia do the same with Moldova?", Sandu said in an interview for Dorin Galben.

The head of state also highlighted attempts by Russia to increase military presence on the left bank of the Dniester, including by sending people with diplomatic passports.

"Imagine what would happen if, in Chișinău, we had a government that followed Moscow's orders. All the filters we have built would disappear, and the country's security would be compromised," warned the Moldovan president.

Sandu emphasized that the goal of these actions was to use Moldova in Russia's interest, including in the context of the war in Ukraine.

"Russia is investing huge resources in the elections in Moldova because, it wants to bring the country back into its orbit. Their interests are not peaceful, and the consequences for citizens would be dramatic," she added.

The head of state stressed that the greatest risk was the use of Moldova against Ukraine by the Russian Federation.

"I know some people will say: 'It's not possible for Moldova to be used against Odessa.' It's hard to imagine such a scenario. Do you know what I'll tell you? How many of us believed there could be a war in Ukraine? How many of us believed, before February 24, that there would be a war? Probably very few or even no one. When you have aggression in a neighboring country, when you see what Russia is doing in Ukraine and when we know Russia's obsession with Odessa — and Moscow's reactions every time we or others talk about this risk are telling — these things are not inventions. The reactions are exaggerated because it bothers them that we talk about it," declared Maia Sandu.

Another serious issue, highlighted by the head of state, is vote-buying.

"No matter how much our institutions try, it's not possible to reach each citizen and uncover every network. We have learned that such networks are being built even in the Diaspora, and I urge our compatriots abroad not to fall into these traps. I understand that large sums are being provide, they talk about as 300 euros or more," the president said.

Maia Sandu warned that those who accept money for votes would be penalized with substantial fines.

"In relation to our citizens who would sell their vote abroad, we will discuss with the authorities from the concerned countries, as these practices are serious in any democracy. My plea is once again: do not sell your vote, do not sell your country. The consequences will be dramatic and no matter how large the money the vote buyers offer, this money does not justify betrayal of the homeland. As this is  betrayal of the homeland in the most direct sense," the head of state added.