Moscow's 'Victory' Bloc: A Threat to Moldova's Sovereignty?
By establishing the "Victory" in Moscow, the Kremlin regime has revealed whom it plans to install in power in Chișinău, the Republic of Moldova.
Unfortunately, Moldova has not cleansed the informational space in Gagauzia to change the situation and anticipates major actions around May 9th – these are some of the topics discussed in the press by Victoria Popa.
During a program on Jurnal TV, historian Octavian Țîcu stated that Russia has prepared a much broader plan of action. It is linked to destabilising Ukraine, particularly the south of Bessarabia, and creating conditions to proclaim Transnistria and Gagauzia as independent republics. These scenarios contradict the actions taken by the Republic of Moldova, the historian said. According to Octavian Țâcu, the state's actions must be firm; there are no half measures here. There are tools and levers that firmly place Russia within a very clear framework of our security concept, as an enemy and one that provokes insecurity.
In the same program, journalist Mihail Sirkeli said that Evghenia Guțul was brought there by Șor to show that he has a trophy - Gagauzia. Șor has shown that he will use the legal status of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia against the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova, as well as against the state's European course. In the journalist's opinion, Moscow has shown that it is preparing a collaborationist government of Moscow, which they want to install here, in Chișinău. In fact, through the people present there, they showed whom they will put in power in the Republic of Moldova. "Unfortunately, for 30 years, the Gagauz community has lived under the influence of Russian propaganda. Moldova has not cleaned up the informational space in Gagauzia to change the situation," said journalist Mihail Sirkeli.
PAS deputy Vasile Grădinaru mentioned in the same television program that prosecutors are expected to identify evidence for politicians who have recently been to Moscow to be held criminally responsible for treason.
In a show on TVR Moldova, journalist and columnist Alecu Reniță stated that behind the formation of the "Victory" bloc are not only Russian secret services but also Russian institutions specialised in diversionary actions. And Colonel Cantarean, also known as the Metropolitan of Moldova, was in Moscow in March in this context. On March 12, Patriarch Kirill warned Romania that it was making canonical attacks. Taken together, a broad plan emerges of what Russia aims to achieve in this area. The columnist recalled that Zelenski clearly stated that Putin and Russia want to rebuild the Soviet Union. In this context, the re-establishment of the Soviet Union must be taken seriously by the citizens and authorities of the states that were part of the Soviet space. We remember the creation in 1992 of the enclave on the left bank of the Dniester, the war in Georgia, the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and in 2022 when Putin chose the path of war to rebuild the USSR, the columnist specified. According to Alecu Reniță, what happened in Moscow, with the formation of the "Victory" bloc, shows how strong Russia is involved in the Republic of Moldova.
In the same program, WatchDog expert Andrei Curăraru stated that there is no "Victory" bloc, as political blocs are registered in the Republic of Moldova only during the electoral period. Șor gathered his people at a parade to show the Kremlin that he has many and diverse forces, allowing him to tell the Kremlin that he has a coalition. It is clear that they have already launched into the electoral campaign six months before its start, Andrei Curăraru pointed out. The expert also mentioned that major actions are expected around May 9th.
The political bloc created in Moscow by the leaders of the parties affiliated with Ilan Șor is much more dangerous than the former political projects of the fugitive. Former Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration, IPIS expert Vlad Kulminski considers that the "real test" for state institutions is yet to come, given that the group would be ready to resort in the near future to much harsher actions than before, including protests and violence. The opinion was expressed in a show on TV8. Vlad Kulminski also said that the political bloc, created by Șor's people, would have a clear mission from Moscow - not to allow the Republic of Moldova to leave its sphere of influence.
Also on TV8, President of the Unity and Welfare Coalition (CUB), Igor Munteanu, believes that now the priority should not only be the future actions of the bloc but also those of the authorities, which should stop it. In Munteanu's opinion, the most important thing is to cut off the money flows reaching the Republic of Moldova and corrupt not only voters but also agitators. Because as long as the mechanism, the machinery acts in favour of Șor's group, the Russian Federation will be very happy, because it, through interfaces, in a way, carries out this war of attrition with the state authorities and the constitutional order.
PAS deputy Lilian Carp assures that the activity of the groups affiliated with the fugitive Ilan Șor is closely monitored.
Ziarul de Gardă writes in an editorial that larger and smaller politicians, even members of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, pseudo-politicians, leaders and members of pseudo-parties, and convicted and fugitive politicians - do what they do and take the plane to Moscow. Upon their return or even during their stay there, they declare that they have registered great successes, have solved a lot of problems and bring home to Moldova only goodies in the form of promises of bank cards, cheap gas, export quotas, etc. Zdg explains in a podcast "Should politicians from the Republic of Moldova go to Russia for political partnerships?"
Ziarul Național reports that Moscow, which openly supports formations affiliated with fugitive Ilan Șor, including the new "Pobeda/Victory" bloc, wants the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to open as many polling stations in the Russian Federation as possible for the presidential elections and the referendum on joining the European Union. The announcement was made by the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, at a press briefing. According to Maria Zakharova, the Russian Federation would have every reason to restrict the opening of polling stations on its territory, just as Chișinău would have done in the case of the Russian presidential elections on March 17th, but will have a different approach.
In a program on Radio Chișinău, political analyst Ion Tăbârță commented that the military assistance worth $61 billion, which the United States is set to deliver to Ukraine, will help Kiev stop the advance and seizure of new Ukrainian territories by the aggressor Russian army. It is necessary for the weaponry to reach the Ukrainian front as quickly as possible, where the situation becomes critical on certain segments. Tăbârță also said that no one wants to have ruptures on certain portions and the Russian army to be able to advance on Ukrainian territory, occupying new territories.
Europa Liberă informs that the deputies in the parliament of the Republic of Moldova held a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the famine organised by the Soviet occupation regime in 1946-1947. Four deputies from the socialist and communist bloc refused to stand up, namely Constantin Starîș, Oleg Reidman, Diana Caraman, and Inga Sibova. It is the second year that the Republic of Moldova officially commemorates the victims of the organised famine from 1946-1947. PAS deputies decided in April 2022 that the day of commemoration would be the third Saturday of April each year. The initiative was opposed by socialist deputies, communists, and those from the Șor party. Historians estimate that between 150,000 and 200,000 people died during the years of famine when the Soviet power in annexed Bessarabia confiscated the crops of peasants in conditions of severe drought.
The murder case of the pregnant girl, which shocked Moldovan society, has also caught the attention of Parliament deputies, announces Deschide.md. In this regard, Vice President of the Legislature Doina Gherman announced that on April 30th, at 13:00, parliamentary hearings on cases of violence, hatred, and femicide will take place. During those hearings, responses are expected from state institutions regarding exceptionally serious cases of violence, and representatives of civil society, as well as development partners, will be invited.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
