In Moldova, which borders Ukraine, police say they have uncovered a Russian-controlled network aimed at destabilizing the state. After last night’s raids, 25 men were questioned and seven arrested, police chief Viorel Cernauteanu said today.
The group is made up of people who came “from Russia with a very specific task,” Cernauteanu said. An agent managed to secretly investigate the network and record ten hours of audio and video recordings. Moldovan authorities acted after being informed about “destabilizing actions by Russian secret services” that would be organized “through demonstrations” on the territory of the state.
“Down with Dictatorship”
Another street protest by supporters of the pro-Russian opposition party Shor against pro-European rulers took place in the capital Chisinau today. About a thousand protesters chanted “Down with the dictatorship” and demanded the immediate resignation of President Maia Sandu and the new government of Prime Minister Dorin Recean.
Portal/Vladislav Culiomza
Bomb threats in Chisinau
At the same time, Moldovan police received four bomb threats. Among other things, the target was Chisinau airport, which was evacuated for several hours but has since resumed operations. This action is also the responsibility of the aforementioned group of agents, said Cernauteanu.
The anti-government protest took place in an extremely heated atmosphere in front of the parliament building. Sometimes there was a fight between protesters and police; 54 people, including 21 minors, were detained by the security forces, some for suspicious behavior and others for possession of a blunt or cold weapon.
In the run-up to today’s demonstration, the authorities took drastic security measures, especially since the White House national security spokesman, John Kirby, only warned on Friday that Russian actors, some with links to Russian secret services , were trying to fuel the protests in order to cause a coup effect in Moldova.