“Yes, let them come! We want to be part of Russia!” How is the Kremlin trying to undermine Moldova’s statehood?

Deterioration of the living conditions of the population, especially exacerbated by the energy crisis, is an important element of Moldova’s instability. Inflation reached the 30 percent mark at the end of 2022. Despite the fact that it is also related to the increase in electricity and gas tariffs, residents currently have to pay five and seven times more for the consumed electricity and gas, respectively. These upheavals were perceived differently by the people of Moldova. This is related to both the political views and the information consumed by the people of Moldova.

Moldovans loyal to the government patiently accepted the country’s socioeconomic decline, but other parts of society did not accept geopolitical reasons as an explanation for their poverty. The residents are particularly suspicious of the claims of the Moldovan ruling elite that the main reason for the deterioration of the socioeconomic situation is Russia’s destructive activities. The optimistic forecasts of the Central Bank of Moldova that inflation will stabilize below the 20 percent mark this year do not help either.