Pro-Russian parties in Moldova plan to celebrate the anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany on May 9, a central element of the Kremlin's (Russian presidency) patriotic narrative.

On the same day, supporters of Maia Sandu -- who has made the country's accession to the European Union (EU) her ambition -- plan to mark Europe Day.

"There is nothing wrong with them protesting. Moldova is a democratic country and we are doing what is necessary to ensure freedom of expression for our citizens, whether they agree with the government or not," said the Moldovan president, who is on a visit to Oslo, Norway.

"It is a different matter when these events are paid for from outside the country and when the people who take to the streets are there not with their own agenda, but with someone else's," she added, during a press conference.

The pro-Russian parties recently announced from Moscow the creation of a coalition under the aegis of the Moldovan fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, who was sentenced in absentia by Chisinau for fraud, months before the presidential elections scheduled for October 20 this year.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ilan Shor has regularly organised demonstrations against the pro-European government in the Moldovan capital and other cities, against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Russia and Moldova.

"Russia has tried to destabilise the country in the past. Russia has tried to finance the protesters in the past," Sandu stressed, noting that the institutions of Moldova's young democracy have resisted.

"Moldova is often a testing ground for Russia's hybrid instruments and by helping us, our partners can learn from our experience" and prepare themselves, added the head of state.

On Wednesday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced additional aid of 350 million kroner (30 million euros) to Moldova.

With a population of around 2.5 million, Moldova is located between Romania and Ukraine.

The separatist Moldovan region of Transnistria has gained prominence since the start of the war in Ukraine due to its ties to Russia and its important geostrategic position.

Kyiv has even denounced alleged Russian incursions into western Ukraine from the separatist region.

Russia maintains a contingent of 1,500 soldiers in Transnistria, whose pro-Moscow separatists have controlled the territory since the civil war in Moldova in 1992.

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