Cheptonar: Without the Trump Administration, the Prisoner Exchange Would Not Have Been Possible

Andrian Cheptonar, Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, stated that Moldova’s participation in the international exchange, which led to the release of two SIS officers, set a precedent in the country’s history. “This is the first time in Moldova’s history that something like this has happened. We can speak of a significant success for Moldovan diplomacy: we managed to join an exchange that had been in the works for a long time and secure the inclusion of two Moldovan citizens who were being held in custody in Russia,” Cheptonar said during a broadcast on Moldova1. Speaking about the role of external partners, the MP noted the significant support from Romania, Poland and the US, describing this cooperation as a “reliable partnership”. “Without the active participation of our transatlantic partners, without the assistance of President Trump’s administration, these negotiations would have been impossible,” he emphasized. Cheptonar also spoke about the talks in Washington: “We had meetings with the Moldovan ambassador to the US, with several congressmen and senators from both parties. I can say with confidence that we enjoy quite strong support in the US Congress. Moldova has always been a reliable partner for America, and we are pleased that we managed to make use of this diplomatic window, which helped secure the release of our officers from captivity”. The Vice-Chair of the National Security Committee warned of continuing threats from Russia and urged citizens to trust national institutions, including the Security and Intelligence Service. “The SIS is doing a very effective job of protecting Moldova from Russian interference. Russian espionage remains active in Chisinau, and the SIS will continue to combat it. Further forceful action by the authorities cannot be ruled out. Overall, however, we would like to see such incidents not repeated. Moldova is a peaceful state and, of course, cannot pose a threat to Russia’s interests on its territory. We are counting on Moscow finally realizing that it is unacceptable to interfere in the activities of Moldova’s state institutions and in its political life. We in Moldova determine our own destiny. Let Russia mind its own business at home,” concluded Andrian Cheptonar.