Neighbouring Russia

In an interview with Raimar Wagner, project director for Romania and the Republic of Moldova at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Mariana Rață explains how the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine is being discussed in Moldova and what political changes have taken place recently to face the new threats. Mariana Rață is the chief editor of the independent news channel TV 8. She is a highly awarded investigative journalist and famous for her daily prime time talk called "The Black Box".

Russia aims to destabilize the Republic of Moldova which could turn into a new trouble spot in Europe. The smoldering Transnistria conflict flares up again due to the war in Ukraine and threatens the security of Europe. Added to this is the precarious economic situation in the country hosting more than 100.000 resident refugees from Ukraine in a country of 2,5 Mio. citizens. Russia's ongoing proxy war on the ground meanwhile reached a new peak.

About our series „Neighbouring Russia“: How did Russia's neighboring countries react one year after the full scale attack on Ukraine? That is what the Friedrich Naumann Foundation wants to explore in a twelve-part virtual series of events. Together with international experts, we examine individual countries or regions and discuss important domestic and foreign policy processes.

Gast
Mariana Rață
is an investigative and TV journalist from Moldova. She is the founder of the Media Alternativa association, which holds the license of the independent television station TV8. Rață is Senior Editor at TV8, responsible for the editorial policy of TV8 media products. Since 2017, Rață is the host of the political talk show Cutia Neagră (Black Box), and since 2020, she is also the director of the investigation show Cutia Neagră PLUS. Both are broadcast by TV8. Since 2017, Rață is the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Center for Independent Journalism in Moldova.

Moderator
Raimar Wagner
is the Head of the new Project Office for Romania and Republic of Moldova. He studied German and French and also holds a Master degree in Translation Studies from the Lucian Blaga University in Sibiu. As a member of the German minority in Romania he was from 2008-2014 city councilor of the city of Sibiu. He is co-founder of the Association for the Embellishment of the City of Sibiu and of the District Association for Tourism, he is also board member of the Blue Cross Romania.