Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu called on the European Union on Monday 20 February to sanction corrupt and Russian-backed Moldovan oligarchs and politicians who are trying to destabilise his country, as the United States and the UK have already done.
“It is important that the EU sanctions those corrupt oligarchs and politicians who, together with Russia, are trying to destabilise Moldova”, he stressed on his arrival at the ‘Foreign Affairs’ Council to attend a lunch with his counterparts from the EU member states.
According to Mr Popescu, freezing the assets of these individuals would limit their ability to destabilise his country. “It is very clear that these corrupt politicians are working with Russia, receiving public support from Russia and waging a hybrid war in Moldova”, he added.
Mr Popescu stressed that his country was facing numerous hybrid attacks, such as illegal financing of political parties, payment of demonstrators, false bomb threats, manipulation of energy supply and cyber attacks.
On his arrival at the EU Council, Romanian Minister Bogdan Aurescu said he would suggest that a legal analysis be made regarding the creation of a sanctions regime for “attempts to destabilise the Republic of Moldova, the constitutional order and the rule of law”.
The Moldovan minister also called for military support, as his country, which neighbours Ukraine, has faced several airspace violations in recent weeks. “A priority is to make our airspace safe, with access to air surveillance and air defence equipment, which is crucial to maintain calm, peace and stability in Ukraine on a continuous basis”, he explained.
Following the ministerial meeting, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said that strengthening Moldova’s resilience and security was the best way to ensure that the country moves forward on the European path. He said that the EU would continue to explore the possibility of a CSDP mission in Moldova, to strengthen the country’s resilience to the destabilisation it was facing.
Mr Popescu said his country, which has been a candidate for EU membership since June 2022, wanted to move forward on its European path “at full speed”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)