President of Moldova Maia Sandu at the presidential palace in Chisinau on February 13. EPA
President of Moldova Maia Sandu at the presidential palace in Chisinau on February 13. EPA
President of Moldova Maia Sandu at the presidential palace in Chisinau on February 13. EPA
President of Moldova Maia Sandu at the presidential palace in Chisinau on February 13. EPA

World

Europe

Moldova accuses Russia of plotting to topple government

'Saboteurs with military background' will seek to overthrow the government, says Moldovan President

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

February 13, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Russia is plotting to violently overthrow Moldova's pro-European leadership with the help of saboteurs disguised as anti-government protesters, Moldova's President Maia Sandu said on Monday.

Ms Sandu said the plan would involve "saboteurs with military background, camouflaged in civilian clothes, to undertake violent actions, attacks on state institutions and taking hostages".

Under the guise of "protests by the so-called opposition", the saboteurs would aim to "overthrow the constitutional order and replace the legitimate power of Chisinau with an illegitimate one", she said.

READ MORE

Russian missile crosses Moldova as its government collapses

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week told an EU summit that Kyiv had "intercepted the plan for the destruction of Moldova by Russian intelligence".

Moldova, a country of 2.6 million people neighbouring Romania and Ukraine, received EU candidate status in the summer of 2022.

But over the past year it has faced anti-government protests organised by a fugitive oligarch named Ilan Shor.

Russia and Ukraine conflict latest - in pictures

A tank, seen left, fires a round in Soledar, a town in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Reuters
A tank, seen left, fires a round in Soledar, a town in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Reuters
Tank fire in Soledar, Donetsk. Reuters
Tank fire in Soledar, Donetsk. Reuters
Firefighters work to put out a blaze at a Kharkiv fireworks storage site after it was struck by a Russian missile. Getty
Firefighters work to put out a blaze at a Kharkiv fireworks storage site after it was struck by a Russian missile. Getty
Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, visits his troops on the frontline in Soledar, Donetsk. Reuters
Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, visits his troops on the frontline in Soledar, Donetsk. Reuters
A Ukrainian flag attached to a tank flutters in the wind in Bakhmut. Reuters
A Ukrainian flag attached to a tank flutters in the wind in Bakhmut. Reuters
A specialist from an emergency crew works on a residential building in Donetsk that was damaged in recent shelling. Reuters
A specialist from an emergency crew works on a residential building in Donetsk that was damaged in recent shelling. Reuters
A missile fragment left by shelling in Russian-controlled Donetsk. AP
A missile fragment left by shelling in Russian-controlled Donetsk. AP
Residents remove debris and carry their belongings out of a building destroyed by recent shelling in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine. Reuters
Residents remove debris and carry their belongings out of a building destroyed by recent shelling in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine. Reuters
Ukrainian forces fire an anti-aircraft weapon as Russia's attack on the frontline city of Bakhmut continues. Reuters
Ukrainian forces fire an anti-aircraft weapon as Russia's attack on the frontline city of Bakhmut continues. Reuters
A car drives past a destroyed building purported to have been used as temporary accommodation for Russian soldiers, dozens of whom were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in Makiivka, Russian-controlled Ukraine. Reuters
A car drives past a destroyed building purported to have been used as temporary accommodation for Russian soldiers, dozens of whom were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in Makiivka, Russian-controlled Ukraine. Reuters
The site of a temporary barracks for Russian soldiers in Makiivka, which was destroyed in a Ukrainian missile attack. Reuters
The site of a temporary barracks for Russian soldiers in Makiivka, which was destroyed in a Ukrainian missile attack. Reuters
A Ukrainian serviceman carries his injured comrade from the battlefield to a hospital in the Donetsk region. AP
A Ukrainian serviceman carries his injured comrade from the battlefield to a hospital in the Donetsk region. AP
Smoke rises after shelling in Soledar, the site of heavy battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk region. AP
Smoke rises after shelling in Soledar, the site of heavy battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk region. AP

Ms Sandu said that, along with internal forces such as those controlled by Mr Shor, Moscow would use foreign citizens from Russia, Belarus, Serbia and Montenegro to implement its plans.

Moldova's Parliament would therefore need to "quickly adopt" the laws that would provide the country's Intelligence and Security Service and the prosecutors with "the necessary means to fight more efficiently against national security threats", she said.

But the "Kremlin's attempts to bring violence to our country will fail", she said.

Putin says world facing most dangerous decade since Second World War - video

Over the past year, the war in Ukraine has repeatedly caused security concerns as debris from Russian missiles landed on Moldovan territory.

Moldova also suffered energy blackouts after Ukraine stopped exporting electricity because of Russian airvstrikes on critical infrastructure.

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Plastic tipping points
Read more about the coronavirus
More coverage from the Future Forum
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The national orchestra
More on this story
More on Quran memorisation:
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
More from Neighbourhood Watch:

The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)

More from this package
Transgender report
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tomorrow 2021
Read more
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight Championship AJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba

 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

More from this package
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

Transgender report
Towering concerns
More from this package
More on this story
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDual%20permanently%20excited%20synchronous%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E516hp%20or%20400Kw%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E858Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E485km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh699%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
War on waste
Tomorrow 2021
Explained
Recommended
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
  • Brentford v Arsenal
  • Burnley v Brighton
  • Chelsea v Crystal Palace
  • Everton v Southampton
  • Leicester City v Wolves
  • Manchester United v Leeds United
  • Newcastle United v West Ham United
  • Norwich City v Liverpool
  • Tottenham v Manchester City
  • Watford v Aston Villa
Our commentary on Brexit
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKim%20Seung-gyu%2C%20Jo%20Hyeon-woo%2C%20Song%20Bum-keun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDefenders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKim%20Young-gwon%2C%20Kim%20Min-jae%2C%20Jung%20Seung-hyun%2C%20Kim%20Ju-sung%2C%20Kim%20Ji-soo%2C%20Seol%20Young-woo%2C%20Kim%20Tae-hwan%2C%20Lee%20Ki-je%2C%20Kim%20Jin-su%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMidfielders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPark%20Yong-woo%2C%20Hwang%20In-beom%2C%20Hong%20Hyun-seok%2C%20Lee%20Soon-min%2C%20Lee%20Jae-sung%2C%20Lee%20Kang-in%2C%20Son%20Heung-min%20(captain)%2C%20Jeong%20Woo-yeong%2C%20Moon%20Seon-min%2C%20Park%20Jin-seob%2C%20Yang%20Hyun-jun%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStrikers%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHwang%20Hee-chan%2C%20Cho%20Gue-sung%2C%20Oh%20Hyeon-gyu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More coverage from the Future Forum
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Main report
Transgender report
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Mountain%20Boy
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zainab%20Shaheen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Naser%20Al%20Messabi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here
Tomorrow 2021
Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Neighbourhood Watch
Updated: February 13, 2023, 11:40 PM`
UkraineRussia

Revealed: Israel questions in Germany's updated citizenship test

Terror threat upgrade shows 'one attack won't be enough' for ISIS

French politicians back school head who quit in veil row

Ireland to add voice in genocide case against Israel

Dubai's Salik announces road toll rates for Eid Al Adha

Cartoon for June 6, 2025

Rain expected for UAE Eid Al Adha staycations

Hajj by horseback: Modern-day caravan makes seven-month pilgrimage from Andalusia to Makkah

Pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat to offer Hajj prayers

Pilgrims gather on Mount Arafat to offer Hajj prayers

Syrian government says it has seized all Captagon production labs

Syrian government says it has seized all Captagon production labs

Rehabilitated turtles return to sea in UAE

Rehabilitated turtles return to sea in UAE

Renowned surgeon launches Abu Dhabi clinic to transform care for amputees

Renowned surgeon launches Abu Dhabi clinic to transform care for amputees