CHISINAU, January 21. /TASS/. Moldova’s current President Maia Sandu’s calls to join NATO are dangerous, Former President Igor Dodon wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday, commenting on Sandu’s interview with Politico.

"Sandu keeps dragging Moldova into NATO in defiance of constitution-enshrined neutrality," he said. "She acts by order of her overseas handlers against the interests of the country and its people, against Moldova’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence."

"Our citizens want neutrality and peace, as proven in the results of numerous opinion polls, and they will never agree to be cannon fodder for NATO in the fight against Russia," Dodon wrote.

In an interview with Politico, Sandu declared importance of bolstering Moldova’s defense capacity against the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis. She also underscored that only NATO can provide reliable protection for her country, but pointed out that the NATO accession "should happen through a democratic process."

Moldova has agreed its Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO. The alliance’s Information and Documentation Centre operates in Chisinau, while a NATO Liaison Office was established there in December 2017.

Earlier, Sandu showed an interest in NATO’s support of national reforms and upgrading of the Moldovan army. This stand is backed by other pro-European politicians, who believe that the neutrality status was ‘imposed’ on Moldova after the Transnistria conflict and that it should not obstruct cooperation. The opposition lambasts the idea of more active interaction with the North Atlantic Alliance.