Moldovan authorities consider Russophobia 'absolutely mandatory' for EU integration: Kremlin

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the Moldovan authorities consider Russophobia to be "absolutely mandatory" for integration into the European Union.

At a news conference in Moscow, Peskov commented on the Moldovan government's decision to ban Russian officials from entering the country, saying for some reason, Moldova believes it cannot be integrated into the EU without showing hatred for Russia.

"They believe that it should be an absolutely mandatory attribute of European integration -- to hate Russia and to demonstrate any anti-Russian manifestations," he said.

The conclusion, he said, can be drawn from mass protest in the country that ordinary people do not agree with the official line.

Peskov agreed with the deputy head of Russia's Security Council, who earlier in the day said Moldova may cease to exist as a state.

"Look, they have already destroyed their language… they no longer call it the Moldovan language. We see a drift towards absorption from Romania. We see their actions aimed at deliberately curtailing their own sovereignty," he said.

Moldova, he claims, is rapidly becoming unfriendly to Russia.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic that is now a candidate for EU membership, has been facing economic difficulties for some time.

The West accuses Russia of destabilizing the situation in the country, following recent mass protests against government policies.

In turn, Moscow accuses Moldovan President Maya Sandu and the government led by Prime Minister Dorin Recean, known for their pro-Western position, of being a tool in the West's proxy against Russia, without taking into account the interests of Moldova and its people.

Concerning a letter from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Peskov said it contains a detailed report about efforts, the international body is making to implement the Russian part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, but these actions have yielded no results.

In this regard, he believes that the prospects for extending the grain deal are not good.

When asked about nuclear weapon tests, the spokesman said for the time being, "everyone adheres to the moratorium."