Kosachyov said that people of different political views - both pro-European and pro-Russian - were angry about the current authorities.

MOSCOW, September 8. /TASS/. The chairman of the Federation Council’s international affairs committee, Konstantin Kosachyov, does not rule out that the current protests in Moldova may spontaneously or intentionally follow the scenario of anti-government ‘maidan’ protests in Kiev, the capital of neighboring Ukraine.

"The people sincerely cherish change. It is very unlikely they will agree to leave the square just as easy," he believes. The current standoff may have any of the three likely outcomes, he forecasts.

The authorities may contact the people and strike some amicable deal with them. "But there are signs already either party is reluctant to negotiate; or the demonstrators’ demand for early elections may be accepted, but the previous ones "were relatively legitimate, so the authorities are unlikely to succumb to pressures; option three is another "colour revolution."

In any case, he believes, these events are very important to Russia.

"They concern our interests, too: economic, political and humanitarian." Kosachyov’s advice to the people of Moldova is to keep in mind their own interests first and foremost - economic, political and humanitarian - "which by no means contradict Russian, whatever some may be trying to make Moldovans think."

"It would be very wrong to let others manipulate you and use your sincere emotions in somebody else’s cold-blooded geopolitical games. The experience of the Middle East and of Ukraine shows that the ordinary people are the first to lose in these games," Kosachyov said.

Mass protests in the central square of Moldova’s capital Chisinau began on Sunday, September 6. The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of President Nicolae Timofti, effective crackdown on corruption, pro-European reform and recovery of the $1 billion stolen from the national banking system.