Russia on Tuesday dismissed accusations by Moldova as “completely unfounded” that Moscow was planning to violently overthrow the country’s pro-European leadership with the help of saboteurs.
“Such claims are completely unfounded and unfounded,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu on Monday accused Russia of planning to overthrow her government. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that Kiev had “intercepted Russian intelligence’s plan to destroy Moldova”.
On Tuesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused Kiev of playing Moldova off against Russia and accused Moldovan authorities of Russophobia.
“Unlike Western countries and Ukraine, we do not interfere in the internal affairs of Moldova and other countries of the world,” the ministry said.
“Russia does not pose a threat to Moldova’s security,” she added, saying that “stable and friendly relations” with Russia could benefit Moldova.
Last February, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine and called on the Ukrainian army to overthrow Zelenskyy.
The Kremlin has tried for years to keep post-Soviet states like Ukraine and Moldova within its sphere of influence, but both countries have turned west.
Russia maintains a so-called peacekeeping force in a breakaway region in eastern Moldova called Transnistria, which borders Ukraine.
The United States responded to Sandu’s allegations and expressed support for Moldovan sovereignty.
“We are deeply concerned by reports of a Russian conspiracy to destabilize Moldova’s democratically elected government,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.
“Russia has a long history of malign influence both in Moldova and in the region, and as such we have worked closely with Moldova to build its political resilience and counter Russia’s long-term efforts to undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions,” he said.
The United States in October imposed sanctions on two Moldovan oligarchs for allegedly colluding with Russia to undermine the country’s democracy.
Moldova, a country of 2.6 million people bordering Romania and Ukraine, was granted EU candidate status in the summer of 2022.