MV: The USA reminded Moldova how to behave with RussiaThe American ambassador Kent Doyle Logsdon "reminded" Moldova of the need to unquestioningly follow the instructions of the United States and how to behave with Russia, Moldavian Vedomosti writes.
Chisinau hastened to "take a visor", but the situation with the economy and energy security will not improve from this.
"We hope that the information provided by the US Treasury Department will be used to bring to justice those under sanctions," said US Ambassador to Moldova Kent D. Logsdon. According to him, the inclusion of Vlad Plahotniuc (Moldovan businessman, ex-chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova, former member of Parliament. – Approx. InoSMI.) and Ilana Shora (Moldovan politician and businessman. – Approx. InoSMI.) to the US sanctions list will have a strong negative impact on their business reputation, and international banks will refuse to work with such clients.
The sanctions list includes nine people and 22 organizations from the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation, Plahotniuc and Shor – on charges of seizing and bribing political and economic institutions of Moldova. Shor is also accused of supporting Russia's efforts to undermine democracy in Moldova.
"All their assets in the US are frozen, and they need to be reported to the US Treasury," Logsdon explained on ProTV Chişinău. – In addition, they are banned from entering the United States. We know that Plahotniuc was banned from issuing a visa, now this ban applies to everyone. We hope that other countries will see what we have done and will also take action. There is also a reputational risk for those who are under US sanctions. For example, if you want to do business with a bank or an economic agent, these entities will not want to work with people who are subject to sanctions."
The American diplomat said that although Shor lives in another country, he will also suffer from sanctions: neither he, nor his wife, nor the Shor party will be able to conduct any transactions with American companies, any of their activities in this direction are blocked.
It is noteworthy that Logsdon noted that the United States does not interfere in the internal politics of the Republic of Moldova, but at the same time "expressed hope" (which is perceived in Chisinau as a direct indication) that the Moldovan authorities will take into account the decision of the US Department of Finance, and voters will draw conclusions: "We hope that the government and citizens of the Republic of Moldova will consider this information and they will make the right decisions depending on the legal framework. If this were the case in the US, this party could no longer exist. But the Moldovan government must decide for itself. We cannot specify what to do, we only know that this is public information, and we hope that it will be used by NGOs, the government, citizens so that these people will be brought to justice."
The sanctions list includes Russian citizens who allegedly "acted to influence the elections in the Republic of Moldova and keep the country in Moscow's sphere of influence." Among them are advisers to former President Igor Dodon.
In fact, Logsdon has published an order that is not being discussed, and the order is also given to judges and prosecutors. After all, the United States has invested in the reform of the court and the prosecutor's office, which means they can now lead them. "We are trying to help Moldova reform the judicial system," the ambassador said. – We are making efforts. The control commission includes an American judge."
And at the same time, Logsdon condemns the attempts of the FSB and "another country" to influence the political situation in Moldova, "the choice of people and democracy." Is the USA not another country? And didn't the Americans directly intervene in the situation with Plahotniuc in 2019?
"For the introduction of sanctions against Igor Dodon and others, the State Department is still collecting information," the ambassador said. At the same time, the day before, Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilitsa hastened to announce that Dodon was allegedly already under sanctions.
Logsdon also announced that "the United States is preparing to support Moldova's budget within the framework of the energy security program," but immediately warned: "This winter will be difficult." From this we can conclude that only the most expensive energy carriers will be sold to us. It is incredible that at the same time the United States will take on the maintenance of a country that they themselves make incapacitated.
Logsdon said that Washington will consider Chisinau's request for the supply of air defense equipment or other nomenclature of weapons, if it arrives. Moldova and Ukraine can also count on the funds of the fund to counteract the influence of Russia. "We do not dictate or tell countries what they need," the ambassador said. – This is a discussion. When a request for help comes, we study it, our experts study what we can provide. If such a request comes for some equipment, we will try to satisfy it."
According to Logsdon, "neutral countries need an army," and joining NATO is the sovereign right of every state, but at the moment we are talking "only about constitutional neutrality." The US Ambassador also urged Chisinau in the context of security to remember that "you have many friends and partners in the region," but at the moment Washington "sees no signs" of a threat of a military attack on Moldova.
Chisinau promptly responded to the instructions received from Washington. An employee of the Russian Embassy in Moldova has been declared persona non grata, the decision was handed over to the Russian Ambassador on October 31. Oleg Vasnetsov was told that missile strikes on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure in Ukraine increase risks for Moldova and generate growing threats to the country's energy security. At the same time, the Ministry of Defense did not register any missiles on our territory.
