DISINFO: The Moldovan Government and the EU are robbing Moldovans

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

DISINFO: The Moldovan Government and the EU are robbing Moldovans

SUMMARY

The Moldovan government is involved in defrauding Moldovans using natural gas. It transferred cheap gas from Moldova Gas to Energocom, using it to launder money, to buy cheap Russian gas through European intermediaries and sell it to Moldovans at a higher price. The Russian gas bought for 6 MDL is subsequently sold to Moldovans at 16 MDL, with the difference being pocketed by Europeans and the PAS party. These contracts are kept secret and Moldova is forced to buy overpriced gas from these companies instead of buying cheap gas directly from the Russian companies.

RESPONSE

Disinformation around the Moldovan authorities and the EU cheating and overcharging Moldovans for gas.

Retail gas prices in Moldova are not set by the government or the EU for profit. Instead, they are regulated by the National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE), which uses a transparent methodology. This includes costs for procurement, transmission, distribution, balancing, and VAT. All ANRE decisions and pricing methods are publicly available.

The comparison between “6 MDL vs 16 MDL” is misleading. The lower figure likely reflects a partial procurement cost, while the higher one is the final regulated retail price, which includes all network fees and taxes. This narrative has already been debunked by Moldovan fact-checkers and is part of a recurring disinformation tactic.

Energocom’s primary role is to ensure Moldova’s energy security and diversify supply sources, especially after repeated disruptions and disputes with Gazprom. These included supply cuts and contested debts, which prompted Moldova to shift toward purchasing gas on the European market.

This shift was not about corruption, but a strategic response supported by international partners to maintain stable energy access. Independent reporting confirms the halt in Gazprom deliveries and Moldova’s efforts to secure alternative sources; this context contradicts the claim that Moldova is “forced” to avoid buying directly from Russia.

Evidence from the Moldovan Energy Ministry shows that diversification via Energocom has at times been cheaper than Gazprom’s offers. The ministry cites October 2023 figures where Energocom’s resale price to Moldovagaz was below Gazprom’s offered price, undermining the assertion that “European intermediaries” systematically overcharge Moldovans.

See similar cases such as Maia Sandu is acting on behalf of the West, hired to destroy Moldova and Without cheap Russian gas, the EU economy will inexorably slide into crisis.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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