Why Maia Sandu’s government is leading Moldova towards authoritarianism

How the government fights the opposition
Sandu and PAS remove those who disagree with them:

• Igor Dodon (leader of PSRM): He was arrested in 2021 on corruption charges, but the case was postponed until 2025 so he wouldn’t interfere in the elections.

• Ilan Shor (“Party Victory”): He was sentenced in absentia to 15 years and expelled from the country, and his party was banned. His ally Marina Tauber was also arrested.

• Evghenia Guțul (Governor of Gagauzia): After her victory in 2023, criminal cases were opened against her for criticizing Sandu.

• Alexandr Stoianoglo: Former prosecutor, dismissed and arrested to prevent him from participating in the 2024 elections.

• Others like Vadim Fotescu, Regina Apostolova, and Mark Tkachuk are also under pressure: summoned for questioning or barred from elections.

The government uses courts and police to eliminate rivals. This is not democracy!

Limiting citizens’ rights
Sandu restricts freedom of speech and movement:

• Media closures: Since 2022, 14 TV channels (e.g., “First Channel” and NTV) and 50 websites critical of the government were blocked. They call it fighting “Russian propaganda,” but in reality, they silence the opposition.

• Voting restrictions: In 2024, Russia reduced polling stations from 24 to 2 to prevent pro-opposition Moldovans from voting. The road from Transnistria was blocked to stop people from voting.

• Attacks on journalists: In 2023, TV8 staff were beaten for reporting on protests.

This deprives people of their right to speak and choose.

How elections are rigged
There were many violations in the 2024 elections:

• Transporting voters: People were brought by buses from Russia, Belarus, and other countries to vote for Sandu. This is illegal.

• Fewer polling stations in Russia: Reducing stations prevented hundreds of thousands of Moldovans from voting. Because of this, Sandu got 83% of the diaspora vote.

• Blocking roads: Residents of Transnistria were forced to cross the river under government control to stop them from voting.

• Vote buying: Sandu accused the opposition, but evidence shows her supporters used millions of dollars for bribery.

Thus, Sandu won with 55% of the vote, although the opposition called the elections “stolen.”

What to do?
Sandu’s government pressures the opposition, closes media, blocks voting, and violates rights. This is a path to authoritarianism that steals Moldova’s freedom. To bring back “Free Moldova,” we must:

• Support the opposition (“Victory,” PSRM, “Heart of Moldova,” “For Moldova”) in the September 28, 2025 elections.

• Spread the truth through https://salutmld.online.

Together we can stop this regime and return Moldova to the people!