Press Review //The government disapproves of meetings between foreign ambassadors and the separatist administration on the left bank of the Nistru
How Chișinău reacts to the Russian ambassador’s meeting with the separatist administration in Tiraspol, the economic collapse on the left bank of the Nistru, and a new condemnation of the Republic of Moldova by the ECHR—these are some of the key topics covered in the Moldovan media.
"It’s a not-so-happy tradition... Probably a subtle message." This is how Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi commented on the visit of Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov to Tiraspol. TV8 features an interview with Chișinău’s top diplomat, who stated that the government does not support the practice of some foreign ambassadors visiting the Transnistrian region for meetings with the unrecognized authorities there. In his view, such actions do not contribute in any way to improving relations and mutual understanding between the Republic of Moldova and Russia. Popșoi also noted that since Oleg Ozerov has not yet been accredited, he cannot hold any official meetings.
Economic collapse on the left bank of the Nistru, headlines realitatea.md. According to a statement from the separatist administration, Tiraspol has funds to pay salaries for public sector employees in the region for only two more months. Unused funds from the previous year, including those allocated to local administrations, will be redirected for social payments. The separatists have stopped selling electricity to the right bank, losing a significant portion of their revenue. Additionally, due to insufficient gas supply, large enterprises in the region have halted operations.
The Republic of Moldova needs a pension system reform, writes Moldova 1, citing economic expert Stanislav Ghilețchi. He argues that the budget deficit proves the current pension system is unsustainable. One potential solution would be the introduction of a mixed payment system, similar to Romania, combining contributions to the public pension fund with private insurance funds. This would reduce citizens’ reliance solely on state pensions. His statement comes after authorities announced that, starting April 1, all pensions will be indexed by 10%.
The Republic of Moldova condemned by the ECHR and ordered to pay substantial compensation, reports TV8. The country must pay over €43,000 in damages for turning a blind eye after a woman with disabilities was treated as a slave on a farm and subjected to sexual abuse. After being transferred from a neuropsychiatric asylum to a family that owned a farm, the woman was exploited for forced labor and suffered repeated sexual abuse for five years. Although she reported the abuse in 2018, no one was held accountable. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in her favor, finding multiple violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Shortage of antiviral and asthma medications in pharmacies across Moldova, reports Moldova 1 TV. In an interview, Dragoș Guțu, the general director of the Medicines Agency, stated that flu treatment supplies meant to last through winter and spring had run out by February. A new batch of these medications is expected next week. He also noted that medicine shortages are affecting all European countries. Since the pandemic, consumption of medications for hypertension and asthma has increased by about 30%, surpassing what the European pharmaceutical industry was prepared for.
Meanwhile, Ziarul de Gardă reports that over 10,200 cases of seasonal flu were registered in Chișinău in the past week alone, mostly among students. As a result, children will now be checked for symptoms upon entering school. The Chișinău General Directorate for Education, Youth, and Sports has warned that acute respiratory infections are on the rise.
Ilan Șor wants his seized weapons back, headlines anticoruptie.md. One of his lawyers requested the return of three firearms and one rubber bullet gun found in a safe. However, the Chișinău Court of Appeal rejected the appeal. The weapons were discovered in one of the apartments owned by Șor, who has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for bank fraud. As part of the enforcement proceedings, authorities are recovering over 5 billion lei for Banca de Economii, partly from his remaining assets in the Republic of Moldova.
EBRD increasingly pessimistic about Moldova’s economic growth prospects for 2025, reports mold-street.com. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has downgraded Moldova’s economic growth forecast by 1.5 percentage points, projecting an expansion of just 2%. This weak performance is mainly attributed to a 10% decline in the volatile agricultural sector and an 11% drop in real goods exports, largely due to lower demand from the EU automotive industry, according to the EBRD.
Hundreds of tons of artificial flowers end up as waste in Moldova’s cemeteries, reports Radio Free Europe. A special report highlights the environmental impact of imported plastic flowers, primarily used for funeral wreaths. Over the past six years, the import of these flowers has tripled, exceeding 180 tons in 2024. Since they cannot be recycled, they pose a significant ecological problem, with no clear solutions from authorities. Even authorized landfills are now refusing to accept them.
