2023 Moldovan coup attempt allegations
[4] She said the coup plan involved using saboteurs with military training dressed in civilian clothes to stage attacks (including on state buildings), and take hostages.[11] On 21 February Prime Minister Dorin Recean declared that Russia tried to take the Chișinău Airport under its control, in order to bring Russian and pro-Russian diversionists to overthrow the Moldovan government.[12][13] In a briefing on 10 March, United States National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby made public information about Russian efforts to destabilise Moldova obtained by the U.S. Kirby stated the U.S. government believes Russia to be pursuing destabilisation efforts in Moldova with the ultimate goal of replacing the existing Moldovan government with one that would be more friendly to Russian interests.[1] Amid suspicions of saboteurs among Serbian fans, the Moldovan authorities ordered the match between FC Sheriff Tiraspol and FK Partizan as part of the 2022-23 UEFA Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs to be played behind closed doors.[19] On 12 March, Moldovan police stated that 182 foreign nationals, including a possible representative of the Russian Wagner Group, had been denied entry into the country.[20] On 12 March, Moldovan police disclosed that they had foiled an alleged plot by a series of Russian-backed actors trained to foment mass unrest within a protest against Moldova's new pro-western government.