Latvia’s President, Edgars Rinkēvičs, a leader instrumental in bringing his country to strong development within the EU, shared Latvia’s European journey with Moldova during a pivotal moment for Chisinau. In an exclusive interview for “Bridges to Europe,” Rinkēvičs praised Moldova’s recent progress, noting significant changes since his tenure as Latvia’s Foreign Minister in 2016.
“When I visited Moldova in 2017, I doubted we’d see progress soon. But the people of Moldova chose a path toward Europe—a path that has brought Moldova closer to the EU than ever before. The last two years, in particular, have been remarkable, with Moldova gaining candidate status from the European Council and now beginning EU membership negotiations,” said President Rinkēvičs. “Now is the time for concrete work and action.”
Rinkēvičs also highlighted Latvia’s response to Russian hybrid warfare tactics, which Moldova is also experiencing. Latvia restricted Russian media early to protect its information landscape—a proactive move he says has been effective.
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“We firmly believe that democracy has a right to self-defense. When foreign actors attack democratic principles, it’s not about freedom of speech or press—it’s subversion. After February 24, 2022, as Russia escalated its aggression, Latvia closed many Russian media outlets. We continue monitoring social media and websites for disinformation or hate in-law violation, and when necessary, we take action to shut these channels down,” he explained.
In the interview, Rinkēvičs offered valuable advice to Moldovan authorities for EU accession talks, citing Latvia’s experience to emphasize the importance of Moldova’s potential entry into the EU.
The full interview airs exclusively on RLIVE TV on Friday, November 1, at 18:00. “Bridges to Europe” is a project supported by the Soros Foundation Moldova in partnership with the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the Association for Responsible Initiatives (ASPIR).