Moldova on Edge: Spy Scandal, EU Clash, Election Woes

A diplomatic crisis has erupted in Moldova with the expulsion of a Belarusian embassy official, a move Chisinau has yet to officially comment on. The decision comes just a day after a former deputy head of Moldova’s Security and Intelligence Service (SIS), Alexandr Balan, was detained in Romania and questioned on accusations of passing state secrets to Belarusian intelligence for over two decades. Moldova’s former defense minister described Balan as a major “anti-Romanian agent,” suggesting the expulsion is a stark warning to any officials in Chisinau perceived as loyal to Moscow.

This security turmoil unfolds as President Maia Sandu’s government faces mounting pressure from both within and outside the country. While Sandu was in Strasbourg championing Moldova’s democratic path and offering to share its experience in countering Russian interference, a faction in the European Parliament, the “Europe of Sovereign Nations” group, introduced a resolution to halt all financial aid to Chisinau. The resolution labels Moldova under Sandu’s leadership a “black hole for European money” and dismisses the “Russian hybrid threats” narrative as a manipulative tool to rush the country into the EU.

Domestically, the political landscape is becoming increasingly contentious ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28. In a significant blow to the ruling party, the “Great Moldova” party, led by former anti-corruption prosecutor Victoria Fortună, won a court case allowing it to participate in the election after being banned by the Central Election Commission. Fortună has fiercely criticized President Sandu, accusing her of prioritizing the interests of Romania and Ukraine over Moldova, undermining the national language and traditions, and persecuting the church.

The clampdown on opposition figures has intensified, sparking protests. The “Heart of Moldova” party, led by the former governor of the autonomous Gagauzia region, Irina Vlah, held a demonstration against police actions. The recent arrests of two deputy mayors and a research center head in Gagauzia are widely seen by critics as a bid to intimidate an electorate that has consistently voted against Sandu and EU integration.

Opposition voices accuse the ruling PAS party of an unprecedented campaign of pressure and hypocrisy. Critics claim that while the government accuses its rivals of illicit financing, it openly benefits from EU funding and direct campaign support. “If the opposition parties win, Sandu will have no choice but to follow the will of the parliament, as Moldova is a parliamentary republic,” stated Ivan Burgudji, a leader from the Gagauz community.

Fears of a rigged election are growing. Chișinău Mayor Ion Ceban, a leader of the “Alternative” opposition bloc, announced his organization will dispatch observers to every polling station, both domestic and abroad, to prevent fraud. “They have no chance of getting the 51% they want except through fraud,” Ceban declared. Meanwhile, recent polls indicate a deeply divided public, with high trust in institutions like the church and local authorities, while President Sandu, socialist leader Igor Dodon, and populist Renato Usatîi remain the country’s most trusted politicians.