Anatol Șalaru warns after the Giurgiulesti incident: "Russian propaganda needs such events to accuse the Republic of Moldova of helping Ukraine"

Former Defense Minister Anatol Şalaru believes that a joint investigation by the General Prosecutor's Office, the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) and the Police is necessary, after MP Vasile Costiuc filmed the infrastructure of the Giurgiulesti Port, including targets that the former official considers sensitive from a security point of view. Şalaru claims that the images could be used by Russian propaganda to accuse the Republic of Moldova of supporting Ukraine and to fuel discontent among the population.

In an interview granted to Radio Chisinau, The former minister stated that the deputy had entered a restricted access area, filmed targets for which he did not have permission, and tried to force access by invoking his status as a parliamentarian.

"In this case, Costiuc entered an area where he did not have access, filmed what he was not allowed to film and tried to force access by invoking his status as a deputy. But the fact that you are a deputy does not mean that all doors automatically open for you. The Giurgiulesti port is a strategic objective and not just anyone can enter there. He filmed things related to the strategic infrastructure and defense of the Republic of Moldova, after which he transmitted them to the public space. I believe that a joint investigation by the Prosecutor General's Office, the SIS and the Police is needed. Costiuc did not only exercise his mandate as a deputy, but, in my opinion, he acted in the interests of Russian propaganda. He used the right to opinion and freedom of expression to achieve his own goals," said Anatol Şalaru.

The former minister believes that the published images could be taken over by Russian propaganda to claim that the Republic of Moldova is helping Ukraine in the war triggered by Russia.

"They will certainly be used, especially by Russian propaganda. It needs such events to accuse the Republic of Moldova of helping Ukraine. The information released by the pro-Russian opposition in Chisinau is taken over by Russia to discredit the government and create discontent among citizens. Russia wants to destabilize the situation in the Republic of Moldova," said Şalaru.

Anatol Şalaru also warned that the Giurgiulesti Port could become a target in the context of the war in Ukraine. He recalled the incidents recorded near some border crossing points between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine and drew attention to the possible economic consequences of such messages. According to the former minister, the perception that the country's strategic infrastructure is exposed to security risks could cause potential investors to be reluctant to invest in projects in the Republic of Moldova.

"Of course it can become a target. We have already seen that border crossing points between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine have been targeted. Russia is bothered by the fact that Ukrainian grain transits the Republic of Moldova to Galați or Constanța. Using the images from Giurgiulesti, Russian propaganda can claim that the Republic of Moldova imports Ukrainian grain and helps Ukraine resist the Russian invasion," Șalaru noted.

Referring to the limits of parliamentary control in relation to national security rules, Şalaru said that state institutions must establish whether the deputies of the "Democracy at Home" Party committed an abuse. He qualified the action as premeditated and claimed that it would aim to discredit the Republic of Moldova.

"It is clear that it must be verified whether there was an abuse by the deputies of the "Democracy at Home" Party. I believe that the action was premeditated and aimed at discrediting the Republic of Moldova by disclosing sensitive information about the Giurgiulesti Port, grain transit and strategic infrastructure. Costiuc, Dodon, Țîrdea and other pro-Russian politicians are trying to weaken the economy, drive away investors and keep them as far away from the Republic of Moldova as possible. At the same time, they are trying to determine citizens to ask the government to stop supporting Ukraine. They are launching all kinds of provocations in the public space. I don't think they don't realize what they are doing or that they don't know what interests they are promoting," concluded Şalaru.

The scandal broke out on Sunday, November 1, after Vasile Costiuc and other deputies of the "Democracy at Home" Party filmed several wagons in the border area at Giurgiulesti, claiming that they were transporting cereals and sunflower seeds from Ukraine for processing in the Republic of Moldova.

The government rejected the accusations, stating that the wagons were at the Moldovan Railway station in Giurgiulesti and were transporting cargo in transit to Romania, without unloading at the Moldovan port. The government also warned that unauthorized filming of border infrastructure could create security risks, including by exposing critical targets in the context of Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan publicly accused Costiuc of spreading falsehoods and stated that parliamentary immunity should not constitute a shield against violating security norms.