Moldovan police announced yesterday arresting network members which is suspected to have been organized and directed by Russia with the aim of destabilizing Moldova, on the occasion of a new demonstration against the pro-European government of the neighboring country of Ukraine.

Authorities in the former Soviet republic are on high alert because of strained relations with Moscow, which is seeking to install a Kremlin-friendly government in Chisinau, according to Washington.

After investigations on Saturday night, 25 men were questioned and 7 were taken into custodysaid police chief Viorel Cernauteanu during a press conference.

A police agent infiltrated the organization headed by a Russian-Moldovan. Result, “ten hours of video and audio recordings”.

“People arrived from Russia with a specific educational role,” the police chief added without giving further details.

The authorities mobilized in the direction of this network “after receiving information about the organization by the Russian secret services of destabilizing actions on our territory through demonstrations”.

In view of the organization of a new demonstration yesterday in the capital Chisinau, border controls were strengthened and 182 foreigners were denied entry last week. Among them is also included “potential member” of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, a police statement said.

“Maya Sadu, resign!”

The demonstration took place in a tense and riotous atmosphere shortly after bomb threats disrupted operations at Chisinau airport around noon.

Thousands of people gathered in front of the Parliament and tried to move towards the seat of the government, but were prevented by the police forces who made 54 arrests.

Among the organizers of this rally is the party of pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor, who has fled the country and is suspected by police of paying the protesters.

Among the crowd of protesters were many Moldovans who have been hit by soaring energy prices and called for the resignation of pro-European president Maia Sandu with a slogan “Down with the dictatorship!”

“With our miserable pensions, the winter was hard. No one comes to see us, no one listens to us,” said Irina, 62, a resident of a town near the pro-Russian breakaway Transnistria, declining to give her name.

“We are supposed to be a democracy. We came here peacefully, we have neither knives nor bombs,” said another protester.

In her speech, Marina Tauber, Member of Parliament for the Shore party, said that Maia Sandu wants to “draw Moldova into war”.

Russian movements in Transnistria

The White House on Friday accused Russia of seeking to destabilize Moldova, a country of 2.6 million people that has been independent since 1991 and whose official language is Romanian.

The United States announced that it has increased the supply of information to the Moldovan leadership so that the Moldovan leadership is able to strengthen investigations and oppose Russian plans.

Moldova, which once belonged to Moscow’s sphere of influence, is now ruled by a government that is bent on European integration.

Chisinau is also grappling with the problem of Transnistria, where local pro-Russian authorities have called on the UN to investigate an alleged plot to attack high-ranking officials, claiming Kiev was responsible.

The Ukrainian security services (SBU) immediately reacted by denouncing provocations organized by Moscow.

In addition to the risk of destabilizing Moldova, this new episode reinforces concerns about a possible expansion of the war in Ukraine, since there are estimates that a new front could springboard from pro-Russian Transnistria in the direction of the city of Odessa in southern Ukraine.