The leader of Norways Green Party, Arild Hermstad, announced that he has nominated President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu for the Nobel Peace Prize.
In a public post, the Norwegian politician said that Maia Sandu stands on the front line of democracy in Europe, at a time when the Republic of Moldova has faced documented attempts of Russian electoral interference, disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, and destabilization efforts aimed at bringing a Kremlin friendly government to power.
Arild Hermstad said that Russia is waging a hybrid war against several former Soviet states and described Vladimir Putin as the greatest threat to peace and stability in Europe. In this context, he stated that Maia Sandu and the Republic of Moldova are fighting a battle for everyone.
According to the Green Party leader, Moldovas head of state has responded to these pressures through peaceful means by strengthening the rule of law, protecting free elections, and maintaining a clear democratic course. At the same time, Sandu has firmly distanced herself from Russian imperialism and moved the Republic of Moldova closer to Western democracies.
Hermstad stressed that this represents peace work for the present era, focused on building resilient communities before conflicts turn violent. He added that democracy serves as a prerequisite for lasting peace and said that Maia Sandus role in safeguarding Moldovas democracy makes her deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Realitatea.md requested a reaction from the Moldovan Presidency, but had not received a response by the time of publication.