Russia is likely to destabilize Moldova, potentially as part of the efforts to hinder its EU integration, among other objectives, the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in its Jan. 28 assessment. Alexei Polishchuk, the director of the Second Department of the CIS Countries at the Russian Foreign Ministry, claimed in an interview on Jan. 28 for the Russian state-run media outlet TASS that Moldova began to “destroy its ties” with the Russian-led CIS organization, as the rumors about Moldova leaving the CIS by the end of 2024 are circulating.