Moldova welcomes US sanctions against Russians plotting “coup”

Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu has hailed a US decision to sanction seven Russian nationals involved in preparing a "coup" to destabilise Moldova and seize power in that country. 

"The US Treasury's decision to sanction seven foreign individuals trying to destabilise Moldova is a crucial step in maintaining stability and public order. Collaboration with external partners is key for peace, security, and sustainable progress," he wrote on Twitter on June 6.

On June 5, the United States imposed sanctions on seven leading members of a Russian influence group with links to intelligence services for their role in Moscow's campaign to destabilize Moldova and instigate an insurrection.

In a statement, the Treasury Department accused the individuals of provoking, training, and overseeing protesters in Moldova with the aim to topple President Maia Sandu and a newly appointed Western-leaning government earlier this year.

The seven Russians are Konstantin Sapozhnikov, Yury Makolov, Gleb Khloponin, Svetlana Boyko, Alexei Losev, Vasily Gromovikov and Anna Travnikova. 

Earlier, US Secretary Antony Blinked, tweeted that "the Kremlin continues covert efforts to destabilise democratic countries via malign influence operations. Today, we are designating seven members of a Russian intelligence-linked group, and one entity for their role in destabilisation operations in Moldova." 

In February and March, several thousand people took to the streets in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, against Sandu and the pro-Western government with many in the crowd linked to the Russian-friendly Shor Party.

The protesters demanded Sandu's resignation and called on the government to pay citizens' utility bills following a spike in energy prices caused by Russia's decision to slash natural-gas exports to Europe.

Ilan Shor, the tycoon who founded the Shor Party, fled Moldova following Sandu's election in 2019.