Paula Erizanu
@paulaerizanu
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Journalist and author. Words on politics and the arts in Moldova/Romania/Eastern Europe for @Guardian @ft @BBCWorldService @BBCRadio4 @lrb and others
Chișinău, Bucharest, London
Joined January 2011
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Pinned Tweet
People ask Ukraine to sit at the negotiations table with Russia. But Moldova has tried doing it several times since the 1992 Russian-Moldovan war in Transnistria. The result? Russian troops are still here. My
@NYTimesOpEd
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Incredibly moving moment at the London protests today: the Ukrainian and Syrian marches have united, shouting ‘Stop Putin, stop the war. Together we will win’
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Moldovans demonstrating for our European future today 🇲🇩
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A historic vote: in all of Moldova's legislation, the Soviet-era imperialist residue 'Moldovan' language will be replaced with 'Romanian' language. We are more than 30 years late in getting rid of this Russian lie.
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A resolution was voted today at Moldova’s pro-EU demonstration: the Constitution should establish EU integration as the irreversible path for Moldova
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In her press briefing following the Supreme Security Council meeting, Moldovan president Maia Sandu said any Moldovan citizens choosing to fight on the side of the Russian aggressor will have their Moldovan citizenship removed. Many people esp in Transnistria have both passports
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A new Romanian census finds that 21% of the population left the country since 1990. That’s a drop from 23 million to 17 million, and a higher percentage than Syrians or Ukrainians fleeing war.
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This weekend Moldova comemorates the up to 300,000 people who died in the Soviet-engineered famine of 1946-7. The subject was taboo during the Soviet era. My grandpa lost his father and three siblings during the famine
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Maia Sandu confirms Zelensky's claims on Russia's destabilisation plans for Moldova. The new FSB strategy, she has just said in a press briefing, is for individuals to break into state institutions and take hostages
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I am in Bucharest, where the main topic of conversation is Austria blocking Schengen accession of Romania. This meme is a reference to the illegal logging in Romania, involving Austrian firms
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Wow, what a statement! The Dutch PM Mark Rutte to Moldova and Maia Sandu: Russia is trying to undermine the trust of Moldova's people with its hybrid threats and we are all impressed by the courage of the Moldovan people, you are a model for us all
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Fundraising concert in solidarity with Ukraine in Bucharest this eve
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People from all over Moldova are coming to Chisinau to demonstrate for the European path today. My uncle has just made 100 km for this 🇲🇩
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Zelenskyy, EPC: There are frozen conflicts in countries neighbouring Ukraine. For example, why are there Russian troops still in Transnistria? This situation has been tolerated for 30 years. We need to find an answer. It's the time for decisions.
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Just a lovely pic of Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Maia Sandu at the EPC in Moldova today
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The Handmaid’s Tale: 30 women from Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia were trafficked as surrogate mothers by a criminal group based in Crete. The babies were then sold for international adoption. The group made 70-120 000 euros per woman
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Wow. After Moldova's blackout last week, the former pro-Kremlin president Igor Dodon condemned Russia's war in Ukraine. 'It's tragic, because following Russia's shelling of Ukraine, we were left without electricity." And more: "We have to thank Romanians" for selling us energy
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Marina Tauber of the pro-Russian Moldovan Shor party was detained today at the Chisinau airport as she was trying to flee to Israel, where her boss, Ilan Shor, is hiding. She is being investigated for accepting money from an organised criminal group & forging the party’s reports
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After 11 years in politics, Moldovan president Maia Sandu has used up all the savings she made as a World Bank advisor. In 2012, she reported $160,000 on two American bank accounts. Now she says she is only left with $600.
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Moldovan president Maia Sandu: If Moldova gets gas from Romania, Transnistria will have to pay for its gas consumption in order to get gas as well. We can’t afford to pay for it. (This sounds normal but for 30 years Transnistria hasn’t paid a penny for its gas consumption)
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Maia Sandu has just announced the creation of Patriot, a new state institution defending Moldova’s informational security. “Freedom of speech is incontestable” but “it cannot be a paravan for lies”. She mentioned colossal Russian money going into troll farms & local ‘traitors’
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Moldova is withdrawing from the Community of Independent States, Parliament speaker Igor Grosu has announced. “Being part of CIS did not protect Moldova from energy blackmail during the winter, threats & hostile official declarations against Moldovan independence and sovereignty”
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80 000 Moldovans demonstrated for our European future today. In the crowd people held Moldovan, EU and Ukrainian flags. On the stage, we heard: Romanian, Russian, Gagauz and Ukrainian. You can watch the event here:
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The so-called “Flowers Bridge” on 6th May 1990, at the Romanian-Moldovan border of Ungheni. This was the first time in 45 years that Romanians and Moldovans freely spoke to each other. My parents were also there. Pic by Nicolae Pojoga
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Following an agreement between the Ukrainian and Moldovan cabinets, the Moldovan parliament has voted for the building of a new bridge linking the two countries over the river Nistru. Crucially, the bridge will connect Moldova to the Trans-European road network TEN-T
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Today Moldova commemorates 31 years from the war in Transnistria — one of Russia's first attempts to keep a former colony under its influence. I was born during that conflict, my mother could hear the shelling from the maternity ward. Photos by Nicolae Pojoga
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Moldovan president Maia Sandu gave a 'pro-EU manifesto' speech in Parliament today. She condemned Shor's FSB plan to draw the country into war. 'Today state institutions are not in their pockets anymore. They are trying to gain independence and protect the country's interests'
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Tens of thousands of Moldovans have gathered in Chisinau’s National Assembly Square. They are shouting: Moldova, Europa, Ucraina
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74 years ago, over only one day, the Stalinist regime deported more than 34,000 people from Moldova to Siberia and Kazakhstan. A third of those people were children. This was one of three waves displacing about 80,000 Moldovans during the Soviet era
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Russian anti-war comedian Maxim Galkin impressed Moldovans at his show in Chisinau yesterday by speaking in… Romanian for quite a few minutes. People took it as an example of what Russian speakers in Moldova should do: learn Romanian
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Surreal to realise this pic was taken today in Moldova
Europe delivers.
Good to be with
@ZelenskyyUa
as
@Europarl_EN
votes for a historic €500 million boost for ammunition production and faster deliveries to support Ukraine.
We know what is at stake. We will not waver. We will not leave Ukraine alone 🇪🇺🇺🇦
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25,000 people marched in Bucharest Pride today, according to the organisers
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Moldova had its biggest Pride ever today. 8 MPs from the governing party PAS also joined the march. All despite Chisinau’s pro-Kremlin mayor Ion Ceban’s threats that he won’t allow for the march to happen (which would have been illegal). Good to see Moldova change and open up
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Alexandru Mațieschi, the brave soldier who was executed after saying Slava Ukraini, was (also) a Moldovan citizen, Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. He was born in Chisinau in 1980 and moved to his parents’ native Ukraine after his studies
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Breaking: Zelenskyy has just arrived to Moldova for the European Political Community summit, bringing together 50 European leaders
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Eugenia Maţievschii, the grandmother of the captive soldier who shouted 'Slava Ukraini' before being executed, said her grandson, born and raised in Moldova, was a 'kind and correct man', 'a true patriot'. She learned about his death on tv
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Zelenskyy on Telegram, in Ukrainian, Romanian, English: "Moldova and Ukraine are not only neighbors, but also reliable partners. We continue to strengthen cooperation between our countries and counter the challenges posed by Russia together. 🇺🇦🇲🇩"
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Chisinau, Moldova: the Great National Assembly on 27 august 1989 vs the European Moldova Assembly on 21 may 2023
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The Moldovan customs service said it seized over 1.1 million US dollars last night from the people returning from Shor’s political forum in Moscow. As some people at the airport refused to have their bags checked, they became aggressive, the police said
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In his Warsaw speech, Biden praised “the resolve of Moldovan people to live in freedom, gain their independence and put themselves on the path to EU membership.” He also addressed Maia: “President Sandu, I’m proud to stand with you and the freedom-loving people of Moldova”
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Maia Sandu in Bucha today: “We have offered shelter to hundreds of thousands of refugees, half of them children. We will continue to do this until every Ukrainian can return home, safely. (…) We ask for justice. Without justice, there can never be peace. Slava Ukraini!”
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This is big: the European Parliament has just passed a resolution recommending to start negotiations for Moldova’s EU integration by the end of the year and to integrate Moldova in the single market before it becomes a EU member. 448 MEPs voted for this, 45 against it
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Lavrov said Moldova is following into Kyiv’s footsteps discriminating everything Russian. That is false - we still have schools teaching in Russian, Russian language theatres, papers etc. Which is more than minorities get in Russia or even in Europe
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Ukraine no longer recognises the so-called “Moldovan” language - a Soviet invention. Ukraine has ruled that the official language of its Romanian minority is Romanian. The decision was made following the working meeting of the Ro and Ukr govts in Kyiv today
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On 2 March 1992, the short but bloody Russian-Moldovan war started in Transnistria — one of the first wars Russia launched against the former Soviet states. Moscow forced Chisinau to sign a ceasefire on 21 July on its own terms, which has led to the frozen conflict we have today
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A premiere: Romania’s Ministry of Defense has proposed a bill that would enable the country to protect its citizens outside its borders. About 600,000 Moldovans have Romanian passports
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Russia's Ministry of External Affairs published a report on Russians being 'persecuted' in Moldova and the church suffering from 'pressures'. The church's spokesman: 'it's the first time I hear of such thing; we have a beautiful relationship with all state institutions' 🙃
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"The sums thrown by the Kremlin to help criminals take over power [in Moldova] are unimaginable", PAS MP Radu Marian said, commenting on the 550,000 euros seized 4 days ago from a man trying to enter Moldova via Romania. The money would have been intended to bribe mayors, voters
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3 years ago today, Maia Sandu was invested as Moldova's president. She has just announced she will run again next year and has asked Parliament to organise a referendum next autumn where Moldovans will vote on whether they want to join the EU
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Maia Sandu addressing Moldovans demonstrating for a European future: the EU integration is the only way to develop Moldova. We want to keep our country and children away from war. In 7 years, we will look back proud as Moldova becomes a EU member
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To any country with a Russian army on its territory, the term 'Russian peacekeeping troops' is a joke and it's not a funny one
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President Maia Sandu on Moldova's Independence Day today: "The story of our country is a story of resistance. We do not start wars. We have chosen the European path because we have chosen peace."
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Roberta Metsola addressing Moldovans demonstrating for EU integration: Moldova este Europa, Europa este Moldova. I want your children to have the same rights and opportunities as my children
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Just seen a powerful documentary play in Chisinau on the state-engineered famine in Moldova in 1946-7. Children who didn't go to school because their grandparents took their shoes and boiled them... Cannibalism... While the grains the Soviets collected from homes were decaying...
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Maia Sandu at EPP: "Russia thinks it doesn't have to ask smaller countries like us what they really want. We are seen as lines on a map. But the people of Moldova chose a different path. Today, Moldova is not on the table, as Russia wanted. Moldova now has a seat at the table."
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The EU is planning to start formal accession talks for Moldova and Ukraine on 25 June
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Now that Chisinau’s parliament has corrected the Soviet lie and voted to have Romanian language replace the Soviet relic ‘Moldovan’ across all laws, I wrote a personal essay about Romanian language in Moldova for the
@bbcworldservice
. Minute 44:
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My piece on how Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria has been moving away from Russia since the full-scale invasion, including by not turning up in big numbers to vote in the Russian presidential elections
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An epic pic by Dumitru Goncear from Moldova’s Europe Day last weekend. On 21st May Moldovans are taking to the streets to show their support for EU integration
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Meet Moldova’s new chief EU negotiator, Cristina Gherasimov. She previously served in Maia Sandu’s cabinet. On her CV: teaching at Rutgers University, research for Chatham House, Transparency International Defence and Security, Bosch Foundation, German Council on Foreign Affairs
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Finally: the Moldovan Anticorruption Prosecutors have found 3.5 million lei (or 185,000 euros) in cash in 20 bags of Shor party’s representatives. Anticorruption Chief prosecutor Dragalin: we think this is their weekly budget. 24 people - detained. One person caught in flagrante
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Maia Sandu on the European Commission recommendation to start Moldova's accession negotiations: "We are not afraid of work, and our goal is for Moldova to be ready to join the EU by 2030. Moldova in the EU is our only chance to guarantee peace, freedom & prosperity in the future"
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Goran Bregovic was not allowed to enter Moldova today. He was meant to perform at a music festival where the Ukrainian Eurovision winners Kalush Orchestra also played (how they were going to share a stage idk). Bregovic has repeatedly expressed support for Russia’s invasion
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In a national address, Moldovan president Maia Sandu has just announced a pro-European assembly on 21 May. She said the voice of the people needs to be heard at this crossroads for our country and referenced the great national assemblies that led to Moldova's independence in 1991
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Moldovans pay gas tariffs that are twice higher than Romanians, bills make up 75% of a family’s income, Maia Sandu said in her address to the Romanian parliament yesterday. “We are asking for help not for our comfort, but in order to survive as part of the free world”
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Horrible news: a Russian citizen who was denied entry to Moldova attacked the border policeman and stole his gun, shooting him and one other person at the Chisinau Airport. The man was arrested. The authorities say there are two victims
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In my grandparents’ vineyard. Every family has their own vineyard in Moldova
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Inflation rate has decreased from 34% to 4% in Moldova over the past year and a half. Bank of Moldova governor Anca Dragu said the main reason for the rise of prices in 2022 was the instability surrounding Russian gas; finding alternatives has led to a lower inflation rate
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Moldova’s Kremlin-affiliated Shor party announces protests on Sunday, 19 feb, at 1pm, demanding the government to pay 100% of the winter bills on behalf of citizens
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Great news from Moldova: in 2022, Moldova was 40th in the press freedom index. Now we’re 28th, between Australia and Austria.
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'We are the generation that will bring Moldova into the EU in 2030,' Moldovan president Maia Sandu said in a landmark speech in Chisinau's Parliament today. 'It's not enough to bring Moldova into the EU, we have to bring the EU into our homes, to build European Moldova'
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Moldova’s government has handed in its second part of the EU membership application. And now we pray ;)
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I wore blue and yellow for London’s pro-Ukraine marches last year and am now wearing the same colours for the European Moldova assembly in Chisinau. The headscarf is a gift from my grandma
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Mariah Carey has been singing in my head ever since I heard the news of the start of Ukraine and Moldova’s EU accession negotiations. Yeah, baby!
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Historic vote for Romania in the European Parliament today: MEPs have passed a resolution whereby they ask Russia to return 91 tonnes of gold sequestered in the First World War
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A Russian airplane landed in Moldova today for the first time since the full scale invasion of Ukraine. It came to take back 57 employees (30 diplomats, 27 other staff) of the Russian embassy to Moldova after Chisinau authorities requested the reduction of staff numbers
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Romania experiences the biggest teachers’ strikes and demonstrations in recent years. They request higher pay. 73% of Romanians support the strike
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Now in order to get Romanian citizenship, you need to speak Romanian — a good decision that will force Russian speakers in Moldova aiming to get Romanian papers to learn the language
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The Mad King (2019) by Valeria Duca, born in 1995 in Chisinau, Moldova, now living in Oslo, Norway
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And again: At the OSCE summit in Skopje, Moldova's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu asked Russia to withdraw its troops from Transnistria in order to solve the frozen conflict peacefully. Russia actually signed an OSCE treaty in 1999 in Istanbul where it committed to it
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😂 EU ambassador to Moldova
@janismazeiks
: “Just checked the rooftop of the EU Delegation – air conditioners working at full speed, no satellite dishes installed on our roof. We are so busy working that we don’t have time for watching TV 😉”
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The Russian World "is foreign to our national values and aspirations", Moldovan Metropolitan Vladimir said in a shocking letter to his superior, Russian Patriarch Kirill. The cleric criticised Kirill's support for the war in Ukraine and his defiance of Vladimir on Moldovan issues
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81 years ago, tens of thousands of Moldovans were deported under the Soviet occupation. They included pregnant women, the elderly, children who died of hunger in Siberia. Today, Moldovans share their grandparents' stories with the pain of knowing that this is not just the past
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The atmosphere in Moldova today reminds me of coronation in the UK. It’s a free day, most tv stations are only covering the european political community summit, there are no cars in the centre of Chisinau, pro-European Moldovans are celebrating. But: children’s day is postponed
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Moldovan President Maia Sandu at the UN: “The success or downfall of one democracy resonates globally. When one thrives, it inspires hope in others; when one falters, it risks a domino effect. Today, the fight for democracy anywhere is a fight for democracy everywhere.”
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The women were made pregnant against their will and shut in 14 homes in Crete. The criminal group was led by a gynaecologist
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A historic moment: 50 European leaders at the second summit of the European Political Community in Moldova
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Bucharest billboard by Purcari Winery - who are also hosting refugees at their chateau in Moldova
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Good news: Norway is planning to open an embassy in Moldova in the near future
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Moldova sends 55 emergency workers to Turkey to help earthquake victims
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Moldovan runaway oligarch Ilan Shor has fled Israel for Moscow via Istanbul on Roman Abramovich's private jet, sources told independent media outlet Jurnal TV. Several other pro-Russian leaders from Moldova are also in Istanbul, on their way to Moscow
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Big Moldova news: the pro-Kremlin businessman and politician Shor has been found guilty of moneylaundering and fraud in the so called “theft of the century”. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Court of Appeal. Shor is currently hiding in Israel
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Meet Moldova's new Anti-Corruption Chief Prosecutor, Veronica Dragalin. Before embarking on this role, she was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California
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Romanian president Klaus Iohannis to Moldovan head of state Maia Sandu, in Bucharest: "We will not give up. I assure you that the Republic of Moldova is not alone in facing these [Russian destabilisation] challenges. This is our permanent, clear and firm position"
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Another epic pic from yesterday’s European Political Community summit in Moldova
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Today Moldova marks 10 years of visa-free travel to the EU. This saved 2.1 million Moldovans travelling to Europe 270 million euros, the Institute for European Policies and Reforms has calculated
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“EU, accept our friend request.” Young Moldovans demonstrating for EU integration
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Lavrov: the West wants to take control over Moldova as it has done in Ukraine.
What Mr Lavrov fails to acknowledge is that Moldova and Ukraine have the right to choose their own families and not every family is as toxic and authoritarian as the Kremlin is.
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Russian citizen takes part in Moldova's Shor protests and admits not being from here.... (it's Romanian language, not Moldovan but let's ignore this for a sec)
Anti-government protestor in Moldova can’t speak Moldovan.
And he came from Russia.
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A friend indeed: Romania has modified its law in order to be able to sell cheaper electricity to Moldova than the market price. This is to make up for the 30% of Moldova’s electricity supply that was cut off by Ukraine following Russia’s attacks on its energy systems
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