Sandu: Moldova joined anti-Russian sanctions under pressure

Moldovan President Maia Sandu said the republic joined sanctions against Russia because of the threat of restrictions from Western countries, TASS reported.

“If we had not joined the sanctions against Russia, our banking system and economic spheres would have been isolated internationally. We did not want our citizens to one day not be able to transfer money home from abroad and so on. Our economic agents need a banking system that will remain part of the world system and not be in isolation,” Sandu said during a political debate with former prosecutor general and candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo ahead of the second round of the presidential election.

Earlier, Moldova joined the sanctions in the banking system, the republic's direct air links with Russia were suspended, and other restrictions were applied. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia regards the decision of the Moldovan leadership to join the EU's anti-Russian sanctions as another hostile step.

The Moldovan leadership's attitude toward Russia and the CIS began to change after Sandu won the 2020 presidential election, proclaiming a course of integration with the EU and refusing to participate in CIS summits. Last year, the republic's government announced plans to denounce more than 110 of the 282 agreements concluded within the CIS.