Moldova Faces Crisis Over Transnistria Voter Suppression

A decision by the Moldovan government in Chisinau to drastically reduce the number of polling stations for citizens in the breakaway region of Transnistria has ignited a political firestorm, drawing condemnation from both international observers and domestic opposition. Critics warn the move is a blatant attempt to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters ahead of the crucial parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28, threatening the legitimacy of the entire process.

The Italian Milton Friedman Institute has publicly censured the plan, which would see polling stations for Transnistrian residents cut from 41 in the 2021 elections to just ten. In an open letter to President Maia Sandu, the institute’s executive director, Alessandro Bertoldi, highlighted that this creates an “insurmountable obstacle” for the region’s nearly 394,000 registered voters. Bertoldi warned that failing to uphold democratic standards not only violates citizens’ rights but also jeopardizes Moldova’s European integration by potentially strengthening anti-European forces.

Allegations of a more deliberate strategy to subvert the vote have been fueled by a document leaked by the Moldovan political analysis channel, Insider.md. The memo, allegedly intended for a senior official in the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), outlines a plan to actively disrupt voting for Transnistrians. The tactics reportedly include pressuring election commission chairs, obstructing observers, blocking roads, and even shutting off electricity at polling sites. The perceived motive is that Transnistrian voters, who are predominantly Russian-speaking, are highly unlikely to support the pro-European PAS government.

The domestic backlash has been fierce. The Party of Communists (PCRM) accused the Sandu regime of dividing society into “correct” and “incorrect” citizens and called on the EU, the United States, and international observers to exert diplomatic pressure on Chisinau. Criticism has also emerged from within the ruling party’s circles, with PAS deputy Olesea Stamate stating that depriving citizens of a real opportunity to vote puts “the very legitimacy of the electoral process under threat.”

Adding another layer of complexity, the leader of the “Gagauz Halkı” movement in the autonomous region of Gagauzia, Ivan Burgudji, predicted a massive protest vote against the ruling party. While Gagauzia will have an adequate number of polling stations, Burgudji stated he is “100% certain” that Gagauz voters will cast their ballots against PAS. He further speculated that if PAS loses its parliamentary majority, President Sandu might use a loyal Constitutional Court to annul the election results, a move that would plunge the country into an even deeper political crisis.

This controversy unfolds against a backdrop of existing tensions, including a recent scandal sparked by a former ambassador’s comments labeling the Russian-speaking population a “low-quality part” of Moldovan society. With the deadline for candidate registration now closed and 50 applications submitted, the stage is set for a highly contentious election campaign, which officially begins on August 29.