Moscow’s recent accusations against Chisinau reflect its shock over the outcome of Moldova’s parliamentary elections, President Maia Sandu said in an interview with RLIVE TV. The president compared the Kremlin’s reaction to similar responses in other post-Soviet countries, stressing that Moldova seeks peace while Russia responds with hostility following the September 28 elections.
“The reaction from Moscow came late. For several days after the elections, they stayed silent — shocked that we managed to defend our sovereignty and organize elections where Moldovans decided for Moldova. After a few days, they started throwing accusations — that’s their response to our democratic choice,” Sandu said.
She reiterated her appeal for Russia to stop interfering in Moldova’s internal affairs:
“We don’t interfere in Russia’s elections, and we ask that they do the same. The only real threats to security are these hybrid interferences. Moldova is a peaceful country. When they accuse us of wanting to protect ourselves, they should look at their own budget — how much they’ve increased military spending to endlessly finance war instead of improving people’s lives.”
Sandu emphasized that the Moldovan government focuses on investing in education, infrastructure, and healthcare, while strengthening national defense capacities to protect citizens from possible debris from Russian missiles targeting Ukraine.
“They cannot accept that we are a nation deciding our own destiny. Their messages are anti-European and anti-Moldovan. People should look at how life really is in Russia — at the lack of freedoms there. We want to be free. We want our children to feel safe here, to sing, to create, to dance,” Sandu said.
Regarding cooperation with NATO, the president underlined that the Alliance assists Moldova in cybersecurity and other non-military areas of security.