VIDEO // Moldova's foreign affairs minister says relationship with Russia complicated, approach stays based on international law

Moldova has a complicated relationship with the Russian Federation, but Chisinau’s approach stays based on international law and the principle of reciprocity. Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi has made statements to this effect at a TVR Moldova programme.

“We have a complicated relationship with the Russian Federation. As we have said before, Moldova always has a correct approach, based on international law and the element of reciprocity. We would prefer not to have situations in which our citizens or even our diplomats are kept for hours at the Russian Federation’s border,” said Mihai Popsoi.

The minister pointed out that the Moldovan authorities are monitoring the situation of Moldovan citizens in the Russian Federation and that the state has the responsibility to provide them with consular services and support, regardless of where they are.

“We have a community of citizens in the Russian Federation and we must provide them with consular services, to take care of them wherever they may be,” said the foreign minister.

Mihai Popsoi also drew attention to certain risks that citizens of Moldova may face when traveling to the Russian Federation, including difficulties at the border crossing and internal situations related to Moscow’s mobilization policy.

“Already in the Russian Federation, those who, for various reasons, plan to go there must take into account that there are certain objective risks. We have cases; I don’t know if I can give you an exact number, but there is an intensification of these incidents,” Popsoi noted.

According to the minister, the risks also concern the internal situation in the Russian Federation, including in the context of mobilization and the attempts by the Russian authorities to attract migrants into military structures.

“There are significant risks and we have communicated this repeatedly. These incidents at the border are, regrettably, a reflection of the relationship we currently have,” the official noted.

Referring to bilateral relations with Moscow, Mihai Popsoi emphasized that Moldova does not seek to escalate the situation, but to reduce tensions through diplomatic instruments.

“It is a complicated situation that we are forced to manage, and the responsibility of diplomats is to try to reduce this tension, so that our citizens do not suffer or face as few inconveniences as possible,” the minister said.

During the same programme, Mihai Popsoi also commented on the activity of the Russian ambassador in Chisinau, including his trips to certain regions of Moldova. The official stressed that state institutions must ensure that such actions do not affect the country’s security and sovereignty.

“The responsibility of Moldova’s institutions is to make sure that, regardless of where an ambassador goes, he cannot contribute to the vulnerability of Moldova,” said Popsoi.

The deputy prime minister said that Moldova is strengthening its institutional capacities and must not be vulnerable to external actions.

“We are not a leaf blown by the wind. We are a state that has institutions and they must have the capacity to assert themselves, being sovereign in our own home. We are enhancing institutional capacity throughout the entire territory of Moldova,” Mihai Popsoi concluded.