Moscow warns Moldova of risk of military confrontation

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Photo: Sputnik

“Everyone should understand that any actions that threaten the security of our troops (in Transnistria) will be considered by international law as an attack on Russia, as was the case in South Ossetia when our peacekeepers were attacked by (former Georgian President Mikheil) Saakashvili,” Lavrov said.

Transnistria, which relies heavily on Moscow for support, saw a series of sporadic attacks in April, adding to tensions already high over the conflict in Ukraine, which borders Moldova.

For example, two explosions damaged a Soviet-era Russian radio transmission mast from a village in the Transnistria region on April 26, prompting Moldova's president to convene an emergency security meeting.

Russia has had peacekeeping troops in Transnistria since the early 1990s, when an armed conflict saw separatists wrest much of the region from Moldovan control. Russia says its troops are there to maintain peace and stability, but Moldova wants Moscow to withdraw its forces.

The authorities in Chisinau, which have stressed that they are committed to peaceful dialogue for the future of the region, said they would summon Russia's acting ambassador to make their position clear.

“Chisinau remains fully committed to peaceful dialogue in (Transnistria) and calls on Russia to withdraw its troops from our territory. Any suggestions of a different approach are unfounded. To clarify the above, Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu decided to summon the Russian acting ambassador to the Moldovan Foreign Ministry,” Daniel Voda, spokesman for the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, said.

The spokesman also stressed that the rights of all minorities - including Russian speakers - in Moldova were guaranteed.