Moldova: a new attempt to shatter the country
Experts from Chisinau, Kyiv in touch with Caliber.Az

INTERVIEWS  13 March 2023 - 14:03

Transnistrian separatists make a big deal out of the attempt on the life of their illegitimate "president". And they blame the Ukrainian side for it.

"The Ministry of State Security" of the separatist Transnistrian region announced the prevention of a terrorist attack, which was allegedly plotted by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) against "TMR officials". According to the separatists' version, the perpetrators were to be refugees in Tiraspol, who had previously been recruited by the Ukrainian security services and had been sent to Transnistria with the aim of organizing sabotage. In particular, a certain Vyacheslav Kisichan has allegedly already confessed that, in addition to the "head" of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, victims of an attack by blowing up a car filled with explosives and striking elements were to be random passers-by, and the attack was coordinated and planned by his handlers from the SSU (Security Service of Ukraine).

Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean reacted to this news as well. He said at a press conference that he has no information about the alleged preparation of a terrorist act in Transnistria, adding that the Moldovan special services will hold their own investigation.

In its turn, the Security Service of Ukraine called the accusations of Tiraspol of preparing a terrorist attack "nonsense and provocation orchestrated by the Kremlin".

This, of course, raises several questions. For example, why in general would Ukraine eliminate the leader of separatists of a small region of little importance, on which activities little else depends? And at the same time deliberately taking the lives of random passers-by. Does this not look like deliberate disinformation to create an unflattering image of the Ukrainian security services in the world media field? I think the origin of such an order is clear to everyone. Especially since the pro-Moscow ex-president of Moldova, Igor Dodon, immediately "got involved" by saying that "the report of the Transnistrian special services on an act of terrorism is alarming and the Moldovan leadership must take action".

I wonder what this is all about? What exactly are the objectives pursued by those who order it, launching such information in the media? Renowned experts from the respective countries shared their versions of what is happening with Caliber.Az.

The Moldovan political commentator Victor Ciobanu pointed out that the "attempt" on the so-called "president of the tmr" was another provocation by the local "MSS", a branch of the FSB.

"It is as clumsy as the previous ones, with "explosions" near the building of the 'Ministry of State Security' and the towers that no one needs. Curiously enough, all the incidents involve RDX, so the handwriting clearly points to the FSB trail. The "terrorist confession" film made by the 'MSS TMR' is clearly inferior to Bollywood in quality. The profile of the 'terrorist' himself, who was previously convicted in the 'TMR', points to a typical GB production. And Krasnoselsky himself has behaved quite deliberately throughout the conflict in Ukraine, so he is unlikely to have been a threat. And if some special service would have decided to eliminate him, it certainly wouldn't have done so using RDX with the accompanying casualties. All in all, not a convincing movie at all," says Ciobanu.

More important is the context in which the next provocation takes place, he believes.

"The renewed protests in Chisinau by the so-called 'Shor Party', in fact, an organized criminal group, whose leader is convicted of stealing a billion and is in hiding in Israel, have taken place in close coordination with the Kremlin's propaganda campaign. Russian TV speaks of a 'major pro-Russian opposition party' that fights President Sandu's 'dictatorship' elected by 'undemocratic methods'. The dismissal of the president and the government and early elections is the Kremlin's game plan for the local 'opposition'. Dodon in this sense is a write-off card and his statements are irrelevant. Although the Socialists, as the larger electorally party, will probably try to regain the role of the Kremlin's 'favourite wife' and will surely get involved in some way.

The Kremlin is extremely interested in undermining the political situation in Moldova amid a complete lack of results on the fronts in Ukraine. A hypothetical change of power in Chisinau to a pro-Russian one would not only be a political victory for Moscow, but also an opportunity to open a second front against Ukraine. The problem is that such an option is completely unrealistic. Both Russian fantasists and their misguided executors will have to eat the dust again," the Moldovan expert said.

In his turn, the director of the Kyiv Institute of World Politics Yevhen Magda considered it necessary to point out that the statement of the so-called "MSS of TMR" is actually quite ridiculous. Because it claims that the SSU was ready to pay 2.5 thousand dollars for the assassination attempt on Krasnoselsky, who is referred to there as "the president".

"The rates are quite ridiculous. And this is not the first such case related to the Transnistrian MSS'. In May 2022 there was a provocation in Tiraspol that allegedly involved the firing of a grenade launcher at the 'MSS' building, which started a mass exodus of local residents from Transnistria.

According to my observations, we are dealing with several elements at once. On the one hand, these are the actions of the Russian secret services. They have been activated in Belarus, in Transnistria, and in the South Caucasus - I think it is absolutely obvious. They are actually waging war with the Ukrainian security services and are trying to create bridgeheads for their influence, especially on the territory of Moldova.

Moreover, it is an element of shattering the situation in Moldova itself, where the government has changed, where Prime Minister Dorin Recean has arrived with a clear pro-European position and with experience in the power structures, and therefore he will lead a line on the corresponding actions.

I think the Transnistrians will continue to make the world laugh, but at the same time I think that the crisis in Moldova will continue, because in April elections are expected in Gagauzia, in the coming days there will be a new protest of the 'Shor' party in Chisinau, and the Kremlin's desire to shatter Moldova has not really disappeared", Magda summed up.

Caliber.Az