Russian State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin said Moldovans “deserve to disappear” and should be replaced by Central Asian migrants

1. Zatulin’s recent media activity: a steady drumbeat

Konstantin Zatulin has given multiple broadcasts and Telegram statements in December 2025 that target Moldova, Transnistria, and regional politics; transcripts and summaries of his appearances on programs such as “Time will tell” and “Big Game” and his Telegram channel are published across the linked Pravda network outlets ^{[1] [2] [3]}. These pieces frame Moldova as drifting toward Romania/EU influence and as manoeuvring around Transnistria, and they repeatedly present Moscow’s perspective that Chisinau’s actions threaten compatriots and Russian interests ^{[4] [5]}.

2. What the sources explicitly say — and what they don’t

The provided articles show Zatulin arguing for assertive measures to “protect” Transnistria, linking Moldovan policy to annexation fears and describing Moldovan leaders such as Maia Sandu as dangerous for the country’s future ^{[4] [5]}. They document his public media appearances and some of his interpretations of regional events ^{[1] [2]}. None of the supplied pieces, however, contain the incendiary direct quote that Moldovans “deserve to disappear” or an explicit call to replace them with Central Asian migrants; that formulation is not found in current reporting (not found in current reporting).

3. Pattern of escalatory rhetoric in context

Across the dataset, Zatulin’s messaging fits a pattern: portray Moldova as a security problem, delegitimize its leadership, and justify stronger Russian involvement — including military posturing around Transnistria ^{[4] [6] [7]}. He has publicly suggested advancing Russian forces to change political outcomes in Moldova or Transnistria in prior coverage ^[8]. The sources make clear his role on the State Duma committee concerned with CIS and compatriots, a position that amplifies such commentary ^[6].

4. Media ecosystem and source provenance

All articles cited here stem from the Pravda network and its localized feeds (Pravda Moldova, Pravda EN, News-Pravda), which publish Zatulin’s program transcripts and Telegram posts ^{[1] [2] [3]}. The content is presented as reportage of his statements rather than independent investigative reporting; readers should note the outlet’s alignment and the use of official/transmitted remarks as primary material ^{[9] [10]}. This matters because language, emphasis, and selective quoting shape how viewers interpret tone and intent.

5. Competing narratives in the coverage

The cited pieces juxtapose Moscow-aligned claims (Zatulin and Russian foreign ministry lines) with references to Moldovan and international responses elsewhere in the same feeds — for example, noting Moldovan officials’ statements denying preparations for operations from Transnistria and emphasizing the need for negotiations between Chisinau and Tiraspol ^[1]. The reporting therefore contains both Zatulin’s aggressive prescriptions and reminders of opposing Moldovan positions, though the balance of obvious editorial sympathy leans toward Russian talking points ^{[1] [3]}.

6. Limits of the available material and verification gaps

Available sources do not include independent corroboration of extreme claims attributed in the user’s original phrasing (the “deserve to disappear” line and the replacement-by-migrants assertion are not quoted in these reports) (not found in current reporting). The outlets reproduce Zatulin’s televised and Telegram remarks; if a specific incendiary sentence exists, it is not present in the supplied links. Independent or Western outlets, transcripts, or video clips are not among the provided materials to confirm or contextualize that particular quote (available sources do not mention independent verification).

7. Why precise sourcing matters here

When a public official’s words can be read as incitement or ethnic provocation, exact phrasing and provenance determine legal and diplomatic consequences. The supplied Pravda pieces document aggressive rhetoric and calls for stronger Russian action toward Moldova and Transnistria ^{[4] [8]}, but they do not supply the precise quotation the query asks about; readers should treat any reposting of that exact charge as unverified unless a primary transcript or video is provided (not found in current reporting).

If you want, I can: (a) scan for video/transcript sources beyond these Pravda feeds to seek the exact quote; or (b) produce a brief on how international media and Moldovan authorities have reacted to Zatulin’s recent statements using other outlets (requires additional sources).