The Moldovan opposition is protesting against the arrival of NATO hardware in Moldova and promising to egg the alliance's fighting vehicles which Moldova's defence ministry is going to display at the capital's central square on Victory Day. Dodon's Socialists and members of Renato Usatîi's party are requesting the urgent convocation of the parliament on constitutional abuses and are calling NATO's presence the occupation of the country. The Moldovan president, Nicolae Timofti, fears that the exposition of NATO hardware in Kishinev's centre will result in «wrong interpretations» and will not have a necessary «patriotic and educational effect» as Moldova will be Radonitsa on that day. The leader of the Moldovan Liberals, Mihai Ghimpu, who was hit on the head during the January unrest in Moldova, thinks that if American tanks or «other [military vehicles]" drive along the roads of his country, let them do it for God's sake as «Moldova is a democratic and constitutional state… So, sorry».
Yesterday military drills Dragon Pioneer-2016 with the involvement of NATO units and Moldova's armed forces started at the NegreȘti military facility (40 km from Kishinev). About 200 soldiers of the 2nd US Cavalry Regiment and 165 Moldovan servicemen are engaged in the military drills which will continue until 20 May with a break for the co-called «display of military hardware» in Kishinev on 9 May, Victory Day. According to the media, nearly 200 combat vehicles are going to pass through the Moldovan capital.
The instigator of the exhibition, Moldova's defence minister Anatol Șalaru, has said on his social network page that in this way the country will honour the memory of WWII victims.
«The American soldiers have come here to honour the memory of millions of World War II victims," wrote Șalaru.
«It is not a military parade or presentation, but a friendly demonstration," the minister told journalists.
In the meantime, the Moldovan opposition and public, as well as the country's commander-in-chief Nicolae Timofti, have turned against the display of American military hardware on the capital's central square on Victory Day.
Igor Dodon, the leader of the Moldovan Socialists, has called the scheduled exhibition of NATO hardware «a military occupation», a violation of Moldova's neutrality and an act of national treason by the government.
«The organisation of the passage of NATO armoured vehicles through Moldova cannot be called otherwise than the occupation of Moldova. This is a slap in the face for the Moldovan constitution and parliament, which adopted a declaration on permanent sovereignty and neutral status of Moldova," Igor Dodon wrote on his social media page.
«The Moldovan government allowing the organisation of such a parade is committing an act of national treason, [therefore it] should be immediately dismissed and brought to account," he added.
According to him, the Socialists are going to hold a Victory March on 9 May and the Immortal Regiment parade. In an interview with a TASS journalist Dodon promised to egg American military hardware.
Through social networks he has urged the Moldovan public to do their best to prevent the deployment of NATO hardware on Kishinev's central square on Victory Day.
«The Socialists are going to block all approaches to the capital to destroy these plans," said Dodon.
In the course of a press conference today, the leader of the Moldovan Socialists demanded to convoke an emergency parliamentary session on NATO drills in Moldova. According to the media, this demand has been signed by all 24 Socialists in the Moldovan parliament. Dodon also hopes that it will be further backed by at least 10 more MPs.
«I wonder what would be the reaction of American citizens if foreign soldiers marched in the centre of the US capital and foreign military hardware is put on display on Independence Day, 4 July. That it is going to be done on 9 May is a humiliation for the memory and feelings of hundreds of thousands citizens for whom Victory Day is a sacred holiday," he said.
The leader of the Partidul Nostru [Our Party] party, Renato Usatîi, has also requested the immediate convocation of parliament «to make a political and legal assessment of the current situation and prevent systemic abuses of Moldova's constitutional system.
On his social network page Usatîi has called on Moldovan citizens «to rise to fight against the regime».
Partidul Nostru is calling on Moldovan citizens to embark on a struggle against the regime that has taken captive the country and put an end to this threat to peace and security," he wrote.
Renato Usatîi has NATO drills «a demonstrative and provocative action», which may lead to an escalation of tensions in Pridnestrovie.
«The arrival of battle ready and fully equipped military units is far beyond the provisions of agreements on partnership between NATO and Moldova. This demonstrative and provocative action is entailing an escalation of tensions in Pridnestrovie, jeopardising the negotiation process and prospects for a peaceful resolution of the Pridnestrovian conflict," said Usatîi.
The blame for the unpredictable results of this action fully lies with the ruling regime whose irresponsible activities bring into question Moldova's neutral status, torpedo the negotiation process in the Pridnestrovian settlement," believes the politician.
Russia's State Duma deputy Roman Khudyakov has backed Moldovan opposition leaders. In an interview with a Life journalist he said that «resurrected fascists are holding power in Moldova».
«During the war many Moldovans fought along with us and formed integral part with in defending the Fatherland," Khudyakov recalled. But now resurrected fascists have come to power, that is, those who invaded Moldova and were occupants.»
The Russian MP is sure that the current Moldovan power is absolutely subordinate to US interests and ignores its people's opinion.
«They (US) are as a thorn in relations between Moldova, Ukraine and Russia," Khudyakov complained. It is no wonder, therefore, that the Moldovan authorities are working specifically for the US and Europe, but not for their own people," Khudyakov believes.
Moldova's commander-in-chief Nicolae Timofti is also opposing the idea of displaying NATO hardware on Victory Day, as is reported by media outlets, quoting a letter by the president's aide on national defence and security, Aleksei Barbăneagră, to defence minister Anatol Șalaru. It is evident from the letter that Timofti fears negative interpretations and speculations caused by the fact of the presence of NATO hardware in central Kishinev. However, the following «fact» is quoted as principal against the demonstration of NATO military vehicles on Victory Day:
«The head of state believes that as Victory Day coincides with Radonitsa (commemoration of the departed, ed.), with main events taking place at memorials, including cemeteries, the organisation of such an exposition on the central square will not contribute to the anticipated patriotic and educational effect," reads the letter to Anatol Șalaru.
In response the defence minister has stated that he knows the president's opinion, but does not intend to change his decision, and American hardware will be out on display in central Kishinev on Victory Day anyway.
A number of Moldovan politicians has backed Șalaru's stance and opinion on NATO troops. So, the chair of the Liberal Party, Mihai Ghimpu, sees nothing bad in foreign military roaming along Moldovan roads.
«I know that Russian troops have been deployed in Moldova since 1812. If Americans or other [military] pass, [let them do so] for God's sake, as we are a democratic and constitutional state, our roads are open, and we have had freedom of movement for two years already since the liberalisation of a visa regime. So, sorry," said Mihai Ghimpu.
Cooperation between NATO and Moldova started in 2006. Back then, the speaker of the parliament, Marian Lupu, maintained that Moldova «intended to become an integral part of NATO's space». The alliance takes active part in the rearmament of the Moldovan army and trains its personnel. In 2011 the Moldovan army adopted NATO's ceremonial step. Since 2013 Moldovan soldiers have been participating in a NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Kosovo. Joint military drills with the involvement of NATO's and Moldova's military units have become common in recent years. The current military exercises are the fourth in the past six months.
