Last indication of this concern: the closure Tuesday, February 14 of the Moldovan airspace, for almost 4 hours. Several flights to Paris, Lisbon, Istanbul, have been postponed or canceled. Air Moldova did not give an explanation, but there is undoubtedly a link with the detection of Russian drones and observation devices, between Belarus and Moldova, above Ukraine. This February 14 in the morning Moscow denied “any plan to destabilize Moldova”and denounces a “disinformation”, but this small republic of 33,000 km2 and 2.5 million inhabitants is not at all reassured. On Friday February 10, she was overflown by a Russian missile, this is the second time: a similar incident had already occurred in October. Moldova knows that it is militarily fragile. It has only 5,000 active soldiers and a dozen helicopters. And above all it has within it a pro-Russian secessionist region, Transnistria, where 1,500 soldiers from Moscow are stationed and where 20,000 tonnes of ammunition are stored, according to the assessments of the pro-European Moldovan president Maia Sandu. It is also necessary to measure how small this territory is and the very short distances: only 15 minutes by car between Chisinau, the capital and this secessionist zone of Transnistria. The presence in neighboring Romania of NATO forces, French in particular, is not enough to eliminate the risks.
The fear of a Russian destabilization plan
What Moldova fears is not only military destabilization: it is even more economic and political destabilization, an embodiment of “hybrid warfare”. The country lives in fuel poverty. Before the war, Moldova depended entirely on Russian gas for heating. Since then, Russia has reduced its deliveries by more than 50% and increased its tariffs by 700%. Power cuts are frequent. Inflation reaches 30%. So the risk of social unrest is high, especially since Moldova is infiltrated by multiple pro-Russian networks. Monday, February 13, Maia Sandu appeared very concerned. She says she is aware of a Russian plan which foresees “hostage-taking and attacks on state buildings”. Suspicion is aimed in particular at oligarchs like Ilan Sor, who are closely linked to the Kremlin. Maia Sandu is also facing a crisis of government. After the resignation of its Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, it has just appointed a new head of government, Dorin Recean.
The iron will of President Maia Sandu
Maia Sandu is an impressive character. During a meeting two months ago in Paris, she seemed fascinating to us. His absolute determination is inversely proportional to his small size. Aged 50, she fights with an impressive will, first to reform the country and eradicate endemic corruption, her top priority. It is obviously counting on the support of the European Union. Since last summer, Moldova has been engaged in the same accession process as Ukraine. Next June it is to host a summit of the CPE, the European political community, this enlarged Europe initiated by France. “We need Europe”insists Maia Sandu, and she adds: “And I need a little luck.”