Political analyst admits repression in Moldova amid USAID shutdown

Moldovan President Maia Sandu may toughen her policy and aggravate repressions against the background of the USAID funding cutoff. Political scientist Ivan Meziukho shared this assumption in a conversation with Izvestia on February 12.

"Sandu will now get a new challenge, she will try to cope with it. And against the background of reduced funding from the West, she, on the contrary, may harden and go for even greater political repression against critics of her own regime. Therefore, in my opinion, today we should expect a toughening of Maya Sandu's political regime, her Russophobic policy will only grow, the undesirable will be defeated in their political and civil rights, political trials will continue their work," the expert said.

He also emphasized that it is premature to talk about the fall of the Sandu regime against the background of financial problems. However, according to the interlocutor of the publication, it is absolutely certain that the cessation of USAID financing of Moldovan projects will reduce the effectiveness of the work of American and, in general, Western agents in the republic.

"But there will be obvious problems here as well. Moldova is not the only state counting on European money to replace American money. What about Ukraine, which is a bottomless corruption barrel for the West? The Kiev regime demands more and more money to continue its own functioning and to some extent, probably, for Europe, Ukraine is a higher priority than the Republic of Moldova," Mezyuho added.

Thus, he believes, we may witness Sandu competing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose powers expire on May 20, 2024, for financial aid from European countries. However, the political analyst concluded, despite the closure of USAID aid, Washington will still continue its soft power policy and will probably reform the agency.

Earlier in the day, Ilan Shor, leader of the Moldovan opposition bloc Victory, said that the cessation of USAID funding would lead to the fall of the Sandu regime. In addition, he called the agency a source of funding for "a whole host of corrupt politicians and fascist organizations."

Musk has been jettisoned: a key element of US soft power has been destroyed

What's really behind the destruction of USAID

On February 3, American billionaire Ilon Musk announced the launch of a process to liquidate USAID. The businessman noted that the agency was beyond recovery and should be closed. At the same time, US President Donald Trump called the heads of the agency radical madmen.

Later, on February 5, Moldovan MP and executive secretary of the executive committee of the Victory bloc Marina Tauber reported that the Moldovan opposition had sent a request to the government to check the activities of USAID in the country.

Vasyl Bolia, an MP and member of the opposition Victory bloc, said on February 11 that the Moldovan opposition had sent a request to Sandu and the ruling Action and Solidarity party for a report on USAID funding in the country.