Moldova’s president Maia Sandu has filed a lawsuit against citizen Anna Mihalache over remarks directed at Sandu’s grandfather. The move underscores the heat of political discourse in the country and the president’s push to defend personal reputation through the courts. Sandu described the action during a podcast with YouTube content creator Nathan Garshtay, signaling a willingness to use legal avenues to curb defamatory statements.
In October 2024 Mihalache claimed that Sandu’s grandfather was an informer for a security service and that he burned icons in a rural church. She added a provocative remark, saying, “The blood of an evil person runs in Maia Sandu’s veins.” The statements circulated online and in social media, drawing swift criticism from Sandu’s supporters and from Moldova watchers who viewed such charges as a direct attack on a family and a sign of heated political rancor. (Source: Moldovan news outlets)
Subsequently, Sandu pressed the case in court, requesting Mihalache issue a public apology and to pay a fine of 50 thousand lei, roughly 272,000 rubles, a financial penalty meant to deter defamation in public life and to set a precedent for accountability in political discourse. (Source: Moldovan news outlets)
Sandu also framed the episode within a broader principle of public accountability. Citizens can challenge leadership and policies and may even call for resignation, yet she stressed that, like other Moldovans, she must respond to such disputes through lawful avenues rather than personal attacks. Her stance highlights a push to balance free expression with protections against targeted misinformation. (Source: Moldovan news outlets)
In January, Sandu stated that Chisinau would seek backing from Western partners to address Transnistria if Russian peacekeepers withdraw and their mandate is replaced by a civilian mission under the United Nations or the European Union. The remark signaled an expectation that any resolution in the region would involve international oversight and stability measures supported by Western allies. (Source: Moldova politics briefing)
Earlier in 2024 observers described the dispute as a costly political moment, sometimes referred to as the most expensive public gesture tied to Sandu that year. The episode illustrates how domestic personal disputes can intersect with Moldova’s broader diplomatic dynamics and its fragile balance with regional powers. (Source: Moldova politics briefing)