Moldova have closed their airspace over fears that Vladimir Putin is planning a coup d’etat by attacking government buildings and stage “violent actions disguised as protests.”
Moldova is a former Soviet republic and Air Moldova are urging passenger to “stay calm” and more information will be provided at a later time.
In a statement the airline said, “Dear passengers, at this moment, the airspace of the Republic of Moldova is closed. We are waiting for the resumption of flights.”
The Moldovan President Maia Sandu said, “Through violent actions disguised as protests by the so-called opposition, the change of power in Chisinau would be forced.”
Read more on Russia-Ukraine war:
Moldova warns Moscow are planning a coup d’etat to take control of their country ‘through violent actions disguised as protests’
Major Ukrainian ‘breakthrough’ in the south will ‘seriously challenge Russia’s land bridge with Crimea’
Russian forces have ‘suffered its highest rate of casualties since the first week ’ of the war in a huge blow for Putin
NATO F-35 fighter jets scrambled after Russian aircraft approach Poland from Kaliningrad enclave
Ukrainian intelligence has passed sensitive documents which allegedly “contains instructions on the rules of entry into Moldova for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Serbia, and Montenegro.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “such claims are completely unfounded and unsubstantiated.”
Costin Ciobanu, a political scientist at the Royal Holloway University of London, said it’s likely there “was a huge pressure” on Moldovan government to explain more to the public.
He told The Associated Press, “Today’s announcement by President Sandu legitimizes the narrative that Moldova needs to focus on its security.
“Probably, based on the evidence they received, they are now more sure of these kinds of attempts by Russians.”
The AAC announced in a statement, “Following the meeting of the Interdepartmental Commission for Airspace Management, a NOTAM was issued temporarily closing the airspace of the Republic of Moldova at 11:24 a.m., February 14, in order to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation.
“At 2:47 p.m., the airspace was reopened.”
The White House have expressed their concerns and the national security spokesperson John Kirby said this would “certainly not be outside the bounds of Russian behaviour,” and claims Moscow are wanting to change the government is “deeply concerning.”
Sandu has claimed that Moscow are “to overturn the constitutional order, to change the legitimate power from Chisinau to an illegitimate one that would put [Moldova] at Russia’s disposal to stop the European integration process.”
Last Thursday Kyiv said they have “intercepted” plans by “Russian intelligence” which warns that Moscow wants to destroy Moldova and “establish control” over the country.
President Zelensky told EU leaders last week on his trip across Europe, “I have informed [Sandu] her that we have intercepted the plan of the destruction of Moldova by the Russian intelligence.”
He told the leaders in Brussels that Ukrainian intelligence showed “who, when and how” Moscow’s plan would “break the democracy of Moldova and establish control over Moldova.”
Leave a Comment