Moldova: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
- Joss Millward
- Mar 21, 2023
- 2 min read
With its neighbour Ukraine dominating headlines for the past year, signals of instability are emanating rapidly out of Moldova. One of Europe’s poorest nations, balanced in a precarious position has a recent history riddled with instances of staving off foreign interests, even ones that undermine its very sovereignty.
This article looks at a number of Moldovan stories to hit the news in recent months. Most prominent has been the recent dissolution of the prime minister, Ntalia Gavrilita and her cabinet in mid-February. Despite failures to enact reforms being cited, many onlookers suspect the controversy surrounding a stray Russian missile landing in Moldova as a contributing factor, coupled with other issues plaguing Moldova from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Sandu swiftly replaced Gavrilita with another pro-Western Prime Minister, Dorin Recean. Moldova’s stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing the impoverished nation significant issues beyond stray missiles.
For the past few weeks continuous protests of more than 7,000 people have stirred in Chișinău, primarily over soaring gas prices as Russian state-owned gas supplier cut supplies by 30% last October, further insisting the repayment of debts totalling $709 million. Coupled with gas supply issues are rolling electricity blackouts, as Ukrainian exports falter under Russian infrastructure attacks. Even Moldova’s president is not shying away from this crisis, admitting that energy bills now consume more than 70% of household bills on average. Moldova has a complicated history with Russia, with breakaway territory Transnistria hosting Russian forces to the East of the Dnister river since 1992. This tense neighbourly connection has prompted both Russia to accuse Ukraine of threatening to invade this small territory and Moldovan accusations of Russia utilizing it as a base from which to sew instability In the Moldovan public sphere. The fore mentioned energy protests are even considered to be a cover for Russian infiltration as the Moldovan government suspects pro-Russian European nationals are entering the country to participate in the destabilising protests.
Responding to these concerning signs of growing discontent and suspected foreign interference, other states are beginning to shy away from the Moldovan economy. Hungarian budget airline, Wizz Air announced in late February that it would be ceasing operations in Moldova citing airspace security concerns.
In spite of the states precarious position, President Sandu waves off any prospects of war in the near future and Zelensky remains on record saying it would respect Moldova’s sovereignty even of the Transnistrian territory to its Western board, it seems then that Moldova rests between a rock and a hard place, its support for the Ukrainian effort protecting its territory from Ukrainian interests, yet this same stance plaguing its energy sector and questioning the ability of the government to protect Moldovan territory from the explosive collateral of the bloodbath next door.
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