Expert: "Russia will continue hybrid actions against the Republic of Moldova"
The Chisinau authorities' decision is a signal that Moldova is responding firmly to threats from the Russian Federation, but hybrid actions against our country will not stop. Foreign policy expert Mihai Isac explained that reforms to make the justice system more efficient are needed to prevent interference.
Certainly, the correct decision taken by the Chisinau authorities will not prevent Russia from intensifying its hybrid actions against the Republic of Moldova. The fact that these diplomats have been sent home will pose several problems for Moscow's intelligence services. The Transnistrian region is a terrain where practically all of Moscow's federal services have a considerable human and technical presence, and the region is a base for propaganda directed against the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Romania and other states.
As for the secessionist regime in Tiraspol, the expert emphasized the region's vulnerability to evasion of justice and Russian influence. *"I doubt that the so-called authorities in Tiraspol will give up an important political leader, one of the main fugitives from Moldova. This is not the first time that persons wanted by the constitutional authorities have taken refuge in this area controlled by the Russian occupation regime."
First of all, the fact that the Moldovan justice system has done its job brings with it greater trust on the part of those who want to see justice done in Moldova. However, the Republic of Moldova needs to implement new legislative methods to monitor people who pose a danger. People need to understand that there are consequences when you gamble with the fate of the state. So this is a signal that Moldova is responding firmly to the threat posed by the Russian Federation.
Isac emphasized that Moldova must exert pressure on Tiraspol to bring the convicted to justice. "This is a test of how Moldova can use leverage to force the occupying regime in Tiraspol to hand over Nesterovschi and other fugitives. He needs to be brought to justice to pay for his sins."
In an interview with Radio Moldova, the head of state warned about the external risks threatening justice reform, in particular the Kremlin's influence.
There are big problems, including because the Russian Federation is spending a lot of money to get involved in the justice system, to scare people who work in the system. So, the Kremlin is trying to overwhelm us on all these dimensions, including political corruption, and electoral corruption, but I believe that the institutions today are doing better than before.
We recall that MP Alexandr Nesterovschi was sentenced to 12 years in prison for passive bribery and involvement in the illegal financing of a political party. Also, MP Irina Lozovan, accused of having received 30,000 dollars from fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor to bribe the mayor of Ocnita, was sentenced to six years in prison. Her husband, targeted in the same case, was sentenced to five years in prison. The sentence was ruled on March 31 in absentia.
