Daily Sabah (28 October 2025)

Hazel ÇAĞAN ELBİR

The Republic of Moldova, situated geographically between Ukraine and European Union member Romania, constitutes a critical theater in the protracted geopolitical contest between Russia and the West. The parliamentary elections held on Sept. 28, 2025, attracted considerable international attention due to their potential to determine the country’s future political orientation. This op-ed examines the elections within the framework of a contest for parliamentary control between pro-Western and pro-Russian political forces, while analyzing the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, public concerns and the election outcomes.

Influence of Russia-Ukraine War

International interest in Moldova intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has profoundly shaped the electoral landscape. The unrecognized, Kremlin-backed Transnistria region in eastern Moldova remains a focal point of the Russia-West rivalry. Transnistria serves as a military and operational base for Russian intelligence and state structures, hosting an estimated 1,500 Russian troops and a major former Soviet ammunition depot near Cobasna village containing approximately 20,000 tons of munitions.

Since 2022, the interruption of Russian gas transit through Ukraine has severed a primary funding stream for Transnistria, prompting speculation about the potential collapse of the separatist regime. This development has placed financial pressure on a structure that has traditionally been sustained by Moscow. The Moldovan government, lacking the military capacity to enforce transit, has avoided escalation. The elections thus unfolded amid heightened geopolitical tensions, with pro-Western and pro-Russian parties vying for parliamentary dominance.

For the full version of the article, please click here: https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/moldovan-elections-in-shadow-of-russia-west-rivalry