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Assignment: Moldova - East or West?

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Moldova - East or West?

18/08/2022 GMT

BBC World Service - Assignment, Moldova - East or West?

This former Soviet republic faces both east and west

This former Soviet republic faces both east and west - but which way is best for Moldova's future?

Sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, the former Soviet Republic of Moldova has recently been awarded EU candidate status.

In an echo of what happened in Ukraine, Moldova lost a chunk of its eastern territory to separatists in a short war 30 years ago. The separatists were backed by elements of the Russian army. Since then Transnistria has remained a post-Soviet “frozen conflict.”

In recent months almost 500,000 Ukrainian refugees have crossed into Moldova – the highest per capita influx to a neighbouring country. Up to 90,000 have remained in Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest countries. The republic’s president has warned that President Putin has his sights set on her country. Tessa Dunlop travels to Moldova to hear what Moldovans think about the war in Ukraine and their country’s future.

Produced by John Murphy

(Image: Dr. Tessa Dunlop speaking to villagers from Chircaiesti, close to the borders of Ukraine and Transnistria. Credit: BBC/John Murphy)

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