Maia Sandu nominated a new prime minister on Friday, Dorin Recean, who is pro-EU like his predecessor. President Sandu alleged Russia was planning to use "saboteurs with military background, camouflaged in civilian clothes, to undertake violent actions, attacks on state institutions and taking hostages". President Sandu's predecessor Igor Dodon - who ruled from 2016 to 2020 - pursued close ties with Russia