Moldovan President Maia Sandu has announced that a referendum on European Union membership will be held in October, as she seeks to ensure that the country of 2.6 million people maintains progress toward joining the bloc, Bloomberg reports, UNN writes.
Details
Moldova received the European Commission's approval last December to begin EU accession talks and aims to complete the process by 2030. But it has faced what it calls unprecedented hybrid attacks by Russia, which supports what the newspaper points out is the pro-Russian region of Transnistria on its territory, to undermine these efforts.
Sandu said that she has asked the Moldovan parliament to start the procedure for a constitutional plebiscite, which is scheduled for the same day as the presidential election.
"For the majority of Moldovan citizens, the EU is a project of peace and prosperity, while Russia is constantly trying to destabilize the situation in Moldova," Sandu said at a press conference on Monday in the capital Chisinau.
"We expect Russia's attacks and provocations to continue, but I urge citizens not to be afraid and to support the pro-European referendum, as the EU is the only option that can ensure peace," she said.
Sunday's incident with a helicopter at a military base in Transnistria, the newspaper writes, highlighted the problems. "This incident is an attempt to provoke fear and panic in the region," the Moldovan government said.