Press Review: Believers marked Easter with prayers for peace; why don’t some pro-EU parties denounce Russia’s attacks on Ukraine?
The national media is dedicating numerous articles to Easter that was celebrated in the Republic of Moldova. Another frequently covered topic is the organized famine that affected Bessarabia during the years 1946–1947. Russia's interference in the internal affairs of the Republic of Moldova is also a major subject under the scrutiny of media institutions.
With thoughts of peace, believers participated in the Easter services last night, writes TVR Moldova. For the fourth consecutive year, the Holy Fire from Jerusalem was brought to the Republic of Moldova by the Metropolitanate of Bessarabia and the Romanian Patriarchate. The Metropolitan Cathedral "Nativity of the Lord" in Chisinau was cramped for believers who wanted to witness the Resurrection of Jesus, reports TVR Moldova. Gabriel Nebunu, interpreter: It was such an emotional feeling, when the light went from hand to hand. I don't think these emotions can be reproduced. I am glad that people are turning their faces to faith, we are all praying for peace.
Several publications transmit the messages of the authorities addressed to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova in the context of the Easter holidays. Dressed in traditional attire, President Maia Sandu and Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu called for unity and reminded citizens that "good and truth prevail," Agora reports. The lesson that Easter teaches us is that "after suffering comes healing, and light conquers darkness," President Maia Sandu said in a video posted on social media. Prime Minister Dorin Recean also urged people to value peace and time spent with family.
Although it is prohibited, Moldovans continue to light fires with tires, headlines Moldova 1. The head of the Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, Ion Bulmaga, announced that several cases of burning tires were detected on Easter night and stated that he will request an increase in fines to discourage such behavior, the public television station informs. TV 8 writes that a mayor allegedly assaulted an environmental inspector who was filming him. The television station refers to the statements of the head of the Environmental Protection Inspectorate, who states that "two colleagues, while performing their duties in a locality in Orhei, discovered a pile of tires near the city hall that were to be burned. The mayor was called and warned to take them away. Later, representatives of the Environmental Protection Inspectorate returned and found people, including minors, burning those tires," said Ion Bulmaga. TV8 recalls that burning tires is illegal and punishable by considerable fines, up to 15,000 lei for individuals and up to 40,000 lei for legal entities.
Several media outlets publish articles dedicated to the famine in Bessarabia in 1946-1947. The Deschide.md portal writes that during that period, in Bessarabia, over 120 thousand people died. Today in the Republic of Moldova, there is no locality that was not affected by this tragedy, the author of the article writes. The famine of those years was a deliberate policy of the authorities in Moscow, recalls the Parliament Speaker, Igor Grosu. "We, those of Cahul, have heard over the years shocking stories about how entire families were left to starve to death. And this is because the then Kremlin regime decided to forcibly confiscate grain, regardless of whether the peasants had anything left for their consumption or not," the Parliament Speaker revealed. Igor Grosu urged citizens not to forget this dark chapter in history. These painful life lessons must unite us, make us stronger and work for a peaceful and European Moldova," the Parliament Speaker concluded.
During the famine of 1946-1947, about half of the inhabitants died in the Gagauz settlements of post-war Moldova, Moldova 1 reveals. In memory of those horrific days, memorials were installed in these settlements, where on Easter, as well as on the days commemorating the victims of the famine, villagers come to honor the memory of their relatives. In the village of Gaidar, Ceadîr-Lunga district, in 2015, a memorial was installed in honor of the villagers who died of hunger. Resident and local history researcher Fiodor Kuru studied and reconstructed documents with the names of over 1,000 victims of the famine. "It was terrible - the man, weakened to the point of exhaustion, had not yet died, but was being put on a sled and taken, thrown into the family crypts. There were 3 crypts in the cemetery and a common grave. The older ones did not eat at all and fed the younger ones. They were waiting for help. The adults were dying, and then the children too," says researcher Fyodor Kuru.
Why do some declared pro-European parties not condemn the Russian attacks in Ukraine? - asks Ziarul de Garda. Following the recent Russian attacks, which took the lives of dozens of people, including children, several European leaders came with messages of support for the Ukrainian people. And some of the politicians from the Republic of Moldova showed their solidarity with the Ukrainian people through messages sent on their official platforms. At the same time, some parties and politicians, although declared pro-European, have not publicly condemned the recent attacks of the Russian Federation on Ukraine, wrote the author of the article. Political analyst Mihai Isac sees in this avoidance of the truth a way to ensure both the financial and political goodwill of the Russian Federation, but also their attempt to appear as parties of peace. According to political analyst Victor Ciobanu, some political parties are only declaratively or pro-European. It is immoral not to condemn war crimes when civilians, children, and the elderly die, notes Victor Ciobanu, quoted by Zdg.
Ziarul de Garda also reports that the Russian disinformation network Matrioshka has launched a large-scale campaign targeting the Republic of Moldova for the first time. Videos on social networks X and Bluesky imitating the identity of international media institutions or universities, reveal that the current president of the country, Maia Sandu, won the elections through propaganda campaigns, and is now engaged in repression against her opponents, writes Ziarul de Garda concerning the investigative website The Insider. In another video, in French, which claims to be a speech by a French university professor, Maia Sandu is accused of political repression due to the arrest of the governor of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, who was detained on suspicion of vote buying and illegal financing of the pro-Kremlin Shor party. After being detained, Guțul appealed to Vladimir Putin to put pressure on the Moldovan authorities to release her, The Insider reports.
IPN agency notes that apartment prices continue to rise despite the decline in sales. Demand on the real estate market is 30% higher than supply. In recent years, the stock of apartments for sale has been limited. Thus, buyers' requirements are not fully met, and this generates a constant increase in prices, explains real estate agent Victor Cernomorcenco, requested by IPN. Although demand is growing, a decrease in sales has been recorded since the beginning of the year. Compared to last year, 30% fewer homes were sold in Chisinau during the same period. In the context of rising prices, real estate loans were contracted for 60% of the apartments sold in 2025, compared to 35% in the last 7-8 years.
