Moldova Opposition Vows to Keep US Tanks Away From Capital on Victory Day

Moldova’s anti-NATO opposition activists vowed on Thursday to prevent US armored vehicles from rolling through Chisinau during the WWII Victory Day Parade on May 9.

CHISINAU (Sputnik) — US armed forces arrived in the Eastern European country on Wednesday for joint military drills, codenamed Dragon Pioneer 2016. They involve 58 US vehicles and 198 US soldiers as well as 165 Moldovan troops.

"We will make every effort to prevent US hardware from entering Chisinau on May 9," Socialist leader Igor Dodon told journalists at a press conference in the Moldovan capital.

US troops are expected to participate in a parade in central Chisinau marking the end of World War II more than 70 years ago.

"If US military agrees to take part in the march and Victory Day celebrations without their tanks and vehicles and lay flowers at the heroes’ memorial, we will only welcome this decision," Dodon said.

NATO presence in Moldova has further divided the government and opposition, which also staged months of protests last year against local authorities’ corruption. The military exercises are scheduled to run until May 20.