Russia Blames 'Foreign Interference' for Moldova Unrest
By VOA News
09 April 2009
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is blaming civil unrest in Moldova on foreign interference and is calling for the European Union and Romania to take action to protect the country's sovereignty.
Lavrov told Russian media that rioters in Chisinau on Tuesday waved Romanian and EU flags. The rioters ransacked Moldova's parliament building and took over presidential offices to protest what they say was a rigged parliamentary election on Sunday.
Moldovan government official Mark Tkachuk says anti-communist demonstrators want to overthrow the Chisinau government and unite the country with Romania.
Romania denies any involvement in the unrest but the Moldovan government is unconvinced, President Vladimir Voronin expelled the Romanian ambassador Wednesday and ordered the recall of Moldova's envoy from Bucharest.
The government has also cracked down on Romanian journalists covering the events expelling three and denying visas to others.
Official results give the ruling Communists 60 seats and opposition parties 41.
But election officials say the Communists are one seat short of being able to ensure their candidate is elected the next president.
Moldova's outgoing President Voronin leaves office this month after two terms. The new parliament is to vote on his successor.
Students say they see no future if communists keep power in the country of four million, which is wedged between Ukraine and Romania and is one of Europe's poorest.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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