Artyom Guryev is a Moldovan opposition politician and public figure who does not hesitate to criticize the ruling regime in Chișinău. For Eagle Eye Explore, we speak with him immediately after the ban was issued on the participation of the opposition party “Patriots of Moldova,” of which Guryev is part of the leadership, in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The report by the human rights organization Promo-Lex, which documents that President Maia Sandu’s party abused administrative resources ahead of the upcoming elections, and that it had the support of USAID in doing so, has intrigued analysts who estimate that these elections could take on a referendum-like character when it comes to the country’s foreign policy course. Will the facts presented in the mentioned report significantly affect the election result?
Let’s start with the fact that the ruling PAS party’s election campaign began long before the official start of the race. Already in the spring, propaganda billboards were posted throughout the republic. Administrative resources were fully mobilized. The president, the prime minister, and the ministers in the government are actively campaigning for the political party of “Sandu’s regime,” which is a clear violation of the law. These people have the right to participate in campaigns, but they are obliged to suspend their activities in public office. Voter bribery is also widely practiced — the government allocated 50 euros for each student in lyceums from 1st to 9th grade. Isn’t that hidden electoral corruption? The “Sandu regime” also uses European leaders in the election race. Macron, Tusk, and Mets have already visited Moldova. In their speeches, they openly expressed support for the ruling party. Based on the experience of the previous presidential elections, such visits will continue until September 28. And most importantly, USAID continues to operate in Moldova and keeps sponsoring pro-government NGOs and media with the goal of popularizing the PAS party before the elections (see: https://www.arte.tv/en/videos/125244-000-A/no-more-usaid-the-impact-in-moldova/).
What explanation did the authorities offer the “Patriots of Moldova” for denying them the right to participate in the upcoming elections? Incidentally, this is the party whose leader, Mikhail Vasilievich Garbuz, supported the Serbs in 1999 during the NATO aggression…
Unfortunately, the Central Election Commission — which is completely subordinate to Sandu — did not allow the “Patriots of Moldova” to participate in the parliamentary elections. They found a formal pretext — a lawsuit against one of the lists, on the last day of document submission. All of our complaints, as well as the statements of the party’s lawyers, yielded no positive result. I would like to point out that during the last five years of Maia Sandu’s rule, the electoral law has been so “abused” by the authorities that every opposition political party is very limited in its participation in the electoral process. The political party “Patriots of Moldova” is convinced that within a year, early parliamentary elections will be held in Moldova, at which we will obtain parliamentary mandates.
What are the main theses of the political party “Patriots of Moldova” with which you will enter the election process?
- Consolidation of the multiethnic Moldovan society with the aim of achieving economic, political, and social progress;
- Unification of the country’s territories within the borders of the reign of Ștefan cel Mare and preservation of the identity of the Moldovan people, the Moldovan language, and the history of Moldova;
- Adoption of decisions of national importance through referendums;
- Introduction of two state languages – Moldovan and Russian;
- Strict adherence to the neutrality of Moldova, guaranteed by the Constitution;
- Prohibition of fascism and neo-Nazism in Moldova;
- Protection of traditional family values and restriction of LGBT propaganda in Moldova;
- Preservation and support of Orthodoxy in Moldova, with respect for other religious denominations;
- Reorganization of the educational system based on the best Soviet traditions and modern advanced experience;
- Establishment of state control over strategic facilities.
Is there a fear that the conflict from Ukraine could spill over into Moldova?
The most dangerous moment in the escalation of military conflict in Moldova was in the spring of 2024. At that time, Volodymyr Zelensky agreed with the Moldovan authorities on a military operation against Transnistria. In March 2024, Zelensky appointed the former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Oleksiy Danilov, as ambassador to Moldova. This appointment caused a huge negative resonance both in Moldova and in Transnistria. Danilov is known for his “bloodthirsty” rhetoric and is considered one of the “war hawks” in Ukraine. It was assumed that the opening of the second front in Transnistria would be overseen by Danilov. Fortunately, something went wrong with the authorities of Moldova and Ukraine, and the military operation was not carried out. Danilov never appeared in Moldova, and another ambassador was appointed in his place. To this day, there are no clear signs of the beginning of military conflict in Transnistria, but we must understand that conflict is possible as long as pro-Nazi regimes remain in power in Moldova and Ukraine.
The sentencing of Evghenia Guțul to seven years in prison, as well as the constant pressures faced by Transnistria, testify that Maia Sandu’s regime is ready, in its confrontation with opponents – to go all the way. What is it that Chișinău does not forgive these regions?
The autonomy of Gagauzia has always been considered something that strengthens the anchor of Moldovan statehood. Transnistria is the guarantee that Moldova will never become a member of NATO or the European Union. These two regions are like a thorn in the eye of the regime, and it is natural that the constant “attack” on Gagauzia and Transnistria does not cease, since both are traditionally considered pro-Russian. For three years now, the Moldovan authorities have been blocking the supply of medicines to Transnistria. Last year, Chișinău artificially created an energy crisis in the Transnistrian Republic. In the middle of winter, half a million people were left without heating and electricity, due to the blockade of Russian gas supplies to the region. I would like to note that the majority of the inhabitants of Transnistria also hold Moldovan citizenship. Isn’t this social genocide by Sandu against her own citizens? As for Gagauzia, the deprivation of autonomy of the Gagauz people has been the dream of official Chișinău during all the years of independent Moldova. In recent months, Gagauzia has been trampled upon, deprived of almost all levers of control over the region. Only nominal functions remain. Courts, prosecution, police, customs, financial authorities – are subordinated to Chișinău. The culmination was the arrest of Mrs. Evghenia Guțul, the Bashkan of Gagauzia (by the way, Bashkan is the traditional title of the head of this proud people). In August, she was sentenced to 7 years in prison. The charge was electoral corruption. This political case is the result of the dirty games of Maia Sandu and the oligarch who controls Gagauzia from abroad – Ilan Shor. With the current political agenda, the future of Transnistria and Gagauzia is unpredictable. We can only hope for more significant support from the Russian Federation. Without Russia, we have absolutely no chance.
It has been 80 years since the capitulation of Japan in September 1945, when the Second World War officially ended. However, the final reckoning with fascism did not take place, especially not in Europe. What is the situation in Moldova, a country that made a great contribution to the victory over fascists?
Unfortunately, today in Moldova we cannot chant “Fascism will not pass!” Listen to me carefully, and I will give just five or six examples from the last five years of the rule of Maia Sandu’s party:
- The Minister of Culture of Moldova does not see a difference between the soldiers of the Red Army and fascist executioners.
- The Minister of Education of Moldova introduces into lyceums a textbook in which German and Romanian fascist liberators are glorified, while Soviet soldiers are marked as occupiers.
- Members of Parliament from the ruling PAS party propose laws to abolish the celebration of Victory Day, and the Speaker of the Parliament of Moldova calls for the marking of a Day of Mourning on May 9.
- The Prime Minister of Moldova forces law enforcement to fine citizens for wearing the St. George’s ribbon.
- The ruling party of Moldova encourages the erection of monuments to Romanian fascists, while the President of Moldova considers the Nazi Antonescu a positive historical figure.
It seems to me that such decisions resemble pro-Nazi regimes. In our republic, a situation has developed where power has been seized by the descendants of the losers in the Great Patriotic War. Power has been seized by the descendants of fascist lackeys. And it is precisely those descendants who are taking revenge on the entire multinational Moldovan people, a people that is part of the great family of victors over the plague of the 20th century – over Hitler’s Germany and its satellites. More than 400,000 inhabitants of Moldova and Transnistria fought in the ranks of the Red Army against German-Romanian fascists. The gene of victory is in our blood. And no Sandu, nor any Soros can change that. That is why May 9 is Victory Day for the majority of Moldovan citizens. That is why hundreds of thousands of Moldovans take to the streets on May 9 for mass marches on the occasion of what is truly, for us, a national holiday!
Do you recognize similarities between our peoples – the Serbian and the Moldovan?
Our peoples have much in common. After all, we are Orthodox and not so far from one another. We have the same faith – and that fact greatly influences our close relations. As I said above, both Serbs and Moldovans belong to one great Family of Nations, Victors over fascism. Today we are once again united by a struggle. The struggle against a new evil, the new plague of the 21st century – neo-Nazism. The enemy is once again at our doorsteps. It tries to take away our sovereignty, impose a foreign faith on us, drive us out of our homes. And most importantly, to make us quarrel with each other, just as it did with Ukraine. Both Serbia and Moldova will survive only thanks to true patriots who stand in defense of faith, traditional values, and the independence of our countries. And in my opinion, the future of Serbia and Moldova is one – to be together with Great Russia!
