Important
Moldova Weekly News Digest, 2 April 2017
– Igor Dodon signs decree to initiate consultative referendum on 4 topics
On March 28th, the President of Moldova, Igor Dodon, presented his report on the first 100 days of his Presidential term. Besides his achieved goals, Dodon came up with a new initiative: he signed a decree to initiate a consultative referendum.
The national referendum planned for 24 September 2017 will have four topics of debate:
- “Do you support cancelling the Law of the Billion?“
- “Do you support giving to the President of Moldova additional rights to dissolve the Parliament and (call for) preliminary Parliamentary elections?”
- “Do you support reducing the number of deputies from 101 to 71?”
- “Do you support the studying of “History of Moldova” in education institutions?”
– 2014 census results are finally published: Moldova’s population is 2,9 million people
On 31 March 2017, the National Bureau of Statistics finally published the results of the national census conducted in May 2014.
According to the Bureau, the degree of coverage of the census over Chișinău municipality is 59%, while the total republican coverage is 91%. The estimated population that was not included in the polls is 193 434 persons- thus making the total population 2 998 235 people.
Just for comparison, the population in 2004 was 3 383 332.
The persons included in the census had the free option to declare their ethnicity, mother tongue, usual tongue and religion. 98,2% of the respondents chose to declare their ethnicity.
The ethnic composition is the following:
- 75,1% declared themselves Moldovans;
- 7%: Romanians;
- 6,6%: Ukrainians;
- 4,6%: Gagauz;
- 4,1%: Russians;
- 1,9%: Bulgarians;
- 0,3%: Roma
- Others-0,5%.
Other significant ethnic groups (over 1000 people) are Belarusians (2,8 thousand), Jews (1,6 thousand), Poles (1,4 thousand), Armenians (one thousand).
A wider description of the census results can be read here and here.
– Moldova Parliament votes lifting MP immunity in first lecture, Socialists and Communists oppose it
On March 30th, a majority of the Moldova Parliament voted the draft law on modifying the Constitution of Moldova on lifting the immunity of MPs.
The Parliamentary majority led by the Democrats voted for the lifting of MP immunity, while the Socialist and Communist MPs criticized the initiative. The latter think that this Constitution change “would favor the abuses towards the opposition deputies”, suggesting that the prosecution and justice systems controlled by the Democratic party would endanger their autonomy. The Liberal-Democrats criticized the proposal for the poor description, but voted in favor of it, saying that they “don’t fear anything”.
The draft law proposes to eliminate the 3rd paragraph of the 70th article of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. Currently, the deputy cannot be retained, arrested, searched except for the cases of obvious felony, or sent to court without the approval of the Parliament and after a hearing.
– Moldova PM Pavel Filip and European Council President Donald Tusk: Audiovisual Code and Integrity Law need to be adopted
On March 29th, the Prime-Minister of Moldova, Pavel Filip, met at Brussels the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk.
The two officials mainly discussed about the internal and external policy priorities, along with progress in implementing the reforms in accordance with the Association Agreement and the agreed roadmap. Tusk and Filip paid special attention to the Audiovisual Code and the Integrity Law, some of the main provisions that were not created or adopted from the roadmap.
– On 31 March 2017, the third meeting of the Association Council Moldova-European Union took place in Brussels. The Moldovan Government submitted the report on the implementation of the Association Agenda 2014-2016, after EU’s report was published on 13 March.
The Council noted that Moldova should continue the reforms in justice, media, energy and the business environment.
According to EU Council joint statement, the Association Council agreed on the need to adopt a package of anti-corruption laws, including a new legislative framework on integrity. The EU underlined the importance for comprehensive, impartial and effective investigations on the banking frauds discovered at the end of 2014.
Special attention was drawn on the reforms in the electoral system.
The EU highlighted that any change to the electoral system should strengthen the principles of democracy in the country and should be made on the basis of a broad consensus amongst political forces, following a genuine consultation of civil society and in accordance with the recommendation of relevant international partners, namely the Council of Europe Venice Commission, and the OSCE/ODIHR.
Moldova had only to confirm its commitment to doing that.
What regards the media, Moldova was recommended to address the concentration of media ownership and polarization, but also to create preconditions for the development of local media and industry incentives.
Other than that, the Association Council recommended to increase the effectiveness in the use of the DCFTA provisions, in the use of EU funds by improving market conditions, transparency in public procurement, energy sector. Moreover, the Council drew attention to the need to adopt a strategy to integrate the national minorities, with a special regard to Gagauzia and Taraclia. Speeding up efforts in the settlement process of the Transnistrian conflict was also strongly suggested by the Council.
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On the same day, PM Filip signed with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, an agreement for exchange of classified information. The agreement is aimed at increasing security cooperation between Moldova and the European Union.
– NATO Secretary General: Liaison office in Moldova will be a diplomatic mission with civil employees
On March 30th, the Prime-Minister of Moldova, Pavel Filip, paid a visit to the NATO Headquarters in Brussels to meet the Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
PM Filip told Secretary Stoltenberg that his Government is for the dinamization of the relation with the NATO within the Partnership for Peace and the constitutional neutrality principle. Filip reminded that his cabinet will soon finish and send for consultation the Individual Action Plan Moldova-NATO for 2017-2019, including projects of cyber security and pesticide disposal.
In his turn, Stoltenberg assured that the Alliance respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty and neutrality of the Republic of Moldova, but also offers support in implementing reforms for good governance and corruption fight.
The Secretary General reiterated that the Liaison Office in Moldova will be a diplomatic mission only with civil employees, like in other countries like Russia or neutral countries like Austria, Switzerland and Finland.
– Maia Sandu at EPP Summit: Moldova Government is killing hope that Moldovans can have a future at home
On March 29th, former Presidential candidate Maia Sandu had the opportunity to address the EPP Congress on the behalf of pro-European opposition from Moldova.
Speaking on behalf of the Moldovan citizens who support the European cause of Moldova, Sandu referred to the strong result achieved without media resources, without money, in the Presidential elections against Igor Dodon, promoted by corrupt, oligarchic government.
The former World Bank consultant emphasized that Moldovan is governed by an oligarchic party (Democratic Party) with less than 4% support, but that managed to create a parliamentary majority through bribery, manipulation and intimidation, captured all government institutions, including courts and prosecution.
According to Sandu, President Igor Dodon (and his pro-Russian views) is a fake political opponent, a scarecrow to stay in power for the Democrats. Moreover, Sandu warned that, to continue the control over Moldova, the latter would try to switch to an electoral system that will allow them to more easily rig the next elections.
The former Presidential candidate declared that the worst action of the current government is killing hope– hope that Moldovans can have a future at home.
– Moldova Deputy Economy Minister arrested for abuse of power and damage to state budget
On 31 March 2017, the Vice-Minister of Economy of Moldova, Valeriu Triboi, was arrested by anti-corruption prosecutors and Anti-Corruption Center (CNA) officers in case involving abuse of power and substantial damage to the state budget.
Taken under the custody of the Anti-Corruption Center for 72 hours, Triboi is accused of power abuse for buying, through a third party, from SA Moldtelecom (state founded) a building worth almost 1 million lei and then renting it out for 10 years to the state-owned electricity distributor Furnizarea Energiei Electrice Nord.
Moreover, the Deputy Economy Minister ordered to repair the building, belonging to him, from the funds of Furnizarea Energiei Electrice Nord- 4 million lei.
– GUAM meeting: Ukraine PM Groysman expects a Free Trade Area by end of 2017, Moldova PM Filip calls for investment
On 27 March, heads of Governments of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova took part at the reunion of the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development in Kyiv.
The main topic of the forum was still the opportunity of creating a Free Trade Area, together with a facilitated customs regime, between the four states. In this regard, two protocols were signed by the respective countries.
Ukraine’s PM, Volodymyr Groysman, underlined the need to conclude the formation of the GUAM comprehensive Free Trade Area in 2017:
“I would like to urge economy ministries of our countries to be more resolute and to complete and sign every required document, I mean additional protocols, in the near future, so that we can launch a comprehensive mechanism of free trade between our states in 2017”, said Groysman, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine.
The same GUAM reunion included a Business Forum. The Moldovan Prime-Minister, Pavel Filip, called on more than 70 Georgian, Ukrainian and Azeri investors to come to Moldova. As motivation, Filip stated that in Moldova there are 7 Free Economic Areas, 10 industrial parks, several international communication ways and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. Moreover, the Moldovan PM lauded his Government for reducing by 70% the number of control institutions and by 60% the number of required documents and permits.
– Moldova signs electricity supply contract with Ukrainian DTEK Trading, putting Cuciurgan power plant from Transnistria aside
On 31 March 2017, Energocom signed with the Ukrainian “DTEK Trading” a contract of electricity supply to Moldova between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018.
Thus, the electricity operators from Moldova- ÎCS Gas Natural Fenosa Furnizare Energie SRL, ÎCS Red Union Fenosa SA, Furnizare Energie Electrică Nord, ÎS Moldelectrica, SA Red Nord and SA Red Nord Vest- signed the supply contracts with a price of 50,2 USD for 1 MWh.
Another offer, proposed by the previous supplier- Cuciurgan power plant, controlled by the Russian “INTERAO” and situated in the Transnistrian region-, was rejected because of higher price- 58,5 USD/MWh in the first round of the contest, 54,4 USD/MWh. Energocom’s offer from DTEK Trading was more advantageous due to the future savings of some 300 million lei.
– Elections of Gagauzia People’s Assembly end after 4 months with court decision to finally approve one last deputy
On March 29th, the Appeal Court of Comrat canceled the decision of the Electoral Commission of Gagauzia on declaring the elections in 1st district invalid, reports Gagauzinfo.md.
Previously, the elections in the first district (Comrat) were declared invalid due to low turnout- 32,1% compared to the minimal required 33,3%- only 71 votes were lacking for the validation of the election. Out of the 1861 people who participated at the voting, 1678 voted for the only candidate Vitaly Dragoy. The latter submitted a complaint saying that the list of voters was containing too many voters and the Electoral Commission did not use the official register of voters.
The whole case regarding the turnout in the first district was reviewed by the Appeal Court at the request of the candidate Anna Bratunova, who did not receive a favorable response. To the opposite, the judges canceled the ruling of the Electoral Commission, based on the proof brought by Dragoy’s lawyer about the real number of voters in the district- 231 did not even have the right to be there.
It was established that the real threshold for the election was actually 1847 people (33,33%), so the participation of a total 1861 voters would make Dragoy a deputy in Gagauzia’s legislative institution. Despite the voters’ protest showed with the help of 183 invalid ballots.
– Igor Dodon and Vadim Krasnoselsky discussed the “package of eight” and the issue of Cuciurgan checkpoint
On March 30th, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Dodon, welcomed the so-called president of the separatist Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic, Vadim Krasnoselsky, at the presidential villa in Holercani. The meeting was closed to the press, but both leaders later came up with statements.
Accompanied by their staffs, Dodon and Krasnoselsky discussed the “package of eight” agreed within the Berlin protocol. Dodon remarked that Transnistria did some progress in ensuring the simplification of border crossing for Moldova citizens going to the left bank of Nistru, along with the well-functioning of the Latin script schools in the region. The Moldovan President told that Transnistria’s leader handed over a list of 10 Moldovan public servants, including a former mayor of bordering Varnița village, whose penal cases were stopped in the breakaway region.
In his turn, Vadim Krasnoselsky told Dodon about Transnistria’s concerns on the opening of the joint checkpoint Cuciurgan-Pervomaisk, claiming it would bring budgetary losses, loss of jobs and losses for small businesses. Instead, Krasnoselsky lauded the activity of EUBAM (European Union Border Assistance Mission to Moldova and Ukraine), whose activity is reportedly enough. One of Dodon’s advisers already received a request from their Transnistrian colleagues to review the risks related to Cuciurgan checkpoint.
Important
#WorldForUkraine – a map that shows the magnitude of the world’s actions against Russian aggression
The international community and volunteers from all over te world have launched #WorldForUkraine as a platform that shows the magnitude of the world’s actions against the Russian aggression. In a digital world – it is an interactive map of public support of Ukrainians under the hashtag #WorldForUkraine – rallies, flash mobs, protests around the world. In the physical dimension – it is your opportunity to take to the streets and declare: “No to Putin’s aggression, no to war.”
„Today, along with the political and military support, emotional connection with the civilized world and truthful information are extremely important for Ukraine. The power to do it is in your hands. Join the #WorldForUkraine project and contribute to the victorious battle against the bloodshed inflicted on Ukraine by the aggression of the Russian Federation”, says the „about the project” section of the platform.
Go to the streets — Tell people — Connect and Unite — Become POWERFUL
Volunteers have launched #WorldForUkraine as a platform that shows the magnitude of the world’s actions against Russian aggression. In digital world – it is an INTERACTIVE MAP of public support of Ukrainians worldforukraine.net under the hashtag #WorldForUkraine – rallies, flash mobs, protests around the world. In the physical dimension – it is your opportunity to take to the streets and declare: “No to Putin’s aggression, no to war.” There you may find information about past and future rallies in your city in support of Ukraine. This is a permanent platform for Ukrainian diaspora and people all over the world concerned about the situation in Ukraine.
So here’s a couple of things you could do yourself to help:
* if there is a political rally in your city, then participate in it and write about it on social media with geolocation and the hashtag #WorldForUkraine
* if there are no rallies nearby, organize one in support of Ukraine yourself, write about it on social media with geolocation adding the hashtag #WorldForUkraine
The map will add information about gathering by #WorldForUkraine AUTOMATICALLY
Your voice now stronger THAN ever
All rallies are already here: https://worldforukraine.net
Important
How is Moldova managing the big influx of Ukrainian refugees? The authorities’ plan, explained
From 24th to 28th of February, 71 359 Ukrainian citizens entered the territory of Republic of Moldova. 33 173 of them left the country. As of this moment, there are 38 186 Ukrainian citizens in Moldova, who have arrived over the past 100 hours.
The Moldovan people and authorities have organized themselves quickly from the first day of war between Russia and Ukraine. However, in the event of a prolonged armed conflict and a continuous influx of Ukrainian refugees, the efforts and donations need to be efficiently managed. Thus, we inquired about Moldova’s long-term plan and the state’s capacity to receive, host, and treat a bigger number of refugees.
On February 26th, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Moldova approved the Regulation of organization and functioning of the temporary Placement Center for refugees and the staffing and expenditure rules. According to the Regulation, the Centers will have the capacity of temporary hosting and feeding at least 20 persons, for a maximum of 3 months, with the possibility of extending this period. The Centers will also offer legal, social, psychological, and primary medical consultations to the refugees. The Center’s activity will be financed from budget allocations, under Article 19 of Provision no. 1 of the Exceptional Situations Commission from February 24th, 2022, and from other sources of funding that do not contravene applicable law.
The Ministry of Inner Affairs and the Government of Moldova facilitated the organization of the volunteers’ group “Moldova for Peace”. Its purpose is to receive, offer assistance and accommodation to the Ukrainian refugees. The group is still working on creating a structure, registering and contacting volunteers, etc. It does not activate under a legal umbrella.
Lilia Nenescu, one of the “Moldova for Peace” volunteers, said that the group consists of over 20 people. Other 1700 registered to volunteer by filling in this form, which is still available. The group consists of several departments:
The volunteers’ department. Its members act as fixers: they’re responsible for connecting the people in need of assistance with the appropriate department. Some of the volunteers are located in the customs points. “The Ministry of Inner Affairs sends us every day the list of the customs points where our assistance is needed, and we mobilize the volunteers”, says Lilia Nenescu.
The Goods Department manages all the goods donated by the Moldavian citizens. The donations are separated into categories: non-perishable foods and non-food supplies. The volunteers of this department sort the goods into packages to be distributed.
The Government intends to collect all the donations in four locations. The National Agency for Food Safety and the National Agency for Public Health will ensure mechanisms to confirm that all the deposited goods comply with safety and quality regulations.
The Service Department operates in 4 directions and needs the volunteer involvement of specialists in psychology, legal assistance (the majority of the refugees only have Ukrainian ID and birth certificates of their children); medical assistance; translation (a part of the refugees are not Ukrainian citizens).
According to Elena Mudrîi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, so far there is no data about the number of Covid-19 positive refugees. She only mentioned two cases that needed outpatient medical assistance: a pregnant woman and the mother of a 4-day-old child.
The Accommodation Department. The volunteers are waiting for the centralized and updated information from the Ministry of Labor about the institutions offering accommodation, besides the houses offered by individuals.
The Transport Department consists of drivers organized in groups. They receive notifications about the number of people who need transportation from the customs points to the asylum centers for refugees.
The municipal authorities of Chișinău announced that the Ukrainian children refugees from the capital city will be enrolled in educational institutions. The authorities also intend to create Day-Care Centers for children, where they will be engaged in educational activities and will receive psychological assistance. Besides, the refugees from the municipal temporary accommodation centers receive individual and group counseling.
In addition to this effort, a group of volunteers consisting of Ana Gurău, Ana Popapa, and Andrei Lutenco developed, with the help of Cristian Coșneanu, the UArefugees platform, synchronized with the responses from this form. On the first day, 943 people offered their help using the form, and 110 people asked for help. According to Anna Gurău, the volunteers communicate with the Government in order to update the platform with the missing data.
Translation from Romanian by Natalia Graur
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
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