Eastern Europe: Crisis in Moldova: Prime Minister resigns

In the crisis-ridden former Soviet republic of Moldova, the pro-European head of government Natalia Gavriliţa has submitted her resignation. The 45-year-old announced on Friday in the capital Chisinau that after a year and a half in the post of prime minister it was time to resign. Pro-Western President Maia Sandu accepted the request.

Russia, in particular, is fighting for influence in the country located between EU member Romania and Ukraine. For example, Moscow controls the Transnistria region, which had broken away from Moldova – and has also stationed troops there. The West accuses Russia of wanting to destabilize the situation in the impoverished agricultural country that is striving to join the EU. Many Ukrainian refugees live in Moldova. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently accused Russia of wanting to take control of Moldova.

The government under Gavrilița has been under pressure for months due to massive increases in energy and food prices. Pro-Russian ex-President Igor Dodon said the leadership was overwhelmed and plunged Moldova into a deep crisis. As a representative of the opposition, he called for early parliamentary elections.

Most recently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused President Sandu of seeking unification with Romania. He accused the West of wanting to turn Moldova, like Ukraine, into another “anti-Russia”. Because of the pro-Western course of the government in Chisinau, relations with Moscow are heavily strained. Traditionally, the country gets gas from Russia, while the huge empire mainly imports agricultural products from Moldova.