During a trip to Gagauzia, where pro-Russian sentiment is quite strong, the President of Moldova, Maya Sandu, called on citizens to prevent a split in society and preserve peace.
This is reported by Newsmaker.
During a public speech at Comrat University, Sandu spoke a lot about peace and unity, among other issues. She emphasized that she came to Gagauzia to "talk openly about the difficult situation in which our country, the entire region found itself - directly and without hesitation."
Sandu reminded that nearby Ukrainians protect the right to live in their country and determine their future at a high cost, and emphasized that maintaining peace is the main task for all residents of Moldova in order to prevent division along ethnic or territorial lines.
"We cannot allow anyone to instill in us suspicions and mistrust of each other. Some in this country do not want to be responsible for their theft, lawlessness and corruption, so they are trying to create chaos. But do our citizens need this?... The slogan for the majority of residents Moldovans are peace and harmony. We are all Moldovans," she emphasized.
Recently in Gagauzia there was a wave of small demonstrations with pro-Russian slogans, up to calls to meet the Russian army "with kavirma and red wine". Local officials and representatives of self-government bodies took part in some of them.
The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergey Lavrov, in his latest statements regarding Moldova, said that the Russian Federation is ready to "do everything" to protect Russian speakers in the country, and separately mentioned Gagauzia as a special region that deserves a special status.