By John Revill
ZURICH (Reuters) – Moldova’s prime minister said on Monday the aborted mutiny in Russia has exposed Moscow’s weakness and that what he described as the Kremlin’s interference in his own country was getting less effective over time.
The former Soviet republic wedged between Ukraine and Romania has repeatedly accused Russia of meddling in its affairs, particularly over the breakaway region of Transdniestria – accusations Russia denies.
“What we have seen in recent days is a clear indication of the weakness of the Russian leadership and the Russian management of the army,” Prime Minister Dorin Recean told Reuters in an interview.
“Russia is much weaker than people perceived it to be,” he added, speaking in Zurich ahead of a meeting of the European Free Trade Association in neighbouring Liechtenstein where he is due to sign a free trade agreement.
Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin shocked the world by leading Saturday’s armed revolt, only to abruptly call it off as his fighters approached Moscow having shot down several aircraft but meeting no resistance on the ground.
The events could prove a military and morale boost to Ukraine as it fought off Russia’s invasion, Recean said. “It is important to have even more commitment from the West to supply Ukraine with what it needs in order to defend the country and to push Russian troops out.”
Moldova’s government – which hopes to join the European Union by 2030 – has accused Russia of mounting a series of attempts to undermine its security, including a coup attempt, bomb hoaxes, internet hacks and fake conscription call-ups.
Russia, which says it is mounting a “special military operation” in Ukraine, has repeatedly dismissed the Moldovan accusations of fomenting unrest.
Recean said Moldova continued to be targeted, although Russia’s campaigns were becoming less effective.
“We don’t feel that Russia is withdrawing or lessening the intensity. It’s just that our institutions have improved their capabilities to fight this hybrid war of Russia.”
In the longer term, the resolution of the dispute over Transdniestria most likely depended on the end of the conflict in Ukraine, he added.
Hundreds of Russian soldiers have been stationed in the sliver of land running along Moldova’s eastern border with Ukraine since a war between pro-Russian separatists and Moldovan government forces after the 1991 Soviet break-up.
“First of all Moldova will solve this Transdniestria issue peacefully,” Recean said. “This is fundamental.
“The first thing is to demilitarise the region where Russian troops are stationed illegally. This will most likely happen when the Russian are pushed out of Ukraine.”
(Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
