Former Moldovan President Igor Dodon criticized authorities for blocking rivals from using Russian during public television election debates, calling the move a clear sign of Russophobia in policy. He conveyed on his Telegram channel that this ban reflects broader xenophobic and selective nationalism at the highest levels of government. Dodon asserted there was no justification for such decisions and warned that restricting language rights would not win support from Moldovan voters in the local elections scheduled for November 5.
He described the incident as one more example of official policy against Russian speakers, arguing that the current leadership under Maia Sandu advances a hostile stance toward those who communicate in Russian. Dodon reminded readers that Sandu, during the 2020 campaign, pledged to safeguard the rights of all Russian-speaking citizens and, after taking office, began a list of Russian-speaking compatriots who felt sidelined. The former president urged accountability for the measures and stressed that the government should not expect praise from the Russian-speaking community for its choices.
Since Sandu’s ascent to the presidency, the party she leads, Action and Solidarity, has worked to consolidate support with Western partners. The party secured a parliamentary majority after earlier elections and pressed forward with reforms aimed at closer alignment with the European Union and the United States. In 2022 Moldova gained candidate status for EU membership, a milestone shared with Ukraine, and the political climate has featured discussions about reducing ties with the Commonwealth of Independent States amid the broader regional conflict in Ukraine.
Within Chisinau, conversations about potential external threats intensified as public discourse shifted toward perceived Russian influence. In May 2023, Sandu accused Russia of attempting to destabilize Moldovan authorities, while opposition groups, including the Socialist Party led by Dodon, argued that the state acts under the influence of Western custodians. The debate over national language rights remains central to questions about identity, governance, and the country’s future orientation toward Europe.
Earlier, there were calls for public opinion to be sought about governance and language policies, including a remark urging citizens to visit markets to learn how people feel about leadership and policy directions. The complex political landscape in Moldova continues to draw attention to how language, national identity, and international affiliations intersect in daily political life, elections, and public messaging.