The Russian operational group should be withdrawn and the weapons should be taken out of the territory of Transnistria, the elected president of Moldova Maia Sandu said.

She noted, that there had never been any agreement for the Russian operational group in Transnistria on behalf of Moldova, RIA Novosti reported.

The new President of Moldova spoke out for the replacement of Russian peacekeepers in Transnistria by a civilian observer mission under the OSCE auspices.

Transnistria, of which 60% are Russians and Ukrainians, had sought to withdraw from the territory of Moldova even before the collapse of the USSR. In fact, Transnistria became an uncontrolled territory by Kishinev after a failed attempt of Moldovan authorities in 1992 to solve the problem by force. Peace in the conflict zone is sustained by 402 military personnel, 492 Transnistrian, 355 Moldovan, and 10 Ukrainian military observers.