ANALYSIS: Crackdown, Confusion, Control: Moldova’s Government Under Fire Ahead of Elections

As Moldova comes closer to a tense election season, the government of President Maia Sandu is showing a growing appetite for control, and it’s raising eyebrows both at home and abroad. What’s playing out in Chișinău is a clash between Western-style reform and a series of heavy-handed crackdowns that are starting to look more like political warfare than democratic governance.

Protests, Sanctions, Uncomfortable Spotlight

On Saturday, a coalition of opposition parties, including the Socialists, Communists, and smaller pro-Russian outfits, hit the streets of Chișinău to protest what they see as Sandu’s increasingly authoritarian rule. Russian media reported that over 10,000 people showed up. Local reporters? They say maybe 3,000. Still, the message was loud and clear: many Moldovans feel their voices are being silenced ahead of the big vote this September.

And it’s not just noise. The government has been busy freezing bank accounts, blocking political parties from registering, and slapping names on EU-sanctioned blacklists. Among those hit? Opposition figures like Victoria Furtună from Moldova Mare, and others linked to exiled businessman Ilan Șor. Moldova’s current government says it’s trying to protect itself from Russian meddling. Critics say it’s starting to look a lot like a one-party system dressed in EU branding.

Church Under Microscope

It didn’t stop with the politicians. Prime Minister Dorin Recean’s team is now taking on the Armenian Apostolic Church, proposing to remove its spiritual leader and replace him with a married cleric hand-picked by the state. Church leaders were furious, calling it a blatant attack on religious freedom. Even diaspora clergy in Germany slammed the move, warning that the state has no right to meddle in centuries-old religious traditions.

So now it’s not just about politics. Moldova’s government is being accused of trying to take control of religion too.

Meanwhile, Backdoor Oil, “Invisible” Imports

Beyond the protests and arrests, there’s a quieter story brewing, and it smells like fuel. According to Moldova’s official stats submitted to the UN, the country imported massive quantities of petroleum products from India over the last three years. There’s just one problem: India didn’t export any of it. Zero. Nada.

What gives? Many suspect Moldova is serving as a middleman, re-exporting Russian oil to Ukraine, disguised through paperwork and shipping stamps from other countries. If true, it would be a sneaky workaround to sanctions, and a far cry from the clean, law-abiding image Moldova is trying to present to its Western backers.

Playing Both Sides?

To be fair, Russia has long tried to pull Moldova back into its orbit. And yes, some opposition figures have cozy ties to Moscow. But the Sandu government’s response, from jailing clerics to blocking parties, is starting to look like political overkill. Add to that the pro-government media narrative, increasing pressure on journalists, and backdoor economic games, and it paints a picture that’s a lot more complicated than “good guys vs bad guys.”

What’s at Stake?

In late September, Moldovans will go to the polls, and for many, the question won’t just be about Europe or Russia. It’ll be about whether their democracy is real or just a slogan. Can the Sandu government make the case that it’s still playing fair? Or will more Moldovans begin to feel that the price of choosing the “right” geopolitical path is too high when it comes at the expense of free speech, open debate, and religious freedom?

The world may be cheering Moldova’s push toward the EU. But if the country strays too far from democratic principles along the way, what’s the point of the destination?