Press Review // Frost damages Moldovan crops; Plahotniuc’s fake identity revealed
Recent frosts have caused significant damage to agricultural crops in Moldova, particularly affecting orchards in the north, center, and west of the country.
Radio Free Europe interviewed a farmer from Drochia, who reported that the frosts destroyed at least half of his harvest. Andrei Țurcanu, who owns nearly 30 hectares of orchards with apricots, plums, and apples, explained that the plum and apple trees have so far survived since they haven’t yet bloomed. However, he mentioned that temperatures will remain below freezing until the end of the week. The government has announced it is considering compensation for farmers affected by the frost but will first need to assess the extent of the damage.
The upcoming autumn elections hold existential importance for Moldova, with the lessons from the referendum playing a crucial role. Moldova 1 consulted political commentators Anatol Țăranu and Ion Tăbârță regarding the parliamentary elections. Țăranu argued that citizens will again face a choice between two geopolitical orientations – Europe or Russia: "Either we move forward, or we turn back," he said. Tăbârță focused on the role of the pro-European, extra-parliamentary parties, including unionists. He noted that after 2019, unionists disappeared from the representative political landscape, and the political right had failed to cooperate during this time.
The potential expulsion of Russian ambassador Oleg Ozerov from Moldova could lead to economic sanctions from Russia, according to realitatea.md, citing the statement of Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi. At the end of March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to expel three employees from the Russian Embassy in Chișinău after the embassy was implicated in the illegal transportation of MP Alexandr Nesterovschi to the separatist Transnistria region. The head of Moldova's diplomacy described the expulsion as a "proportional" response to the gravity of the Russian Embassy's involvement in this matter. Nestorovski had been sentenced to 12 years in prison, but managed to flee to Transnistria.
The National Newspaper reported that Lilian Carp, the head of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defense, and Public Order, confirmed that the convicted MP, Alexandr Nesterovski, is in Transnistria. "You can’t hide forever in a shed in Tiraspol," Carp stated. These remarks come in the context of Chief Negotiator from Transnistria, Vitali Ignatiev, insisting that Nestorovski is not in the region.
Mexico has confirmed that the new identity of Vladimir Plahotniuc is fictitious, according to TV 8, citing Rise Moldova. The information was confirmed by Mexico's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Joaquín Álvarez. The publication also reported that in March 2025, the French courts decided to maintain the criminal seizure of Plahotniuc's villa in Sciez, France. Plahotniuc obtained Mexican identity documents under the name Vito Perez Gonzalez in January 2024, with the help of a young woman from Russia, residing in Dubai.
A controversial issue in Moldova revolves around Olesea Stamate’s potential expulsion from the PAS faction. Radio Chișinău reports that PAS leader Igor Grosu stated that the decision regarding Stamate’s exclusion will be made in the coming days. The President of Parliament mentioned that he had a discussion with Stamate, where both sides presented their positions. A decision on her membership in the faction is expected soon, after Stamate was excluded from the party following a scandal over the release of several criminals under the Amnesty Law and some amendments she had proposed.
Chișinău has accused Tiraspol of blocking a meeting of statistical experts. According to Newsmaker.md, Tiraspol has once again refused to accept the organization of the first meeting of statistical experts. The separatist authorities denied the accusations, claiming that "there is no working group on statistics, and the statements are just a pretext to sabotage the dialogue." Earlier in April, Tiraspol also refused a 1+1 format meeting, citing that the session was not organized on the left bank of the Dniester, as was the case in previous meetings.
George Simion, the presidential candidate and leader of AUR in Romania, lost in the first instance the defamation lawsuit filed by former Moldovan Defense Minister Anatol Șalaru, reports RFI. Simion demanded a retraction of Șalaru's statements, claiming that Simion had ties to Russian intelligence services. Șalaru, in turn, described Simion as a "traitor" who, under the guise of false unionism, tried to create instability in Moldova. The court decision is subject to appeal.
A sect with extremist views is active in Moldova, as reported by Deschide.md. The sect, a pseudo-religious group known as the "Russian Orthodox Church – Tsarist Empire," has attracted hundreds of followers who swear allegiance to a self-proclaimed "Tsar" from Russia. The group, which has over 500 members, forces followers to renounce their personal property in favor of the cult. According to Deschide.md’s investigative report, the sect is led by Dumitru Mihaile, self-proclaimed "Metropolitan, Grand Prince of All Moldova Teognost," and Zinaida Mihaile. The sect is based in Stolniceni, Hîncești County, and promotes antisemitic and hateful messages on social media.
Găgăuzia’s authorities have proposed making Gagauz language and history lessons mandatory in all schools, along with patriotic education courses. This initiative has raised questions about the true objectives of the project. Political analyst Ștefan Bejan warned on Moldova 1 that the idea of multiculturalism, which advocates for preserving Gagauz language and culture, could become dangerous if it turns into political propaganda and a tool for Russification. "We should not educate enemies of Moldova through these lessons," Bejan stated. A similar law from 2018 mandated that subjects be taught in Gagauz, but it was blocked due to the lack of terminology and textbooks.
Public tenders worth millions of lei have been awarded to the family of a PAS MP, according to Ziarul de Gardă. Two tenders worth 3.5 million lei, organized by the government, were won by the Musical-Coral Association of Moldova, the only applicant. The company is owned by Elena Marian, the mother of PAS MP Radu Marian. "I had no involvement in this purchase," Radu Marian commented. The contract was for organizing a musical tour abroad. Elena Marian, the association's director, stated that "she does not engage in politics" and that her son "has no connection" to how the tender process was conducted.
The annual inflation rate in Moldova has risen to 8.8%, with food products and services to the public seeing price increases, reports mold-street.com, citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Significant price hikes were observed for vegetables (7.8%), fruits (6.2%), and vegetable oil (4.0%). However, prices for eggs and sugar have decreased. Among services, water supply, sewage, public catering, and medical services have all seen price increases.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
