Chisinau

Several thousand people in Moldova's capital Chisinau took part in an "Immortal Regiment" march on Monday, organised by the pro-Russian Socialist Party, PSRM, many of them breaking a new law that bans the display of symbols glorifying the former Soviet communist regime.

Moldova does not see an immediate threat of riots and violence to be transferred from the war in Ukraine, despite "provocations" by pro-Russian separatists in recent days. But authorities are preparing contingency plans for "pessimistic" scenarios, President Maia Sandu said on Wednesday.

Greece is constructing two liquefied gas LNG terminals in Alexandroupoli, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Tuesday, one of which is planned to transport gas to Moldova and Ukraine.

Moscow is already paving the way for the conquest of Moldova, the British Times writes, adding that the invasion of the former Soviet republic could take place on May 9. According to the British edition on May 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin may declare recognition of the independence of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic.

Given its geographical proximity to Ukraine, and the high number of Ukrainian citizens living in the Transnistria, the de-facto authorities of the breakaway Moldovan region have sought to remain neutral in the ongoing conflict.

But, despite the best efforts of its separatist leaders, it appears that the war in Ukraine may have finally spread to Transnistria.

President Maia Sandu said after a meeting of Moldova's Supreme Security Council on Tuesday that explosions in Transnistria for two days in a row "show that there are tensions between various forces" that are interested in destabilising the breakaway region, where Russian troops have been based since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration summoned the Russian ambassador, Oleg Vasnetsov, on Thursday after Moldova received a series of threats from Moscow officials following its decision to ban Russian symbols of the invasion in Ukraine.

Dan Perciun, an MP from the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party, said on Wednesday that legislation must change to prevent bullying and other abuses against the LGBT community after a 16-year-old who had been bullied and humiliated by classmates committed suicide.

Svetlana Telpiz is a native of Moldova. However, she feels Bulgarian. "I want to tell my story of despair and endless waiting in the hope of obtaining Bulgarian citizenship," she wrote in a letter to the media.

Moldovagaz said on Tuesday it had asked Russian energy giant Gazprom, which holds a 64 per cent stake in the company, for more time to conduct an audit of historical debts beyond a May 1 deadline amid fears of a cut-off in gas supplies.