Corneliu Rusnac

Corneliu Rusnac/Chișinău, Moldova

Corneliu Rusnac is the editor-in-chief of Radio Chisinau and producer of the political debate and analysis show "Ora de Vârf" (Rush Hour). He was a reporter for the BBC World Service, the Romanian section, the Chisinau bureau. He was a correspondent of the Associated Press in the Republic of Moldova.

17 articles of type "ACF" - Corneliu Rusnac:
The local election in the Republic of Moldova: a victory of the (pro)Russians?
The local election in the Republic of Moldova: a victory of the (pro)Russians?

The results of the local election in the Republic of Moldova point to a decline of pro-European factions, after a campaign marked by Moscow’s interference and disinformation, as well as scandals generated by pro-Russians.

Russia’s levers in the Republic of Moldova
Russia’s levers in the Republic of Moldova

The war in Ukraine has accelerated the process by means of which the Republic of Moldova has been distancing itself from Russia. After the elimination of economic and energy dependence, Moscow's remaining levers are pro-Russian propaganda and parties.

Moldova takes over Gazprom’s pipelines and challenges hundreds of millions of USD worth of debt
Moldova takes over Gazprom’s pipelines and challenges hundreds of millions of USD worth of debt

Moldova, less reliant on Russian gas imports: Gazprom loses control over Moldova’s gas transport network, whereas Chișinău authorities say the country’s 700-million-dollar debt to Gazprom is a sham.

Chișinău: 45 out of the 80 employees of the Russian Embassy in Moldova will be expelled in the wake of an espionage scandal
Chișinău: 45 out of the 80 employees of the Russian Embassy in Moldova will be expelled in the wake of an espionage scandal

Are the antennas on top of the Russian Embassy building used to spy on Moldovan authorities? The Security and Intelligence Service cancelled the agreements with the FSB and SVR, while the Russian Embassy will stop providing consular services

What Moldova gained from the EPC. The message to the Kremlin
What Moldova gained from the EPC. The message to the Kremlin

The EPC summit brought, for the first time, the prospect of European integration without the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict. Moscow was also sent the message that Moldova's place was next to the Western democracies.

The Republic of Moldova: the stakes and risks of the pro-EU Great National Assembly in Chișinău
The Republic of Moldova: the stakes and risks of the pro-EU Great National Assembly in Chișinău

Maia Sandu has called a pro-European rally, patterned on the Great National Assemblies that culminated in 1991 with the Republic of Moldova proclaiming its independence. The decision was announced in the context where Moscow and pro-Russian forces in Chișinău have ramped up pressure on the pro-European government. It’s a risky bet, which Moldova will win only if the rally enjoys a turnout similar to public gatherings of the 1990s.

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15 articles of type "Opinions" - Corneliu Rusnac:
Why did Romanian citizens in Moldova vote differently than the diaspora elsewhere in the West?
Why did Romanian citizens in Moldova vote differently than the diaspora elsewhere in the West?

Pro-European right-wing parties in Romania grabbed large numbers of votes in Moldova, while the Romanian diaspora opted for sovereigntist forces. Experts believe that sovereigntists were rejected because they are hostile to Ukraine.

Four questions regarding the presidential election and the referendum in the Republic of Moldova
Four questions regarding the presidential election and the referendum in the Republic of Moldova

Există o serie de semne de întrebare legate de alegeri, de la numărul de alegători – important pentru validarea scrutinelor – până la actorii care se vor putea înscrie în cursă și desemnarea unui candidat unic al opoziției pro-ruse.

Russia is intensifying its hybrid war against Moldova. Chisinau responds with the help of the West
Russia is intensifying its hybrid war against Moldova. Chisinau responds with the help of the West

Moscow is hosting the opposition led by the criminal Ilan Shor and accuses Chisinau of Nazism, as it did with Ukraine. Moldova responds through security agreements with the West, from which it gets political and financial support.

Găgăuzia, the pressure point Moscow will use to block Moldova's EU accession
Găgăuzia, the pressure point Moscow will use to block Moldova's EU accession

The administration of the autonomous territorial unit of Găgăuzia in the south of the Republic of Moldova seems to be the latest instrument Russia will use to hinder the European accession of the Republic of Moldova.

Transnistria asks for Moscow's protection to scare Chișinău. Tiraspol’s bluff: the annexation to Russia
Transnistria asks for Moscow's protection to scare Chișinău. Tiraspol’s bluff: the annexation to Russia

The alarmist predictions that Transnistria will call for the annexation to Russia or that Putin will announce the move in his speech before the Russian State Duma turned out to be unfounded. Separatists called on Moscow to protect them “through diplomatic measures”, but it seems to be an attempt to obtain concessions from Chișinău sooner than a step towards joining the Russian Federation.

The Republic of Moldova: separatist agitations against the backdrop of the opening of EU accession negotiations
The Republic of Moldova: separatist agitations against the backdrop of the opening of EU accession negotiations

Both Transnistria and the Autonomous Region of Gagauzia seem to be heating up, against the background of an increasingly fierce hybrid war waged by the Russian Federation against the Republic of Moldova.

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