Moldova: "Russia has no right to give us lessons about democracy"

Russia has no right to give us lessons about democracy, the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Moldova recently informed, as tensions between the two countries increased after the separatist region of Transnistria asked Moscow for help, according to Reuters.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, present last week at the diplomatic forum in Antalya, declared that "the regime in Chisinau is following in the footsteps of the regime in Kiev", referring to the resumption of the "5+2" negotiation format regarding Transnistria.

According to TASS, Lavrov said: "The resumption of the "5+2" negotiation format regarding the Transnistrian settlement will allow us to continue the search for mutually acceptable solutions, while maintaining the territorial integrity of Moldova, but the Romanian leadership in Chisinau is trying to destroy for always this instrument".

In the opinion of the Russian official, "the regime that installed itself in Chisinau is simply following in the footsteps of the regime in Kiev".

In response, the head of diplomacy from the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popşoi, declared through a message published on a social network: "Minister Lavrov and the Kremlin regime have no moral right to teach us lessons about democracy and freedom. The country that imprisons and kills opposition politicians, unjustifiably attacks its neighbors, can offer the world nothing but blood and pain. We remind Minister Lavrov that in the Republic of Moldova, politicians are elected in free and transparent electoral processes, internationally recognized, where each candidate benefits from equal rights, adequate space for the campaign and the possibility of direct interaction with the voters".

Mihai Popşoi emphasized that it is important for Minister Lavrov to be properly informed about the situation in the Transnistrian region, where more than 70% of local production and services are exported to the member states of the European Union. According to his statements, the Republic of Moldova is "a democratic state for which freedom and respect for human rights are fundamental values".