Former minister Anatol Salaru says Moldova’s president holds limited defense powers, even as several presidential candidates promise to ensure peace and prevent conflict. In the program “Realitatea te priveste,” broadcast on RLIVE TV, he said that “Maia Sandu cannot declare war on anyone” and cannot send troops to Transnistria if the so-called army there will try to resort to destabilization.
Salaru also said that actions related to defense are the competence of the Parliament. At the same time, in his opinion, any situation in which Moldova would go to war would be if Russia attacked us.
“Their propaganda targets people who lack critical thinking skills. If they ask me if Moldova is preparing for war, they should ask me, or I should ask: What kind of war? Defense? Yes, if Russia wants to attack the Republic of Moldova, we must prepare for this war. Otherwise, what kind of war can Maia Sandu draw us into? Going to help the Ukrainian army against Russia? She never will because we are a neutral state. Maia Sandu did not allow the transit of bulletproof clothing from Moldova to Ukraine.
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Maia Sandu has no competence to declare war. She does not have the power to send the army against Transnistria either if the Transnistrian army wants to attack us because Transnistria is part of the Republic of Moldova. Only the Parliament can take this decision,” concluded the former head of Moldova’s defense.
After Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, Moldova has become the target of propaganda, with several pro-Russian actors alleging that the country is preparing for war. Authorities and experts have repeatedly debunked false claims and emphasized that the only threat is destabilization and hybrid attacks.
In February 2023, the head of state announced the foiling of a coup d’état allegedly prepared by pro-Russian forces. A year later, information about the congress in Tiraspol emerged in the public space, with rumors circulating that the separatist leaders would demand Russian membership. In the end, they only issued a statement requesting Moscow’s support.
On the other hand, after the beginning of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, there was a lot of talk in the public space that if Russian troops reached Odesa, the Republic of Moldova would risk being attacked. At the same time, in December 2023, the Chisinau authorities purchased a radar to identify dangerous objects violating our airspace.