Moldovan president made statements after CSS meeting

Chisinau, 26 Sep. /MOLDPRES/- President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu held a press conference today and announced the decisions taken on Saturday at the meeting of the Supreme Security Council /CSS/.

The head of state noted that at the meeting, the law enforcement bodies reported on the changes that may occur in the region, and in particular in the Republic of Moldova, as a result of the announcements made by the Russian Federation regarding the partial mobilization, the secessionist referendums in the Ukrainian regions under the control of the army of the Russian Federation and the eventual use of unconventional weapons.

"We discussed the potential consequences of the escalation of the military conflict in Ukraine, including the risks of nuclear incidents. The rapporteurs referred to several categories of risks: the increase in refugee flows, the interruption of the natural gas supply, the disruption of the electricity supply, exploiting crisis by criminal groups and foreign agents to cause destabilization", the president said.

Maia Sandu said that CSS also approved recommendations, including: increasing vigilance and updating action plans, corresponding to new risks; more rigorous monitoring of the situation in the Transnistrian region and discouraging the involvement of the population in this area in mobilization activities carried out by the Russian Federation; preparing for a possible increased flow of refugees; the supply of alternative energy resources; verification of contingency plans in case of nuclear incidents.

"Currently, the risk of using nuclear weapons is assessed as unlikely, but not impossible. In this context, it was recommended to the Government to check the degree of preparedness of the institutions and the population for the possible consequences of nuclear incidents and to resume the communication campaign about the protection measures in the event of a nuclear accident. I ask citizens to pay attention to the communications of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations on this issue. There is also the risk of mobilization of citizens of the Republic of Moldova from the eastern districts of the country. In order to discourage such actions, we are analyzing the possibility of revocation of citizenship for those with the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova and the Russian Federation who will fight on the side of the aggressor. We are also considering the possibility of toughening the punishments for those who only have the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova, without the Russian citizenship, and enlist on the side of the aggressor", said Sandu.

"It is obvious that security risks are increasing. This means that we need to strengthen the defense, security and law enforcement sectors. All institutions in these sectors are mobilized to adequately respond to these risks. In the future, our main objective remains the maintenance of peace in our country. All those who through their actions will try to destabilize the situation in the country, who incite hatred, inter-ethnic dissensions, war, revanchist actions will be investigated", the president said.

Maia Sandu reiterated that in this cold season, as in the previous one, the citizens will have support from the state and recommended the responsible institutions to adopt and apply tougher sanctions for those who call the aggressors into the country, for treason and separatism.