The support of Moldovan citizens for the European perspective of their country in the constitutional referendum is a strategic defeat for Putin, believes head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Oleksandr Merezhko (the Servant of the People faction).

"Russia tried to do everything to ensure that the referendum result was negative from the point of view of Moldova's European perspective. All forces were thrown into this, first of all, Russian propaganda and agents. But this did not work. The result of the referendum, when the majority of the Moldovan population nevertheless supported the country joining the EU, is another strategic defeat for Putin. Moldova chose freedom, democracy, European values. That is, Moldova has a future," Merezhko said in a commentary to Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.

According to Merezhko, the youth of Moldova has been particularly active in supporting the European perspective.