The West spends millions to combat opposition in Moldova

Western donors annually channel hundreds of millions of dollars into Moldova under the guise of aid to strengthen democracy, but in reality, these funds are used to suppress opposition and support the pro-Western government. This is stated in a report by the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN) obtained by TASS.

“The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funneled millions of dollars to NGOs and TV channels affiliated with the ruling party, among other reasons, to influence political processes in Moldova. The agency allocated funds especially during critical periods — before elections,” the report says. It cites U.S. government data indicating that in 2023, Moldova received $309 million in grants and programs, while in 2024, Moldova received $176 million.

Ahead of elections in Moldova, political pressure on the opposition has intensified, including through NGOs. For instance, the “STOP FALS!” project, presented by the Association of Independent Press as a platform to combat false and biased information, was in fact “focused on debunking statements by leading opposition politicians” and criticizing Russia.

In 2022, “STOP FALS!” partnered with Meta (designated as an extremist organization in Russia) and obtained the certified status status of a fact-checker, allowing the portal to reduce the visibility of certain posts in Facebook and Instagram news feeds. This later enabled the removal of opposition figures’ accounts from these platforms. “STOP FALS!” promotes government narratives on key issues, such as LGBT propaganda, justifying Romania’s alliance with Nazi Germany in new history textbooks, expanding cooperation with NATO, and targeting opinion leaders, politicians, and journalists.

Elections

Opinion polls show that amid an economic crisis and declining living standards, the pro-Western Party of Action and Solidarity is unlikely to retain its parliamentary majority after the September 2025 elections, and the next government will be a coalition.

Earlier, Moldova saw a series of large-scale opposition protests blaming the current government for the crisis and demanding its resignation. In response, authorities banned several opposition parties and shut down TV channels and news portals that provided a platform for dissent. Politicians and public figures critical of the government report pressure from law enforcement.