The Moldovan Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) announced it has ended its partnership agreement with the Russian intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service (FSB).
Through Moldova’s Foreign Ministry, the SIS also ended its cooperation agreement with the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).
Originally signed in 1994, the agreements allowed for representatives of the Russian special services to have a presence in the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria, on the Dniester River. Following the termination of these agreements, the FSB must close its office in Transnistria’s main city of Tiraspol.
Moldovan experts and officials warn that Russian intelligence currently controls the leadership of Transnistria security institutions.
“The SIS does not maintain external partnership relations with similar structures of other states that defy legislation, act to the detriment of national security and carry out subversive activities against Moldova,” reads an SIS statement.
“Starting on February 24, 2022, with [the] Russian invasion of Ukraine, cooperative relations between the SIS and the Russian special services stopped, so that the agreements have no practical applicability and are actually non-functional,” it continues.
The SIS said it could not collaborate with foreign entities that undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions, destabilize the socio-political and economic situation and threaten territorial integrity.
Moldova’s decision to terminate ties with Russian intelligence comes at a point when relations between Moldova and Russia are at their worst since the fall of the Soviet Union, and Moldova’s subsequent independence, in 1991.
Moldovan authorities expelled 45 Russian diplomats and embassy staff last week, citing years of “hostile actions” on the part of Moscow.
“We agreed on the need to limit the number of accredited diplomats from Russia, so that there are fewer people trying to destabilize the Republic of Moldova,” explained foreign minister Nicu Popescu at a cabinet meeting.
Russia now has until 15 August to reduce its embassy personnel from more than 80 people to 25.
“For many years we have been the object of hostile Russian actions and policies. Many of them were made through the embassy,” continued Popescu.
Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moldova’s decision would “not go unanswered.” She described it as “another step in the destruction of bilateral relations” between Moldova and Russia, and said spying accusations were “a fantasy which has nothing to do with reality.”
Earlier this year, Moldovan President Maia Sandu strongly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and accused Moscow of plotting to overthrow her.
Image via Wikimedia
