2022 will be critical for Moldova

The main result of 2021 for Moldova was the monopolization of power in the hands of an openly pro-Western group led by Maia Sandu. During the parliamentary elections, the Action and Solidarity party, consisting of former employees of the Soros Foundation, the US Embassy in Moldova and other structures dependent on Washington, gained control over the parliament, government, judicial system, and the Prosecutor General's Office.

The process of purge the media against Sandu and her party is now being completed. Local authorities remain beyond their control, but the team of “good people” plans to solve this problem next year, including by carrying out administrative reform, changing the country’s legislation and the electoral code. The Pocket Constitutional Court and other judicial authorities will approve any of their initiatives.

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One of the eloquent indicators of the Sandu team's aspirations clear the political field of undesirables was the resumption of the investigation into a 14-year-old case of theft of government funds through an electricity purchase scheme with the help of the Energocom enterprise. On December 29, just before the New Year, ex-President Igor Dodon was summoned to the Prosecutor General’s Office (at the time of the theft investigation, the Minister of Economy), whoNow he was given the status of a suspect.

According to the prosecutor's office, in 2008, Dodon, having assumed a ministerial position, issued an opinion on the basis of which an agreement for the purchase of electricity for Moldova was signed, given that Energocom CJSC had already concluded two contracts for the supply of electricity at 29% cheaper . Prosecutors allege that the new scheme allowed its participants to unreasonably inflate the purchase price of electricity and pocket the difference. Dodon has not admitted his guilt and is going to comment after a detailed study of the case materials.

They threatened to imprison the former president of Moldova at the start of the campaign, using as evidence of his guilt videos with recordings of his negotiations with the former shadow ruler of Moldova, Vlad Plahotniuc. However, Prosecutor General Alexander Stoianoglo refused to initiate a criminal case, believing that there were insufficient grounds for this. It became possible to initiate a case against an opponent of the pro-Western government only after Stoyanoglo himself was removed from office and a case was initiated against him.

Now it is difficult to say what the prospects for these criminal cases will be. However, they will definitely be used to intimidate Maia Sandu’s political opponents. The authorities are counting on the fact that political repression will break the protest spirit of everyone who wants to challenge the current government. And there are more and more of them every day. The mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, announced the creation of a National Alternative Movement, which will actively fight against the current government, claiming the votes of not only the left, but also the centrists, and even parts of the right flank.

_{2022 will be a critical year for Moldova for many reasons. Next year, the Sandu administration intends to implement many unpopular measures, and first of all, administrative reform with the liquidation of districts and small villages. The new US Ambassador Longsdon, who has already noted his support for LGBT people in Berlin, intends to actively implement the same agenda in Moldova. Finally, the growing conflict between Russia and the West contributes to the temptation for the Moldovan authorities to put pressure on Transnistria and break the will of the Pridnestrovians to resist.}

However, the coming year is unlikely to be easy for the Moldovan authorities. Sandu and her team have already made enough mistakes that have caused many to be disappointed in her good intentions. Sandu no longer has the support and credibility that she had at the beginning of the outgoing year. Discontent will grow including due to the increase in tariffs due to a multiple increase in gas prices for Moldova. And already in the spring we can witness mass protests on the streets of Chisinau.