Igor Grosu, speaker of the parliament, wants to lead Moldova out of the Russian-dominated CIS. (Archive photo) © Rodion Proca/Imago
Moldova is increasingly withdrawing from Russia's influence. However, the pro-Western line is controversial – as a regional election shows.
Chisinau – Moldova is distancing itself more and more from Russia. The republic has now taken the next step in breaking away from Moscow's sphere of influence. Moldova wants to withdraw from the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This was stated by Igor Grosu, speaker of the Moldovan parliament. The CIS is an association of former Soviet republics with the aim of creating an economic and security space.
Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Moldova's reorientation towards the West has accelerated. The declaration to leave the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly is a next step. Tensions with Russia are likely to increase as a result. The Kremlin has other plans for the former Soviet republic and wants to keep the country in its own sphere of influence.
Moldova takes first step out of Russian-dominated CIS
Moldova is to become a vassal state of Russia, which subordinates itself to Moscow's will. This is the result of a strategy paper published in March 2023 by a research association consisting of Süddeutsche Zeitung, WDR and NDR. Russia has already stationed soldiers in the separatist region of Transnistria.
However, the pro-Western stance of the government in Chisinau is also controversial in Moldova itself. Pro-Russian ex-president Igor Dodon called the announced exit from the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly an "unwise step to endear himself to the West." A break with the CIS would create even more problems for citizens, Dodon said, according to Russia's state-run TASS news agency.
Dodon has been campaigning against the government's policies for some time – together with the opposition party Sor. According to research by Süddeutsche Zeitung, WDR and NDR, this is controlled by the Russian domestic intelligence service FSB. Sor has been trying for months to take advantage of the high gas and electricity prices and is mobilizing for protests in Moldova.
Russian-influenced party wins regional election in Moldova
With the pro-Russian course, Sor has now been able to celebrate a success. In the run-off election for the office of governor of the autonomous Moldovan region of Gaugasia on Sunday (14 May), Sor candidate Evghenia Gutul prevailed with 52.4 percent of the vote. This is reported by the TASS news agency. However, the region is traditionally considered pro-Russian.
However, the election campaign itself was a political issue. On April 17, 2023, Moldova denied entry to a Russian delegation. The group of Russian politicians wanted to take part in an election campaign event. "Supporting a candidate in local elections in Moldova is not a valid reason, and the authorities are urging Russian bureaucrats not to interfere in the internal affairs of our country," the border guard service said, according to Reuters. (ms
)
