Latest Maia Sandu News

Moldovans grapple with outages as energy crisis grips pro-Russia region

Jan. 10, 2025 06:14 AM EST

COPANCA, Moldova (AP) — Every time planned electrical outages are imposed on his village in southern Moldova, 73-year-old retiree Vasili Donici passes the time solving crosswords and puzzles in a room he illuminates with a small gas lamp. “It’s a bit hard without...

'No heating, no light': Moldovans fear looming energy shortage as Russia halts gas supplies

Dec. 31, 2024 09:03 AM EST

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — On a frigid morning in Moldova’s capital, 39-year-old postal worker Petru Murzin braces for a difficult winter as he fears a looming energy shortage could leave many Moldovans with “no heating, no light.” His concerns aren’t unfounded. ...

Lessons from the elections held in 70 countries in 2024

Dec. 30, 2024 07:53 AM EST

LONDON (AP) — When voters around the globe had their say in 2024, their message was often: “You’re fired.” Some 70 countries that are home to half the world’s population held elections this year, and in many incumbents were punished. From India and the United States to...

Russia's Gazprom says it will halt gas supplies to Moldova starting Jan. 1

Dec. 28, 2024 12:33 PM EST

Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom said Saturday it will halt gas supplies to Moldova starting on Jan. 1, citing alleged unpaid debt by the European Union candidate country, which has brought in emergency measures as it braces for power cuts. Gazprom said in an online...

Moldova declares a state of emergency over energy as fears of Russian gas shortage loom

Dec. 13, 2024 06:46 AM EST

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldova’s parliament on Friday voted in favor of imposing a state of emergency in the energy sector over fears that Russia could leave the European Union candidate country without sufficient natural gas supplies this winter. A majority in Moldova’s...

Moldova's diaspora tipped the scales in a pivotal election. Critics question the vote's validity

Nov. 04, 2024 12:41 PM EST

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovans living abroad voted in record numbers in a presidential runoff that secured victory for pro-Western President Maia Sandu, in a pivotal race that pitted her against a Russia-friendly opponent amid ongoing claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and...

Moldova’s pro-Western president wins 2nd term in runoff overshadowed by Russian meddling claims

Nov. 03, 2024 19:20 PM EST

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu has won a second term in a pivotal presidential runoff against a Russia-friendly opponent, in a race that was overshadowed by claims of Russian interference, voter fraud, and intimidation in the European Union candidate...

Moldovans are voting in a pivotal presidential runoff. But voter fraud threatens its democracy

Nov. 02, 2024 01:25 AM EDT

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovan historian and politician Octavian Ticu remembers when the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, a seismic event that enabled him to become one of the first amateur boxers to fight for his country at the pinnacle of his sport: the Olympic Games. ...

Moldova narrowly votes to secure path toward EU membership after accusing Russia of interference

Oct. 21, 2024 22:22 PM EDT

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovans voted by a razor-thin majority in favor of securing the country’s path toward European Union membership, electoral data showed Monday, after the pro-Western president accused foreign interference and “criminal groups” of trying to undermine the vote in the...

Moldovan president appears set to win 1st round of presidential race, but EU vote could be rejected

Oct. 20, 2024 19:59 PM EDT

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldova’s pro-Western president early Monday looked set to win the first round of a presidential race but accused “criminal groups” of undermining a referendum asking voters to decide whether to secure a path toward European Union membership, which risked being...