How vulnerable is the Republic of Moldova to Russia today
The pro-European government in Chisinau has entered a complicated period. Judicial reform has already begun in force and has already generated an internal crisis due to the detentions of the general prosecutor, a measure that has been categorized as harsh by some analysts, recalling a real “judicial blietzkrieg”, according to a published analysis of Veridica.ro. This is exactly the kind of situation that Russia usually exploits, and Moscow has several levers at its disposal to ensure that Moldova goes in the direction it wants.
The risks of a “judicial blietzkrieg”
The only notable thing Stoianoglo did in the nearly two years he was in office was the release in June 2020 of oligarch Veaceslav Platon, an extremely corrupt figure involved in both the “billion theft” case and the case.“Russian Landromat”. However, when Stoianoglu was detained, a parallel was drawn with the detention of former Prime Minister Vlad Filat in the autumn of 2015.
In just a few hours, Filat woke up from one of the exponents of power in Chisinau as a resident of Penitentiary number 13 in Chisinau. According to a plan launched by Filat’s rival, the oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc, parliamentarians quickly voted to lift the former prime minister’s immunity, after which he was taken from the very seat of the legislature.
The sudden detention of Prosecutor General Stoianoglo, no matter how justified it may seem in terms of some fairly obvious charges, has shocked society. Some enjoyed “tele-justice”, but others thought of it as a way of operating.
The episode revived the pro-Russian opposition, until then it is confused and amorphous. Dodon flew quickly to Moscow to receive orders and, from “exile”, has already declared the Republic of Moldova a “captured state”. A phrase frequently used from October 2015 to June 2019, during the autocratic reign of the now fugitive oligarch Vlad Plahotniuc.
After his return from Moscow, Dodon organized on Sunday, together with pro-Russian PSRM supporters from ATU Gagauzia, a past protest entitled “Say NO to dictatorship”. Earlier, Dodon claims that “the General Prosecutor’s Office, headed by Alexandr Stoianoglo, has evolved considerably.”
In fact, immediately after Stoianoglo’s detention, a small rebellion was organized in Comrat, where the Gagauz socialists stated that “the Gagauz people will defend Stoianoglo”. Thus, out of a judicial matter, the Stoianoglo case turned to an identity. Through its pro-Russian demographic and ideological structure, Gagauzia can be transformed into a source of instability at any time.
Continue on Veridica.ro
Photo: Moldovan citizens at the October 9 protests in support of the suspended prosecutor, Alexandr Stoianoglo, suspected of corruption. The protest was organized by Igor Dodon and PSRM. Source / Facebook Igor Dodon