INSIDE MOLDOVA Moldova strengthens EU ties | Cyberattack exposes 750,000 IDs | Sandu revokes citizenship of three Transnistrian figures
Moldova continued strengthening its European integration efforts and regional partnerships this week, with Romania reaffirming its support for the country’s EU accession and Prime Minister Vasile Tofan discussing European integration, security and infrastructure cooperation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The government also presented 19 major investment projects under the EU-supported Growth Plan.
Domestically, a major cyberattack targeting Moldova’s digital public services resulted in the unauthorized extraction of data associated with approximately 750,000 personal identification numbers, prompting the resignation of the Electronic Governance Agency’s director. Separately, ZdG investigations raised questions about public procurement contracts awarded by Chișinău City Hall and the repeated delays in implementing electronic ticketing in the capital’s public transport system.
Government presents 19 major investment projects under EU-supported Growth Plan
The Moldovan government presented 19 investment projects aimed at modernizing the country’s road and energy infrastructure, constructing a regional hospital, expanding water supply networks and renovating educational institutions.
The projects, scheduled for completion between 2030 and 2035, form part of the European Union-supported Growth Plan for Moldova. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said the government intended to ensure maximum transparency throughout their implementation and allow the public to monitor progress.
Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu paid his first official visit to Moldova on October 27, meeting his Moldovan counterpart, Vasile Tofan, to discuss bilateral cooperation, energy security and European integration. Niculescu reaffirmed that Moldova’s accession to the European Union remains a strategic priority for Romania and praised the country’s progress in the accession process.
Separately, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on October 26. Their discussions focused on regional security, European integration and joint infrastructure projects, including road and railway connections and bridges linking Moldova and Ukraine. The officials also addressed defence cooperation, the exchange of experience in responding to security threats and continued reforms required for EU accession.
Cyberattack exposes personal data associated with approximately 750,000 Moldovan identification numbers
Moldova’s Electronic Governance Agency (AGE) announced that a cyberattack targeting several digital public services between October 19 and 23 resulted in the unauthorized extraction of datasets associated with approximately 750,000 personal identification numbers (IDNPs).
According to preliminary findings, the compromised information included names, dates and places of birth, details about immediate family members, health insurance status, family doctors, social benefits, pensions, disabilities, driving licences, photographs, vehicles and businesses owned or administered by affected individuals. Financial information, including IBANs, tax debts and MPay payment histories, was also among the categories of data potentially exposed.
On October 28, AGE director Nicoleta Colomeeț announced her resignation, stating that she was stepping down on her own initiative and out of a sense of responsibility. Her departure followed the disclosure of one of the most significant reported data breaches involving Moldova’s digital public services.
Moldova expands defence cooperation as Russian security concerns persist
Prime Minister Vasile Tofan stated that the technical-military cooperation agreement signed between Moldova and Ukraine does not constitute a security treaty and does not affect Moldova’s constitutional neutrality. Speaking during a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart, Luca Niculescu, Tofan explained that the agreement is intended to strengthen defence cooperation and facilitate access to military technologies tested under real combat conditions, including drone interception systems. The prime minister said Ukraine has developed and tested military equipment during the war, while Moldova, which has more limited resources, is interested in acquiring reliable technologies at lower costs.
Separately, Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatîi announced plans to visit Romania for talks with his Romanian counterpart, Ștefan-Radu Oprea, and to sign a military cooperation agreement. Discussions will also address the possibility of jointly purchasing Italian military vehicles through the European SAFE programme.
President Maia Sandu revokes citizenship of three individuals amid tensions over Transnistria
President Maia Sandu signed decrees on October 29 revoking the Moldovan citizenship of Iurie Cara, Andrei Safonov and Serghei Verdeș.
According to the Presidency, Cara and Safonov are members of the self-proclaimed legislative body of the separatist administration in Tiraspol. The institution stated that they had participated in adopting unconstitutional acts violating the rights of Moldovan citizens in the Transnistrian region, promoted the ideology of the “Russian world” and advocated maintaining Russia’s illegal military presence on Moldovan territory.
Separately, the Moldovan government raised concerns about the continued use of the former Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Chișinău, commonly known as the Russian House. Although the centre was closed in summer 2026, the building reportedly now houses the so-called residence of the cultural attaché of the Russian Embassy in Moldova. The government suggested that the arrangement could represent a new Russian provocation, nearly four months after the centre’s closure.
Investigation reveals public contracts awarded to company printing political materials for Chișinău Mayor Ion Ceban’s party
An investigation by Ziarul de Gardă revealed that Global Print Grup, the company responsible for printing approximately 150,000 newspapers and leaflets distributed by the National Alternative Movement (MAN), led by Chișinău Mayor Ion Ceban, had received several public procurement contracts from Chișinău City Hall in recent years.
The materials distributed by MAN contained unfounded accusations of political bias against several media outlets and nongovernmental organizations. According to the investigation, the printing company received municipal contracts despite submitting the highest bid in one tender and exceeding the municipality’s established price ceiling in another. The investigation also reported that Global Print Grup had been linked since 2021 to the network of political parties affiliated with Ilan Șor, for which it had previously printed materials containing false information.
Chișinău still lacks electronic ticketing system seven years after mayor’s initial promise
Nearly seven years after Mayor Ion Ceban promised that an electronic ticketing system for public transport could be implemented within six months, Chișinău continues to operate without such a system, despite millions of lei spent on studies, tenders, concepts and pilot projects.
In September 2026, approximately one year before the next local elections, the municipality presented another proposal for implementing electronic ticketing, requiring investments of more than €7 million. Although the authorities have repeatedly promised to introduce the system, the latest announcement suggested that implementation could take another two years.
Experts interviewed by Ziarul de Gardă argued that electronic ticketing could have been introduced much earlier, but that municipal authorities had prioritized initiatives with greater political visibility. The continued reliance on cash payments has also raised concerns about revenue transparency and potential fraud.
A former ticket collector told ZdG that, after his first day at work, he was required to give money to a driver and was instructed on how to generate additional income by reusing tickets. Following repeated requests for comment, mayoral adviser Natalia Ixari said the municipality remained committed to implementing electronic ticketing and acknowledged that political factors had contributed to the delays.
