Germany's Ambassador to Moldova Accused of Echoing Russian Narratives on Language and Identity

Germany's ambassador to Moldova, Hubert Knirsch, is facing backlash from Romanian and Moldovan officials after stating in a television interview that he disagrees with the assertion that people in Moldova and Romania speak the same language and share the same religion. Romanian is enshrined in Moldova's constitution as the official language, and Orthodox Christianity is the majority faith in both countries. Former Romanian President Traian Băsescu called Knirsch 'an idiot,' and Dragoș Galbur, chairman of the National Moldovan Party, accused German policy of providing 'a Western protective umbrella for Soviet Moldovanism.' The Romanian Embassy in Moldova condemned the remarks as lacking factual basis and warned they could be exploited by Russia. Knirsch claimed his remarks were mistranslated. The German Foreign Office reiterated that reunification is a matter for sovereign states. This is not the first time Knirsch has faced accusations of promoting Russian narratives; he previously served as ambassador to Georgia, where he was criticized for one-sided statements favoring the ruling party.