TODAY: Moldovan sovereignty should be protected says Kremlin; Sberbank CEO takes government to task on banking crisis; Putin’s party should harbor ‘no illusions‘ warns Medvedev; American accusations emerge over hacker spies

The Kremlin has supported Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin’s claims that Romania may have tried to overthrow his government, despite denial from Romania.  Russian officials have stated ‘of special concern are the provocative actions under the flags of Romania and the European Union‘, reports ITAR-TASS.  The situation in Molodova reveals cracks in Kremlin diplomacy in former Soviet states and Moscow runs the risk of being sidelined in favor of the West, argues an article in the Moscow Times.  Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, says there should be no conflict of influence nor ‘hidden agendas‘ in US-Russian relations, in a denial of suggestions that Russia attempts to build up influence in the ex-USSR, says Reuters. He has also commented that sanctions against North Korea would be ‘counter-productive‘.