CHISINAU, February 11. /TASS/. The administration of the Moldovan president has refuted media reports about a coup allegedly plotted in the country.

"This is of course fake news," the press service said in comments on the reports about an allegedly coming ‘coup d’etat’.

The administration links the reports with the election campaign in Moldova. It also says President Igor Dodon is to put forward a legislative initiative about punishment for those who spread fake news. "Yes, we have freedom of speech, but lies must be punished with all rigor of the law," it stressed.

Reports circulated by certain Internet portals say a group of Moldovan military and veterans of the Armed Forces is allegedly ready "to defend the state with arms in hand", "to prevent large-scale rigging at the parliamentary election of February 24," among other objectives.