Maia Sandu: Latest news, analysis, video interviews, video reports

FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu dismissed Natalia Gavrilița to purge the opposition and consolidate her authoritarian and anti-Russian regime
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu dismissed Natalia Gavrilița to purge the opposition and consolidate her authoritarian and anti-Russian regime

The president of the Republic of Moldova, dismissed Natalia Gavrilița because she wanted a Prime Minister that would purge the opposition, a pro-Kremlin publication writes, also claiming that Natalia Gavrilița was allegedly humiliated in public by her unexpected dismissal. The same publication also reiterates several other false narratives claiming the pro-European administration in Chișinău is a profoundly anti-Russian dictatorship.

Veridica
13 Feb 2023
The Cabinet swap in Chișinău – the effect of slow-moving reforms, security issues and tensions inside PAS
The Cabinet swap in Chișinău – the effect of slow-moving reforms, security issues and tensions inside PAS

The power shift has so far unfolded without any major incident or scandal, and the key protagonists – the outgoing Prime Minister, Natalia Gavrilița, the Prime Minister designate, Dorin Recean, and president Maia Sandu – said that the change of administration occurs against the backdrop of growing security tensions. There are however signs that the true reasons behind the Cabinet swap have to do with the slow pace of reforms and ruling-party infighting.

FAKE NEWS: NATO prepares the territory of the Republic of Moldova to become a future theater of war
FAKE NEWS: NATO prepares the territory of the Republic of Moldova to become a future theater of war

The government in Chisinau is bringing the country closer to NATO, which supplies the Republic of Moldova with weapons in order to prepare it to become a future theater of war against Russia, writes the Russian press, citing as an argument the delivery of 3 (THREE) armored vehicles by Germany. This is yet another plea for neutrality that ignores the facts, which show that, in fact, to Russia neutrality means only the acceptance of its hegemony and that it is ready to attack neutral countries that do not want to be in its sphere of influence.

Veridica
31 Jan 2023
The Republic of Moldova, targeted by Russian propaganda
The Republic of Moldova, targeted by Russian propaganda

While the Kremlin backs the criminal opposition in Chișinău, which is trying to destabilize the Republic of Moldova in order to take power and discard any criminal investigation against itself, Russian propaganda touts the protests staged by Shor Party, the anti-Western statements of the former Socialist party and criticizes the current head of state, Maia Sandu. Veridica has reviewed the main narratives advocated by the Russian government media with respect to the Republic of Moldova.

DISINFORMATION: Pro-Europeans in Chișinău are creating a military autocracy that will be impervious to democratic change
DISINFORMATION: Pro-Europeans in Chișinău are creating a military autocracy that will be impervious to democratic change

The Republic of Moldova is building up its military, and the pro-European government is creating a dictatorial regime that will be hard to oust by democratic due process, Socialist deputy Bogdan Țîrdea has told Pravda. The Moldovan politician in fact reiterates false claims that have been increasingly disseminated by Russian propaganda and pro-Moscow politicians in Chișinău.

Veridica
24 Oct 2022
DISINFORMATION: The Republic of Moldova is led by an anti-Russian dictatorship
DISINFORMATION: The Republic of Moldova is led by an anti-Russian dictatorship

The Republic of Moldova is ruled by an anti-Russian dictatorship that has taken grip of the power and state institutions, politnavigator.net writes. This Kremlin-linked media outlet also suggests that the current regime in Moldova, which is turning the country into a “small Ukraine”, could be ousted as the Russian army draws close to Moldova’s borders.

Veridica
02 Oct 2022
Ukraine’s counteroffensive and its impact on the Republic of Moldova
Ukraine’s counteroffensive and its impact on the Republic of Moldova

The events of early September in Ukraine may have significant consequences on Chișinău as well. The counteroffensive mounted by Ukrainian troops in the northeast, the liberation of most of the Kharkiv region, but also of southern territories previously held by the Russian military, have increased the odds of foiling the Moscow’s plans for the Republic of Moldova, at least in the short run.

FAKE NEWS: Chisinau authorities threaten Gagauzia’s autonomy
FAKE NEWS: Chisinau authorities threaten Gagauzia’s autonomy

The Chisinau authorities are threatening to leave Gagauzia without autonomy, according to a false narrative carried by the Russian publication Trud.ru. This is accompanied by specific Russian propaganda theses regarding the Republic of Moldova - the West's control over the country, the “danger” of the union with Romania and the “fake” fight against corruption.

Veridica
12 Sep 2022
DISINFORMATION: The poverty inflicted by the Maia Sandu administration is forcing people to use manure to heat their homes
DISINFORMATION: The poverty inflicted by the Maia Sandu administration is forcing people to use manure to heat their homes

The PAS pro-European government is to blame for the soaring inflation in the Republic of Moldova, having brought people to the brink of despair. This false narrative ignores the external causes behind the high level of inflation and is promoted by the pro-Russian opposition in Chișinău and its affiliated publications. Bloknot-moldova.ru illustrates the narrative by means of a collage depicting Maia Sandu next to a woman who makes piles of straw and manure used for heating.

Veridica
22 Aug 2022
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu is closing down universities and schools with Russian-language teaching
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu is closing down universities and schools with Russian-language teaching

The president of the Republic of Moldova is closing down universities and schools with teaching in Russian language, Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes, picking up on an older narrative targeting Maia Sandu. Just like the others, this too is a false narrative: although some schools do actually close down, it is in fact a measure linked to reforming and streamlining the education system, having nothing to do with the teaching language.

Veridica
11 Jul 2022
PHOTOREPORT – The May 9 parade in Chișinău: between Soviet nostalgia and the blurred memory of the USSR’s glory days
PHOTOREPORT – The May 9 parade in Chișinău: between Soviet nostalgia and the blurred memory of the USSR’s glory days

May 9 was a much anticipated event in Chișinău: a recent law forbids the public display of symbols associated with the Russian army and the invasion of Ukraine – the ribbon of Saint George and the letters Z and V. Previously, pro-Russians had announced they would ignore the law. Fears were running high that public unrest might break out. That wasn’t the case, and the demonstration actually resembled a display of communist nostalgia rather than an act of solidarity with Russia.

FAKE NEWS: NATO is providing weapons to Ukraine via the Republic of Moldova, which represents a breach of the country’s neutrality status
FAKE NEWS: NATO is providing weapons to Ukraine via the Republic of Moldova, which represents a breach of the country’s neutrality status

The Republic of Moldova has violated its neutrality status since it allows NATO to deliver weapons to Ukraine, currently at war with Russia, which invaded this country on February 24. This false narrative is promoted by politnavigator.net, which references a commentary of a Russian expert.

FAKE NEWS: Chișinău is fueling the conflict in Transnistria so that the West should maintain an interest in Moldova
FAKE NEWS: Chișinău is fueling the conflict in Transnistria so that the West should maintain an interest in Moldova

The Government in Chișinău wants to fuel the Transnistrian conflict in order to make the country more appealing to the West and thus obtain a larger financial support, according to a recent false narrative. In fact, the conflict in Transnistria is one of the major obstacles in the way of Moldova’s future European integration.

FAKE NEWS: Moldova’s raprochement with the EU will lead to the recognition of gay marriages
FAKE NEWS: Moldova’s raprochement with the EU will lead to the recognition of gay marriages

The new Government in Chisinau is a puppet of the West, which will impose both the legalization of homosexual marriages, and the union with Romania, according to a comment published by the Russian portal politnavigator.net, taken over in the Republic of Moldova. The portal actually resumes false narratives about the danger of the Republic of Moldova’s rapprochement with the EU, but also of its disappearance as a state, due to the alleged influence of the pro-Western forces.

FAKE NEWS: PAS cedes the republican stadium to the Americans following the decision of the Constitutional Court, whose judges are Romanian citizens
FAKE NEWS: PAS cedes the republican stadium to the Americans following the decision of the Constitutional Court, whose judges are Romanian citizens

After the elections were won by PAS/Maia Sandu, the republican stadium in Chisinau is now ceded to the Americans, by a decision of the Constitutional Court, whose judges are Romanian citizens, and Romania gives away everything the US asks for, the Kremlin's main propaganda channel, Radio Sputnik, claims in a comment. The narratives aim to create the false image that the new government in Chisinau is controlled by the United States, and the diplomatic mission in Chisinau will spy on Russia from the new headquarters.

How the new power in Chisinau will manage the relation with Moscow. Threats from the Kremlin
How the new power in Chisinau will manage the relation with Moscow. Threats from the Kremlin

After winning the presidential elections, Maia Sandu has stabilized and secured the relations with the country’s closest neighbors - Romania and Ukraine. The legitimate question arises whether she has also managed to stabilize the complicated relationship between the Republic of Moldova and Russia, especially in the new context created by the recent parliamentary elections, won by the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), which she has founded.

Kremlin's game: the pressure points that Moscow will use during Moldova's elections campaign
Kremlin's game: the pressure points that Moscow will use during Moldova's elections campaign

Russian claims that EU and the USA are allegedly interfering in the parliamentary election in Chișinău, scheduled for July 11. On May 13, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, said “it is regrettable to see the growing interference of the United States and EU countries in the domestic politics of the Republic of Moldova, something which we firmly condemn”.

The Die Has Been Cast: Moldova’s Elections at a GLANCE
The Die Has Been Cast: Moldova’s Elections at a GLANCE

Making predictions before elections in the Republic of Moldova means hazarding a guess. Such an action requires not only knowledge and intuition, but also a lot of luck and a special flair for anticipating last-minute backstage arrangements. However, the campaign for the snap parliamentary elections due on July 11 has kicked off, and based on current data and trends, we will analyze who the actors are and what chances they stand at the moment. A dirty election campaign is announced from the left wing, which seems ready to bring into play resources that are incomparable to those available to the right.

The Soviet-style power vertical, still very much alive in Moldova. The Igor Dodon case
The Soviet-style power vertical, still very much alive in Moldova. The Igor Dodon case

The surrender or transfer of power have always been the center of attention in Chisinau, which proves that democracy, even after 30 years of independence from the Soviet Union, is still fragile.

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From "flower bridges" to pragmatism. Romanian soft power in Moldova.

In recent years, Romania has funded numerous projects that have had a direct impact on the population. In parallel, a certain type of patriotic discourse, irritating for a significant part of the population of the Republic of Moldova, has been tempered as well. The result of this policy carried out with soft-power tools is that while the declared unionist parties in Chisinau are free falling in the electorate’s preferences, paradoxically the number of unionists is on the rise.

Dodon's decline and a few scenarios before Moldova's political storm
Dodon's decline and a few scenarios before Moldova's political storm

The political stage in Chișinău is once again in crisis. The incompatibility between the pro-European president Maia Sandu and her governing opponents, from the camp of the corrupt pro-Russia “establishment” in Chișinău, has led to new confrontations and situations hard to anticipate.

DISINFORMATION: The Republic of Moldova will descend into financial collapse
DISINFORMATION: The Republic of Moldova will descend into financial collapse

The media in the Republic of Moldova and Russia have published an apocalyptic economic growth forecast made public by Mariana Durleșteanu, a former economy Minister nominated for the office of Prime Minister by the Party of Socialists in the Republic of Moldova (PSRM). Durleșteanu presents no data to support her claims, which have been disputed so far by economic analysts and the estimates of both the Government and international organizations.

FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu and Zelensky have agreed to attack Transnistria
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu and Zelensky have agreed to attack Transnistria

According to a Telegram post of a Russian TV station, the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, is considering a military attack on the separatist region of Trasnistria and has tried to rally Kiev’s support. The story has prompted a true media frenzy in Chișinău and Moscow, having been redistributed by a large number of media outlets. Chișinău authorities have dismissed this scenario, which they say carries little weight.

FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu wants to abolish free media
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu wants to abolish free media

The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, only mimics her attachement to democratic and European values and if she could, she would establish an authoritarian regime in which freedom of expression would be limited. This fake narrative, originating from the Socialist circles, was also used during the elections campaign. 

FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu is a ‘virus’ by means of which the West wants to destroy Moldovan statehood
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu is a ‘virus’ by means of which the West wants to destroy Moldovan statehood

Maia Sandu is an agent of foreign entities who behaves like a virus created to destroy the Moldovan state and unite with Romania the territories beyond the Prut. The idea that the leader in Chisinau would be responsible for the political crisis that the Socialists actually created is also promoted.

FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu is trying to subjugate Moldova’s power structures in order to crush her opponents
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu is trying to subjugate Moldova’s power structures in order to crush her opponents

The newly elected president of the Republic of Moldova wants to control intelligence agencies and prosecutor’s offices to attack her opponents, just like millionaire Vlad Plahotniuc. The narrative is publicized by people close to PSRM, a party which holds de facto control over the institutions in question, although it has formally lost power.

Maia Sandu in Kiev: turning a potential crisis into an opportunity
Maia Sandu in Kiev: turning a potential crisis into an opportunity

They say that big fences make good neighbors, but this doesn’t apply that well in politics. That’s the principle that guided Maia Sandu, who paid her first visit to Kiev as president.

The feud between Chisinau and Moscow. What lies behind the quarrel between Maia Sandu and Vladimir Putin
The feud between Chisinau and Moscow. What lies behind the quarrel between Maia Sandu and Vladimir Putin

Russia uses an aggressive rhetoric to disguise its lack of ideas and even real interest in Moldova. Transnistria – a pawn for future exchanges, tightly controlled by the Sheriff

Armand Goșu
08 Jan 2021
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu and the RAND Corporation plan to destabilize Transnistria
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu and the RAND Corporation plan to destabilize Transnistria

The president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, is the target of attacks launched by the Kremlin regarding the escalation of the conflict in Transnistria. After she reiterated Chisinau’s stand on the withdrawal of the Russian troops illegally stationed in the Republic of Moldova since the Dniester War of 1992, high-ranking officials in Moscow have accused her of destabilizing the situation in the region. The article also resumes the narrative according to which Maia Sandu was brought to power by the West.

FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu is an anti-unionist who behaves just like Dodon
FAKE NEWS: Maia Sandu is an anti-unionist who behaves just like Dodon

Socialist-affiliated media outlets accused Maia Sandu of keeping unionists away from Klaus Iohannis, behind a fence she had promised to tear down.

Stakes and obstacles for Romania during Maia Sandu’s mandate
Stakes and obstacles for Romania during Maia Sandu’s mandate

Romania must commit to supporting reforms in Moldova through a new "Snagov pact"