In an interview with the Izvestiya newspaper, the deputy foreign minister of the Russian Federation, Grigory Karasin, commented on Moldova's hostile rhetoric towards Russia.
«We are sincerely perplexed by the verbal attacks on the Russian military stationed in Pridnestrovie. The Russian troops fulfil a double task there — protection of the munitions depots, which have remained there since the Soviet era, in the village of Kolbasna and participation in the joint peacekeeping forces. The mandate of the peacekeeping operation clearly links the duration of our stay in the region with access to a political agreement on the settlement of the Pridnestrovian conflict," underscored Karasin.
Grigory Karasin also said that the authorities of some countries, notably Ukraine and the Baltic states, had increased pressure on the Russian communities, RIA Novosti clarifies.
«It has recently become evident that the authorities of some countries and the extremist elements have increased pressure on our compatriots with the explicit aim to infringe their rights. In most states, the Russian communities are trying to resist discrimination, insults and sometimes public defamation. They sometimes have to resort to judicial methods of defending their rights in compliance with local legislation," he said.
Karasin noted that Moscow was closely watching how the rights of its compatriots were observed — when required, this issue is raised both during bilateral consultations and at the venues of reputable international organisations.
«Signals coming from many countries show that the situation is difficult in this area. Of course, most states remain in good relations with Russia. However, the Russophobe propaganda initiated overseas can't but affect the mood and daily lives of Russians abroad," added the diplomat.
According to him, the situation in Ukraine and the Baltic states remains the most anxious. Thus, the deputy minister said, the elimination of inscriptions in Russian, a ban on the distribution of the Russian press «are flagrant violations of Ukraine's international commitments within the UN, Council of Europe and the OSCE». Responding to the accusations by the Baltic states of Moscow raising a «fifth column», Karasin noted that «the lie about the 'fifth column' is not the best fudge by Baltic politicians and secret services».
