Russia's accusations came after a vote in Moldova's parliament to agree to abide by sanctions as part of the country's conditions for joining the European Union.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L), Moldovan President Maia Sandu (R) and European Council President Charles Michel (C) attend a joint press conference in Kiev, Ukraine on November 21, 2023. Photo: Reuters
“We consider this another hostile step by the Moldovan leadership, which is fully integrated into the anti-Russian campaign of the ‘Western collective,’” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Its aim is to completely destroy Russian-Moldovan relations, which are already in a very bad state...", the statement added. The Russian Foreign Ministry also said that Moscow would take retaliatory action.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu's Action and Solidarity Party has backed the law, which also aims to protect against undue influence by business tycoons or "oligarchs."
However, members of the opposition Socialist Party refused to vote and called for the bill to be referred to the Venice Commission - a body of the European Human Rights Oversight Council, which advises on legal and constitutional issues.
The European Commission this month recommended starting membership talks with Moldova and Ukraine, putting the issue to the EU summit in December.
Huy Hoang (according to Reuters)
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