Moldova Says Bucharest Not Involved In Postelection Violence

CHISINAU (RFE/RL) -- Moldova's top justice official has said that Romania was not involved in the postelection riots in Chisinau on April 7 that left at least one protester dead and led to hundreds of arrests, RFE/RL's Moldova's Service reports.

Prosecutor-General Vasile Gurbulea insisted at a press conference in Chisinau on July 22 that "Romania as a state did not participate [in the riots]," but added that there have been cyberattacks originating in Romania against several Moldovan state institutions.

Gurbulea's comments mark a change in the Moldovan government's statements as to whom was to blame for the violence.

Moldova's Communist government has thus far put most blame on Bucharest, accusing EU-member Romania of deliberately fomenting unrest and even of "revisionist" attitudes. Romania has denied the accusations.

Most of Moldova was part of Romania until World War II and tens of thousands of Moldovans also hold Romanian citizenship.

New parliamentary elections will be held in Moldova on June 29.