CHISINAU, February 2. /TASS/. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic Moldova denounced the statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that Moldova would be the "next Ukraine.".
"We categorically reject the statements of the head of Russian diplomacy, which are out of touch with reality and are part of the already well-known threatening rhetoric of Russian diplomacy," Spokesman of the Moldovan Foreign Ministry Daniel Voda said on Thursday.
"We would like to remind the Russian side that the Republic of Moldova has chosen the path of joining the European Union. This project is supported by the citizens of the country," Voda said as quoted by the ministry’s press service.
Earlier on Thursday, Lavrov drew attention to the calls of President Maia Sandu to strengthen the army and join NATO. According to him, the Moldovan President, who has Romanian citizenship, is also ready to unite with Romania and take other steps, which are unpopular among the country's citizens. The Russian Foreign Minister also drew attention to the fact that Chisinau is avoiding negotiations on the Transnistrian problem.
Last summer, opposition protests against rising prices and the economic crisis began in Moldova. Their protesters demanded the resignation of President Maia Sandu as well as the government of Natalia Gavrilitsa. The country's leadership has also been criticized for militaristic rhetoric.