by Claudio Del Frate
The measure dates back to 2012 and secured the integrity of the small state wedged between Romania and Ukraine. The Kremlin justified the decision with the protection of Russian interests
Vladimir Putin has once again set his sights on Moldova. Laws passed by the Kremlin, coinciding with the first year of war in Ukraine and Biden’s visit to Kiev, also include the repeal of the decree that guaranteed the independence of the small state between Romania and Ukraine. Moldova had already been threatened by Russia earlier this year, and pro-European Prime Minister Maia Sandu recently denounced a Moscow-instigated coup attempt.
The repeal of the decree was announced on the Kremlin website: with it, Putin revoked the law signed in 2012, which supported Moldova’s sovereignty as part of the stabilization of relations with Europe and the United States. It was practically the document that outlined the lines of Russian foreign policy and in which there was also room for a passage about the integrity of the small republic with the capital Chisinau. The revocation states that the decision was made to safeguard Russian interests in relation to changes in international relations.
The decision also heats up the Moldovan front. It should be remembered that Transnistria – a strip of land between Moldova and Ukraine – has declared itself independent since 1990, but the new state has never been recognized by the international community, which still today considers it an integral part of Moldova. However, Transnistria is supported by a pro-Russian government and Moscow has long since stationed its troops here. When a brief armed conflict broke out between the two small states in 1992, it was the Russians who guaranteed the survival of Transnistria. In fact, a situation has arisen that is very similar to that in Donbass.
Putin also mentioned among his goals in Tuesday’s speech the restoration of the territorial integrity of historic Russia, which included Moldova, which is now no longer protected by the decree by which Moscow accepted its independence.
February 22, 2023 (change February 22, 2023 | 8:30 p.m.)
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