Natalia Gavrilita

Instability Ahead

Former Moldovan president Igor Dodon on Wednesday said his detention on Tuesday on treason charges was "a political case", claiming that the governing pro-European Action and Solidarity Party, PAS, was pusuing a vendetta.

Moldova was promised 695 million euros in assistance from international partners at a "Moldova Support Platform" conference organized on Tuesday by Romania, France and Germany in Berlin.

Romania's government on Wednesday approved a 100-million-euros financial support package for Moldova to help it deal with a looming energy crisis.

Romania's financial assistance comes at a difficult time for its neighbour, after Russian energy giant Gazprom warned it would stop supplying gas to Moldova if its Moldovagaz subsidiary does not pay outstanding debts within two days.

Serbia's Damir Rastic (L) and Ukraine's Artem Tyshchenko (R) in action during the men's 10km Sprint race at the IBU Biathlon World Cup i​n Hochfilzen, Austria. Photo: EPA-EFE/Christian Bruna.

CSKA Sofia fans light flares during the UEFA Europa Conference League group C football match against AS Roma in ​the Bulgarian capital on December 9, 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/Vassil Donev.

Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita said on Tuesday that Moldova is currently engaged in intensive negotiations with Russian state company Gazprom on extending its gas supply contract, but is looking at several gas supply possibilities in other European countries as well.

Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita announced on Monday evening that pensions for the elderly and allowances for vulnerable citizens would rise after October 1 for about 427,000 people.

Moldova's new Justice Minister, Sergiu Litvinenco, has warned prosecutors that the times of legal impunity for rich oligarchs and those who have committed crimes are over.

After consultations with all the parliamentary parties, President Maia Sandu on Friday appointed her close ally Natalia Gavrilita as Prime Minister-designate of Moldova.

Sandu said she had every confidence that the newly appointed PM will bring a team that has integrity and professionalism, and puts citizens first.

The Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that a decree issued by President Maia Sandu on February 11, which nominated Natalia Gavrilita as prime minister for a second time, was unconstitutional.