2023 Moldovan coup attempt allegations

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In February 2023, Ukrainian and Moldovan officials unveiled what they claimed were Russian plans to orchestrate an overthrow of the Moldovan government. The existence of the coup plan was first alleged by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Moldovan president Maia Sandu subsequently revealed details of the plan.

Contents

Background

Moldovan, U.S., and European officials have said that after Moldova was officially granted EU membership candidate status in 2022, Russia began conducting a hybrid war against Moldova with the goal of replacing the pro-Western Moldovan government with a pro-Russian one, [1] [2] this following on from the pro-Russian president Igor Dodon losing his re-election bid in late 2020, triggering disinformation and threats by Russia against Moldova. [3]

Russian troop presence in Transnistria

Since 1992, the Russian military has maintained a presence in Transnistria, an unrecognized breakaway state internationally recognized to be part of Moldova. [4]

Fears of Russian military intervention in Moldova

Since the beginning of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, there have been concerns that Russia may use Moldovan territory in its invasion of Ukraine. [4] The invasion of Ukraine prompted fears among Moldovan authorities that Russian troops stationed in Transnistria may invade either Ukraine or the rest of Moldova. [5] In March 2022, a map depicting Russian invasion plans seen in a televised briefing by Belarusian president Lukashenko indicated that Russian troops planned to move into Transnistria after capturing Odesa. [6] In April 2022, a Russian general stated that Russian forces intend to create a land bridge across southern Ukraine to reach Transnistria, saying that Russian-speakers are being oppressed there. [7]

Destabilization efforts

Coup plot allegations

On 9 February 2023, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian intelligence had intercepted plans by Russian intelligence to overthrow the democratically elected government of Moldova to establish control over the country. [8] The allegations were subsequently corroborated by Moldovan intelligence. [4]

On 10 February Moldovan Prime Minister, Natalia Gavrilita resigned and was replaced by Dorin Recean on 16 February. [9]

On 13 February 2023, the president of Moldova Maia Sandu said Moldovan authorities have confirmed the existence of the plot first revealed by Zelenskyy, and revealed details of the alleged plot. [4] She said the coup plan involved using saboteurs with military training dressed in civilian clothes to stage attacks (including on state buildings), and take hostages. The Moldovan government was to be overthrown and replaced with a puppet government. The plan allegedly involved an alliance between criminal groups and two exiled Moldovan oligarchs. [4] She said Russian, Montenegrin, Belarusian, and Serbian citizens were to enter Moldova to incite protests as part of the coup plan; [10] Moldovan intelligence believes foreign provocateurs would be used to foment violent unrest during the anti-government protests. [1] Foreign citizens were also to be involved in violent actions. She credited Ukrainian partners for uncovering locations and logistical aspects of the plot. [11]

On 21 February Prime Minister Dorin Recean declared that Russia tried to take the Chișinău Airport under its control, in order to bring Russian and pro-Russian diversionists to overthrow the Moldovan government. [12] [13]

In a briefing on 10 March, United States National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby made public information about Russian efforts to destabilise Moldova obtained by the U.S. Kirby stated the U.S. government believes Russia to be pursuing destabilisation efforts in Moldova with the ultimate goal of replacing the existing Moldovan government with one that would be more friendly to Russian interests. To this end, Russian actors (including some tied to Russian intelligence) had been seeking to stage and use protests to foment an insurrection against the Moldovan government. Nevertheless, Kirby questioned Russia's ability to achieve its goals. Kirby also announced U.S. measures to assist the Moldovan government in countering destabilisation efforts, including intelligence sharing and cooperation, and further sanctions against individuals involved in the destabilisation efforts. [14]

Eight months after the alleged coup, President Sandu said that the Wagner Group and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin were directly involved in the coup plot. [15]

Measures

Airspace closure

On 14 February, a day after the coup plot allegations were made public, Moldova briefly closed its airspace after a small object resembling a weather balloon was detected in its airspace over the north of the country, near the Moldovan-Ukrainian border. Its airspace was re-opened after authorities ascertained the object posed no safety risk to civilians. [16] The incident transpired against the backdrop of the 2023 Chinese balloon incidents.

Foreign citizen entry bans

Fearing infiltration of foreign saboteurs and Russian agents, Moldovan authorities limited entry of Serbian, Belarusian, and Montenegrin citizens into Moldova, preventing the entry of some 1,000 Serbian soccer fans, and a Montenegrin boxing team. [1] Amid suspicions of saboteurs among Serbian fans, the Moldovan authorities ordered the match between FC Sheriff Tiraspol and FK Partizan as part of the 2022-23 UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs to be played behind closed doors. [17] [18] In February 2023, two individuals were expelled from Moldova as spies. [19] On 12 March, Moldovan police stated that 182 foreign nationals, including a possible representative of the Russian Wagner Group, had been denied entry into the country. [20]

Arrest of alleged diversionists

On 12 March, Moldovan police disclosed that they had foiled an alleged plot by a series of Russian-backed actors trained to foment mass unrest within a protest against Moldova's new pro-western government. Seven people were detained. [20] The diversionists (whom included Russian citizens) were promised up to $10,000 in compensation for sparking unrest during anti-government protests. The diversionists were to act in groups, breaking police cordons and inciting violence. The plot was uncovered after the group was infiltrated by an undercover agent, Moldovan authorities said. [19]

Responses

The Russian foreign ministry labelled the allegations as "completely unfounded and unsubstantiated" and blamed Ukraine for trying to worsen relations between Moldova and Russia. [4] On 21 February, Russian president Vladimir Putin revoked his 2012 decree that called for a peaceful resolution to the issue regarding Transnistria. [21]

The U.S. White House's national security spokesman described the allegations as "deeply concerning". [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

The history of Moldova can be traced to the 1350s, when the Principality of Moldavia, the medieval precursor of modern Moldova and Romania, was founded. The principality was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire from 1538 until the 19th century. In 1812, following one of several Russian–Turkish wars, the eastern half of the principality, Bessarabia, was annexed by the Russian Empire. In 1918, Bessarabia briefly became independent as the Moldavian Democratic Republic and, following the decision of the Parliament, united with Romania. During the Second World War it was occupied by the Soviet Union which reclaimed it from Romania. It joined the Union as the Moldavian ASSR, until the dissolution of the USSR. In 1991 the country declared independence as the Republic of Moldova.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moldova</span> Country in Eastern Europe

Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, on the northeastern corner of the Balkans. The country spans a total of 33,483 km2 and has a population of approximately 2.5 million as of January 2023. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria lies across the Dniester river on the country's eastern border with Ukraine. Moldova is a unitary parliamentary representative democratic republic with its capital in Chișinău, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Moldova</span> Government of the Republic of Moldova

The Government of Moldova is the government of the Republic of Moldova. It is housed on the Government House at the Great National Assembly Square in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova. Currently, the President of Moldova is Maia Sandu, while the Prime Minister of Moldova is Dorin Recean. The current ruling cabinet of Moldova is the cabinet of Dorin Recean, incumbent since 16 February 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moldova–Russia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Moldova–Russia relations are the bilateral relations between the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation, two Eastern European, post-Soviet, ex-communist countries. Russian support for the self-proclaimed Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Transnistria) and a substantial Russian military presence therein strained Moldovan relations with Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moldova–Ukraine relations</span> Bilateral relations

Moldova–Ukraine relations are the bilateral/diplomatic/foreign relations between the sovereign states of Moldova and Ukraine. The Moldova–Ukraine border is 985 kilometers. Ukrainians are the third largest ethnic group in Moldova, behind Moldovans and Romanians. Both countries were former republics of the Soviet Union and are also the poorest countries in Europe. Both countries have applied for membership to join the European Union in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moldova–NATO relations</span> Bilateral relations

Official relations between Moldova and NATO began in 1992 when Moldova joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. However, as Moldova's neutrality is enshrined in its constitution, there are no official plans for Moldova to join the organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorin Recean</span> Prime Minister of Moldova since 2023

Dorin Recean is a Moldovan economist and politician serving as Prime Minister of Moldova since February 2023. Since 2022 he has also served as Presidential Advisor on Defense and National Security, and Secretary of Moldova's Supreme Security Council. He previously served as Minister of Internal Affairs of Moldova from July 2012 to February 2015. He has extensive experience in the private sector and in the IT industry with a specialisation in data, including big data, and information analysis. He also worked in development institutions and was previously a lecturer at several universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maia Sandu</span> President of Moldova since 2020

Maia Sandu is a Moldovan politician who has been the President of Moldova since 24 December 2020. She is the founder and former leader of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and former Prime Minister of Moldova from 8 June 2019 until 14 November 2019, when the government collapsed after a vote of no-confidence. Sandu was Minister of Education from 2012 to 2015 and member of the Parliament of Moldova from 2014 to 2015, and again in 2019. Sandu was elected President of Moldova in a landslide victory during the 2020 Moldovan presidential election. The first female president of Moldova, Sandu is a strong supporter of the accession of Moldova to the European Union, overseeing Moldova's granting of candidate status, and is considered 'pro-Western'. She has criticised and opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and supported subsequent steps to reduce Moldova's economic dependence on Russia, frequently expressing sympathy and support for Ukraine in the conflict. Sandu has made anti-corruption, economic reform and liberalisation a central part of her political platform, as well as closer integration with Europe. In February 2023, she accused Russia of seeking to stage a coup of the Moldovan government and has continued to seek to reduce Russia's influence over the country.

Russian involvement in regime change describes activities by the Russian government to replace foreign regimes through overt or covert interventions since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transnistria–Ukraine relations</span> Bilateral relations

Transnistria–Ukraine relations is the bilateral relationship between the Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic and Ukraine. Ukraine does not officially recognize the independence of Transnistria. Nevertheless, it maintains special relations with Transnistria in the political, cultural and economic spheres.

Events in the year 2021 in Ukraine.

Events from the year 2022 in Moldova.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Transnistria attacks</span> 2022 attacks in Moldovas breakaway region of Transnistria

The 2022 Transnistria attacks were a series of five incidents reported in the Eastern European breakaway state of Transnistria, internationally recognized as part of Moldova, that occurred in 2022 between 25 and 27 April, on 6 May and on 5 June. No casualties were reported, but material damage did occur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reintegration of Transnistria into Moldova</span>

Since the outbreak of the Transnistria conflict, there have been efforts and proposals to reincorporate the unrecognized state of Transnistria into Moldova.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd European Political Community Summit</span> European Political Community Summit

The Second European Political Community Summit was a meeting of the European Political Community held on 1 June 2023 at Mimi Castle, Bulboaca, 35 kilometres from Chișinău, Moldova. It was attended by forty-five heads of states and governments, as well as leaders of European Union institutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moldovan protests (2022–2023)</span> Protests against the countrys government

On 18 September 2022, protests in Moldova began in the capital city of Chișinău, demanding the resignation of the country's pro-Western government, amid an energy crisis causing rising natural gas prices and inflation, caused in part by the war in Ukraine.

In November 2021, top Ukrainian government officials outlined allegations of a plot to overthrow the democratically elected government of Ukraine which was to take place in early December of that year. The coup plot was allegedly orchestrated by Russia. The Russian government denied any involvement. Some months later, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, with the toppling of the Ukrainian government being one of its objectives.

Starting in late 2022, Moldova suffered an energy crisis, the worst since its independence. Hugely influenced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, caused when Russia's Gazprom reduced supplies.

Events from the year 2023 in Moldova.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moldova accepted Ukrainian refugees, opened a bank account for donations, and unofficially imposed sanctions on Russia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Journal, Margherita Stancati / Photographs by Ramin Mazur for The Wall Street. "Moldova, Under Pressure From Russia's War on Ukraine, Fears It Could Be Next". WSJ. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Moldova warns of Russian 'psy-ops' as tensions rise". BBC News. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Russia's planned Cousin Moldova reminds us why Ukraine must win this war" . Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Has Russia been planning a coup in Ukraine's neighbour, Moldova? Here's what we know". ABC News. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Pronczuk, Monika (26 April 2022). "Explosions rattle a breakaway region in Moldova, raising fears of a broader war". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  6. ↑ Kingsley, Patrick (6 March 2022). "On Ukraine's Border, Moldovans Wonder: Where Will Putin Stop?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Pronczuk, Monika; Gettleman, Jeffrey (23 April 2022). "Rattled by Ukraine War, Moldova Strives to Dodge Russia's Long Shadow". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  8. ↑ Rankin, Jennifer (9 February 2023). "Zelenskiy pushes for EU membership and raises fears of Russian designs on Moldova". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Moldovan government resigns in wake of multiple crises". 10 February 2023.
  10. ↑ Rankin, Jennifer (13 February 2023). "Moldova president accuses Russia of plotting to oust pro-EU government". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Russia is planning coup in Moldova, says President Maia Sandu". POLITICO. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "Прем'єр Молдови визнав загрозу російської атаки на Кишинів". Суспільне.
  13. ↑ "Premierul Dorin Recean: Rusia a încercat să preia Aeroportul Chișinău. Există mai multe scenarii de destabilizare a Moldovei". Stirileprotv.ro.
  14. ↑ "National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby commented on Russian attempts to destabilize Moldova". U.S. Embassy in Moldova. 10 March 2023.
  15. ↑ Ostiller, Nate (6 October 2023). "FT: Moldovan president says Prigozhin attempted coup in Moldova". The Kyiv Independent.
  16. ↑ "Moldova briefly shuts airspace after report of balloon-like object". Reuters. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  17. ↑ Latham-Coyle, Harry (14 February 2023). "Fans banned from Europa Conference League match amid Moldovan fears of Russian coup". The Independent . Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "Serbia, Montenegro Demand Explanation After Moldova Coup Plot Claim". Balkan Insight . 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  19. 1 2 Erizanu, Paula (12 March 2023). "Moldova police arrest members of Russian-backed network over unrest plot". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Moldova police say they foiled Russia-backed plot to cause unrest during protest". independent. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  21. 1 2 Tanas, Alexander (22 February 2023). "Putin cancels decree underpinning Moldova's sovereignty in separatist conflict". Reuters. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
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