The closure of the Russian cultural center is evidence of the Russophobia of the Chișinău government, which wants to eliminate the autonomous unit of Găgăuzia and trade Transnistria in exchange for European integration, according to a false narrative picked up by pro-Russian media.
NEWS: Five years ago, first in the presidential election, later in the parliamentary one, the power in Moldova was seized by Maia Sandu and PAS. One of the main distinguishing features of this regime became xenophobia in the form of Russophobia. All difficulties, problems, mistakes, failures, incompetence, corruption, suppression of democratic rights and freedoms -- all are blamed on “resistance to Moscow's harmful influence”.
Based on this "mantra", Chișinău decided the virtual dismantling of Găgăuzia, whose establishment was the result of a difficult political compromise, materialized by the adoption in 1994 of the law on the special legal status of the autonomous territorial unit. Open talks were launched with respect to integration into the EU without reintegrating Transnistria. All this is the expression of nationalism, the desire at any cost to keep a sterile, pro-Romanian regime in Chișinău, led by Romanian citizens and, at the same time, fervent promoters of so-called European integration.
Despite their limitations and incompetence, which leave no room for ideas of economic development, increasing budget revenues, social development, stopping depopulation and ultimately, simply saving the Moldovan people, which finds itself on the brink of disappearance, the nationalists realized that Russophobia can become a commodity, thus primitively gaining the globalists’ support. The closure of the Russian Science and Culture Center and the breaking of ties with the CIS are the latest examples of such a political barter.
NARRATIVES: 1. The government in Chișinău is Russophobic, and the decision to close down the Russian culture and science center is evidence of Russophobia. 2. Chișinău is trying to eliminate the Găgăuz autonomous territorial unit. 3. Chișinău wants to trade Transnistria in exchange for European integration.
PURPOSE: To create the image of a Russophobic and repressive government that abuses minorities and undermines the country's territorial integrity. To create the perception that Găgăuzia is threatened with abolition, fueling fear and antagonism in the region. To promote the idea that Moldovan authorities would deliberately sacrifice Transnistria's reintegration to subordinate to Brussels, generating distrust in the European integration process and weakening public support for the Republic of Moldova's pro-EU orientation.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: In November, the Parliament in Chișinău voted in two sessions to denounce the agreement with the Russian Federation on cultural centers, after the project had also been approved by the Government at the start of the same month. The process started in February 2025, in response to Russian drones and missiles flying over the airspace of the Republic of Moldova. The government in Chișinău, as well as numerous experts, argue that the so-called “Russkii Dom” (Russian House) in Chișinău, especially since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has actually turned into a propaganda center promoting the Kremlin's false narratives, especially those related to the war.
"We admire great Russian culture. This is not the issue. The issue rests with the Kremlin authorities who persecute Russian culture and use cultural centers as a cover for state propaganda”, PAS deputy Marcel Spatari said during the parliamentary debates, recalling that Russian authorities have often deported, marginalized or even killed prominent representatives of their own culture.
The Republic of Moldova is not the only country to decide to close/suspend such organizations. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several states in the region have associated “Russkii Dom” with Russian propaganda, subversive actions and espionage. Romania, Poland, Slovakia, and earlier this year Azerbaijan, until recently a close ally of Russia, are among the countries that have adopted similar measures.
Chișinău authorities promoting Russophobia is one of the Kremlin's favorite narratives, and Veridica has debunked them multiple times.
The government in Chișinău has never given any signal that it might consider abandoning Transnistria (in fact, the country's reintegration is one of the few objectives assumed by all administrations of the Republic of Moldova). All official documents, including the Foreign Policy Strategy and government statements, stipulate that European integration takes place with respect for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. Also, no international institution has ever proposed that Moldova “trade” Transnistria in exchange for advancing the EU accession process. The EU has repeatedly stated that Moldova's accession is not conditioned on conceding Transnistria, but on internal reforms. Chișinău continues to participate in the “1+1” format, negotiations on freedom of movement, infrastructure and social issues, showing that reintegration remains an issue of topical interest. Veridica has previously debunked a similar narrative.
The Găgăuz status is regulated by the Law on the Special Status of Găgăuzia (1994). There is no draft law, political initiative or official document providing for the abolition of the autonomous territorial unit. Recent political tensions have targeted the legality of certain decisions by local authorities, not the existence of the unit itself. Chișinău continues to provide budget funding to the region and includes Găgăuzia in national projects, which contradicts the thesis of “eliminating the autonomous territorial unit”, which has been circulated in the public space before, and Veridica has debunked this narrative.
BACKGROUND: The Republic of Moldova, which proclaimed its independence from the USSR in 1991, faces a frozen separatist conflict in the east of the country. Transnistria proclaimed its independence as early as 1990 and is run by a pro-Russian regime, controlled by oligarchs interested in maintaining the status quo. The region also hosts a Soviet-era military depot guarded by a Russian military contingent, still an obstacle to reintegration.
Meanwhile, Chișinău authorities are engaged in the European integration process, recording significant successes since 2022. The existence of a territorial conflict was considered one of the main impediments to accession, but Brussels officials have admitted the possibility of accession in two stages.
The autonomous region of Găgăuzia is a specific region in the south of the Republic of Moldova, predominantly inhabited by Russian-speaking and pro-Russian Găgăuz, who oppose the Republic of Moldova's European integration, contrary to the pro-European majority of the population, and opt for joining the Russia-controlled Eurasian Union, as shown by the results of a 2014 referendum not recognized by the authorities. In the early 1990s, some local forces tried to proclaim it an independent republic, the situation eventually settled, but separatist narratives have endured.
The 1994 Constitution stipulates that Găgăuzia is a “autonomous territorial unit with special status”, having its own governor (bashkan), government (Executive Committee), and legislature (People's Assembly).
Relations between Chișinău and Comrat (Găgăuzia's administrative center) have been quite convoluted over the years, and tensions have further escalated after Evghenia Guțul, a representative of fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor (convicted in the banking fraud case and promoting Kremlin interests in Moldovan politics) was elected governor in 2023. In August, Guțul was sentenced to 7 years in prison in a case involving the illegal funding of the party controlled by Ilan Shor..
Russia's invasion of Ukraine also marked a further deterioration in Chișinău's relations with Russia, accused of waging a hybrid war against the Republic of Moldova and trying to take political and administrative control of the country, including through election fraud. More recently, the Moldovan Parliament decided to denounce the agreement with Russia based on which a cultural center was allowed to operate in this country.
