More than 75,000 people demonstrated in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova, on Sunday in support of the EU membership aspirations of their government.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola spoke at the rally and said she hoped Moldova might open accession negotiations this year.
Protestors also showed pro-NATO and more general pro-western signs. This happens against the backdrop of more tense relations with Russia.
The war in Ukraine has energised the pro-Western government’s desire to work toward European integration.
Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June 2022, much to the chagrin of Moscow, which is being accused of destabilising the country. President Maia Sandu has alleged that Russia is attempting to hinder its European integration process by inciting anti-government demonstrations and spreading propaganda.
At the gathering in the heart of the city on Sunday, orchestrated by her administration and drawing a large crowd, President Sandu said: “Moldova refuses to be subjected to Kremlin’s blackmail.”
She said: “We came to say loudly, confidently, and proudly that Moldovans are Europeans!
“We don’t want to be on the outskirts of Europe any more,” she said, pledging that Moldova would become an EU member by 2030.
Metsola said Europe would welcome Moldova “with open arms and open hearts”.
She said:”This is about the both of us: You will bring a piece of Moldova to Europe, and you will make Europe stronger.” Addressing Sandu, she said she hoped to be standing next to her when “your great country officially opens accession negotiations, hopefully even this year.”
Europe was on the streets of Chișinău today.
Europa este Moldova.
Moldova este Europa.Moldova nu este singură.
You are not alone. Together, we can face anything 🇪🇺🇲🇩 pic.twitter.com/aDIcKp9hwL
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) May 21, 2023
Protesters urged Moldova’s political officials to revise the constitution to explicitly incorporate the nation’s European orientation.
Simultaneously, Ilan Shor, a Moldovan oligarch in exile and the leader of the pro-Russian opposition Shor party, revealed his intention to hold a referendum on Moldova’s foreign policy trajectory.
Shor was identified as a Russian influence operative by the United States and convicted in absentia of embezzlement from Moldovan banks in 2014. He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for his involvement in the theft of $1 billion (€924 million), as reported by Reuters.
Shor communicated with his supporters via video conference, addressing them at smaller rallies.
Thank you President @sandumaiamd for inviting me to join you and the people of Moldova on this momentous day.
Honoured to stand with a woman who personifies what it means to be European. A leader who inspires. A President who will lead Moldova on their European path 🇪🇺🇲🇩 pic.twitter.com/3ejWoXmyzM
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) May 21, 2023
Moldova is a country of just 2.6 million inhabitants and has an army of just 6,500 men. It needs hundreds of millions of euros to modernise its armed forces, but is one of the poorest countries in Europe. The current military budget is around €40 million.
There is also an unrecognised breakaway state in the country, Transnistria. It exists thanks to Russian military presence in the region that supports the separatists.
In April 2023 Russian Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova complained that Moldova was turning into a tool of the European Union, and that the new EU civilian mission to Moldova was “unlikely to help stabilise the situation in the country and the region”.
The pro-EU protest and promises by Metsola are similar to those made during the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine, where European leaders, such as Euro MP Guy Verhofstadt, made comparable commitments. Russia responded to these events with an antagonistic stance, triggering the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
