Moldova: Plahotniuc to pay 1.1 billion lei in theft case

April 22, 2026, marks a historic turning point for Moldovan justice. A 672-page verdict, 19 years of imprisonment, and over 1.1 billion lei (approx. €56.1 million) ordered for restitution are the pillars of a sentence that shattered the ice of impunity.

Plahotniuc sentenced to 19 years in $1B banking fraud

Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu warned that Moldova’s justice system still faces significant challenges, despite the recent 19-year prison sentence handed to fugitive oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc.

Sandu and Grosu move to secure fair Gagauzia elections

Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Speaker Igor Grosu have initiated a high-level working group to resolve the electoral deadlock in the Gagauzia autonomy. The move follows urgent talks on April 23 with local officials and regional deputies.

Moldovan activists fined over EU referendum bribery

A court in northern Moldova has convicted five individuals for electoral corruption. The group attempted to influence the 2024 European integration referendum by offering food items in exchange for "NO" votes.

Nuclear safety gaps persist amid Ukraine war, expert says

Four decades after the Chernobyl disaster, critical safety lessons remain unheeded while regional risks escalate due to the war in Ukraine. Valeriu Cazac, President of the Chernobyl Association in Chisinau, warns that Moldova remains dangerously vulnerable to potential nuclear incidents.

UK and France lead plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz

A unified strategic plan is essential to secure the Strait of Hormuz, British and French defense ministers told military leaders during a high-level summit in London.

Thousands join Yerevan torchlight vigil for genocide victims

Thousands of citizens and officials gathered at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial on April 23 and 24 to honor the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Two dead as Russian drones hit Odessa apartments

Russian forces launched a wave of drone attacks against Odessa overnight, striking residential buildings and civilian infrastructure. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS) confirmed that the assault claimed at least two lives and left 14 others wounded.

Cyprus Summit targets Ukraine aid and Middle East crisis

European Union leaders gathered Friday in the coastal resort of Ayia Napa for an informal summit poised to finalize a landmark €90B loan for Ukraine. The meeting, chaired by the Cypriot EU Presidency, marks a decisive shift for an island long scrutinized as a financial sanctuary for Russian interests, now positioned at the center of Europe’s security architecture.

Expert warns Moldova must decouple from regional risks

The Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Union depends strictly on the pace of domestic reforms and Chisinau's ability to build robust bilateral alliances. Following the opening of negotiations on the fundamental clusters, Black Sea region expert Mihai Isac warned that membership is a merit-based bureaucratic process, not a guaranteed outcome.

Six Chisinau police officers face pre-trial detention

Moldovan prosecutors have formally requested a 30-day pre-trial detention for six officers from Chisinau’s Botanica Police Division. The officers were detained following a major anti-corruption probe.

PM Munteanu shifts Moldova to 60-day energy alert

Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu will address Parliament this Friday, April 24, to request the termination of the national energy state of emergency.