Republic of Moldova

Russia is using Transnistria to destabilize Moldova and derail its EU accession process. While helping Chișinău tackle its energy crisis, Brussels should directly engage with Transnistria and factor it into its enlargement and economic policies.

Shutting off gas to Transnistria creates energy instability across Moldova, including but not limited to the Transnistrian region. 

On New Year's Day, Russian gas stopped flowing through Ukraine. Kyiv is calling it a "historic" day as its refusal to extend a transit agreement with Russia's Gazprom has halted the return flow of cash to fund the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But in neighbouring Moldova, the move threatens to cause a crisis.

[…] The current gas-transit agreement between Ukraine and Russia ends on December 31 and Ukraine has said it will not extend it. The unrecognized, Russian-backed Transdniestria region depends heavily on Russian natural gas supplied via Ukraine. 

Moldova's Foreign Ministry has condemnd Russia's "aggressive" actions after two Russian drones entered Moldovan airspace and crashed on its territory on November 10.

Moldova's pro-EU President Maia Sandu has claimed a second term after a tense election run-off seen as a choice between Europe and Russia. The Moldovan Central Electoral Commission confirmed Sandu's victory on Monday morning.

Moldova’s National Anticorruption Centre, CNA, said on Wednesday it has imposed fines worth over 2 million lei [over 100,000 euros] for electoral corruption just four days before the second round of the presidential election in which the pro-Western incumbent, Maia Sandu, is fighting to secure a second term.

Maia Sandu claimed pro-Russian forces illegally interfered in Sunday's presidential polls, which will go to a run-off ballot next month, while referendum results only narrowly approved enshrining EU accession as a national goal.

Days before presidential elections and a referendum are due in Moldova, authorities have closed the Telegram channels of the Moscow-based oligarch Ilan Shor and several other pro-Russian propagandists. Moldovan authorities on Thursday blocked 15 Telegram channels and 95 chatbots linked to the fugitive convicted oligarch Ilan Shor, … .

Pro-Kremlin forces are meddling in Moldova's upcoming presidential election by paying off tens of thousands of voters in a sweeping plot to derail Chisinau's bid for closer ties with the European Union, the country's police and Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office said.