Moldova’s Ruling Party Rejects Parliamentary Friendship Groups With Russia and Belarus

Overview

• Vice Speaker Doina German announced that the Foreign Policy Commission will not form the groups with Russia and Belarus.
• Igor Dodon and the opposition Socialists formally demanded the creation of such groups and accused the authorities of aggressive Russophobia.
• German said friendship groups would be maintained only with states that respect Moldova’s independence and territorial integrity.
• RIA and TASS report that Moldova currently maintains parliamentary friendship groups with dozens of other countries, with Russian officials urging preservation of people-to-people ties.
• Bilateral relations cooled after Maia Sandu took office and deteriorated in 2022, including expulsions of Russian embassy staff and delays over Russia’s ambassador’s credentials.