Moldova: Russian Interference

Lord Anderson of Swansea Excerpts

Thursday 6th February 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is absolutely right. It is impossible to look at what is happening in Moldova and not consider at the same time what has happened in Ukraine, Georgia and elsewhere. Russia tried everything it could to distort the outcome of the polls that were held earlier this year. Parliamentary elections are approaching, and Russia will have learned from what worked and what did not during that earlier process. We need to step up and use every tool that we can to protect Moldova and make sure that the people of Moldova get the Government that they choose.

[Lord Anderson of Swansea (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Browne of Ladyton (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the King’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and Deputy Chief Whip (Baroness Wheeler) (Lab)]

We will hear from the noble Lord, Lord Anderson.

[Lord Anderson of Swansea (Lab)]

My Lords, Russia is more easily able to interfere because it occupies part of Moldova: Transnistria. If, as we hope, negotiations with Ukraine start this year, does my noble friend the Minister agree that it makes sense, in the same or in a parallel process, to deal with the frozen conflicts in the region—not only Transnistria but South Ossetia and Abkhazia in Georgia—with the aim of promoting peace in the Black Sea region?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend, and I commend him on his decades of work providing peace, security and humanitarian causes in many places around the world. He is completely right that the frozen conflict in Transnistria should be seen alongside other conflicts in the region. His words are wise, and the Government will heed them.