Diana Sosoaca's anti-Western and anti-Ukraine positions ended up being promoted by Kremlin people, as in the case of Dmitri Rogozin, former deputy prime minister. According to specialists, the senator's actions confirm the fact that she supports Moscow's agenda in Romania.
Diana Șoșoacă, at an event of the Russian embassy in Bucharest PHOTO Archive
“Diana Iovanovici-Şoșoacă, Romanian senator, requested us to publish her political statement from the Romanian Senate of 03/05/2024″, argued Dmitri Rogozin, former deputy prime minister of Russia and current senator, posting a political statement by the head of the SOS Romania Party on a social network. In the text distributed, Șoșoacă resumes the themes of Russian propaganda, accusing that Moldova is being pushed by NATO and Soros into a possible conflict with Russia because of Transnistria, which will also lead to the involvement of Romania.
“Transnistria represents a new bone of contention between the Eastern and Western blocs and possibly a new source of conflict right next to Romania. If no measures are taken, this territory could draw Moldova into war, then Romania, which will support Moldova, and thus Ukraine will receive the much-desired participation of NATO and the EU in a war it has already lost”, claims the senator. Moreover, the United States is seen as “the masters” Republic of Moldova, and the businessman George Soros “close to Maia Sandu”even “master” of it. It is not the first time that the senator addresses the Russian public. Last year, Diana Șoșoacă gave an interview to a Russian publication in which she claimed that Romania is a
“colony” of the European Union.
What the specialists say
Former Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu explained to “Adevărul” that the message “it is an almost explicit recognition by Diana Soșoacă of the fact that she follows Russia's agenda and to a large extent even supports it. On the other hand, in my opinion, it was certainly in the interest of some Russian officials, in the present case Dmitri Rogozin, to show that there are parliamentarians in NATO countries who, lo and behold, criticize NATO. In this way, unfortunately, Mrs. Soșoacă plays the game of those who want to show the division that exists in the politics of NATO member countries and Mrs. Soșoacă is the clear expression of this division”, stated Cioroianu, who pointed out that in Romania a pro-sovereignty discourse can be caught, at the electoral level, but not combined with the support of Russia, a country that Romanians historically regard with reluctance.
“The surprising element was this, that Dmitri Rogozin says that he was asked or he would have been one of those asked by Mrs. Sosoaca to popularize her messages. This is the most bizarre aspect. It is about a Romanian parliamentarian, who is paid by the Romanian Parliament and appeals to Russian officials to promote his messages. I think this is the most surprising detail”, the former head of Romanian diplomacy also pointed out, emphasizing that the senator must give explanations. Instead, Diana Sosoacă specified on Facebook that her approach led to the reaction of Dmitri Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, who stated that his country is open to dialogue on the subject of Transnistria.
For his part, Valeriu Turcan, former presidential adviser and specialist in public communication, is of the opinion that the senator “she wants to show that she is in the middle of big games, that she is relevant and that what she says matters and has consequences“. “He has found a very narrow niche of disaffected people who are fascinated by the public legends created about Vladimir Putin internationally over the past 25 years. They are trying to exploit this niche politically. It's not clear to me what her deeper connection is with the Russian Federation, but I wouldn't be surprised if it really is a mutually beneficial one for both sides“, added the former presidential adviser.
Turcan also specified that as long as Şoșoacă's position is public, it shows us that “it is a statement of intent to the electorate“, which can be validated by voting or sanctioned. “As for her participation in receptions at the Russian Embassy, I think she is especially called to enliven the atmosphere. The receptions must have become very sad, with fewer and fewer participants, after the invasion of Ukraine“, concluded the former presidential adviser.
In fact, the senator's actions come at the time of the organization of the PPE Congress in Bucharest, where both the heads of the Parliament and the European Commission, as well as 11 heads of state, participated.
Protests, hugs and external support for the AUR demonstration
The party led by George Simion, AUR, went to boycott the PPE Congress, organized at Romexpo, on Wednesday and Thursday, the members being dissatisfied with the presence of the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Romania. On Wednesday afternoon, the political formation tried to force entry into the yard of the institution where the event was held, being armed with law enforcement. Stopped by the gendarmes, several AUR members and sympathizers also went to a hotel where the European officials would have been, being accompanied by MEP Cristian Terheș, future candidate of the AUR for the EP. The police of the Republic of Moldova announced that the Moldovan oligarch Ilan Șor had intended to send 200 people to the protest on Wednesday evening, in Bucharest, organized by the AUR. Most of them did not reach Romania, according to the Chisinau authorities.
