Moldovan Broadcaster’s Building Defaced Amid Pre-Election Vandalism Wave, Reports Reuters

By Alexander Tanas

MOLDOVA – Moldova’s state broadcaster reported on Saturday that its building in the capital, Chisinau, was vandalized with paint, occurring just a day after police attributed similar acts to a group trained in Moscow aiming to disrupt upcoming elections.

Andrei Zapsa, the deputy director general of Teleradio-Moldova, stated that the organization will not be intimidated by these vandalistic acts as they remain committed to serving society and its citizens. He noted that the station was always aware of the potential threats from "radical groups."

Police also reported that paint was splashed on the Supreme Court building overnight.

Authorities in Moldova have associated these acts with a Moscow-trained group purportedly seeking to create instability ahead of the presidential election next month, in which pro-European incumbent President Maia Sandu is expected to have an advantage against a field of ten challengers.

Sandu’s main opponents include Alexander Stoianoglo, who was removed from his role as prosecutor general and is supported by pro-Russian opposition parties, and Renato Usatii, who advocates for maintaining strong relations with both the West and Moscow.

On Friday, Moldovan law enforcement announced the detention of two young men connected to similar incidents in which yellow paint – representing Sandu’s ruling pro-European party – was used on two government buildings.

Police reported that a 21-year-old man, who was apprehended in a park, and a 20-year-old accomplice, caught near the parliament, claimed to be members of a group of 20 recruited to carry out acts of vandalism to undermine governmental institutions in Moldova.

These individuals reported receiving 5,000 euros for one of the attacks and disclosed that they had been trained in Moscow. One of them indicated a role in recruiting young people who were sent to study in Moscow and compensated with 500 euros monthly.

The group of 20 reportedly traveled to Istanbul, where a Russian citizen met them. The following day, they received cash and mobile phones at a training facility near Moscow, where they learned strategies for inciting and destabilizing protests.

After their training, they were said to have returned to Moldova through Antalya, Turkey. Law enforcement has since identified 13 members of this group and conducted searches at four residences on Friday, resulting in the seizure of paint, gloves, and bank and identification cards that confirmed their travels to Russia.