Russia Working to Overthrow Moldovan Government, White House Says

Russian efforts to “destabilize” The White House has warned that the US is working to overthrow the government of Moldova. “no immediate military threat” The Eastern European country.

“We believe Russia is pursuing options to weaken the Moldovan government, probably with the eventual goal of seeing a more Russian-friendly administration in the capital,” John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, spoke to reporters via a phone call on March 10.

Specifically, Russian actors—including some with ties to Russian intelligence—plan to stage protests in Moldova to “foment a manufactured insurrection against the Moldovan government,” Kirby stated.

“Additionally, we expect another set of Russian actors to provide training, and help manufacture demonstrations in Moldova.”

He emphasized, however, that the United States was confident in Moldova’s ability to counter the threat—a view also shared by Kent Logsdon, the U.S. ambassador to Moldova.

“The United States respects Moldova’s sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and its constitutional neutrality,” Logsdon stated this in a Friday Statement.  “We also respect the choice the Moldovan people made when they elected a government committed to reform and European integration. The United States remains confident in the ability of this government to deliver on those promises and to successfully manage these threats.

“The government of Moldova should be able to provide the necessary reforms for the country’s growth as well as defending it from those outsiders who would not like to see Moldova succeed.”

Moldova, which is situated between Ukraine and Romania, has been plagued by protests amid rising inflation and energy costs and divisions over the Russia-Ukraine war.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu was elected in 2020 on a promise to integrate the country into the European Union. Sandu has portrayed the protests as a Russian attempt to prevent that integration and overthrow Moldova’s constitutional order.

Moscow, for its part, has denied those claims, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted last month that Russia’s relations with Moldova were “Very tense” and accused the country of promoting “anti-Russian hysteria,” according to Reuters.

In his Friday remarks, Kirby noted that additional intelligence had been shared with the Moldovan government to help the country “Investigate, Thwart, and Disrupt” Russia’s alleged plans. He also advised that the administration is currently working with Congress to approve $300 million in energy assistance to offset the impacts of the war in Ukraine.

“The United States supports Moldova’s economic, political and anti-corruption reforms as well as their deeperening European integration.” Kirby said.

“The people of Moldova have shown that they are looking to a brighter tomorrow. We too want to see a brighter tomorrow and will be there for Moldova every step.”