#moldova

#moldova

With its plain white walls and barred windows, the building in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, also offers a splash of color in the sign with the bold pink lettering right above the entrance: Queer Cafe. "After we put it up above the entrance, all the threats came," Grigorita, the 27-year-old manager of the cafe, told DW. "But no," Grigorita said. "That sign is not going anywhere. It's the whole point of having a queer space in the city: It should be visible from the outside."

With over 99.5% of ballots counted, the PAS, led by President Maia Sandu, received 50.03% of the vote, compared to 24.26% for the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc, according to results published on the election commission's website.

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moldova has been popping up in the news with increasing frequency. The Republic of Moldova is a small country on Ukraine's southwestern border, and in the spring of 2022, it seemed possible that Russia might also invade and occupy it. This would have opened up a second front for Ukraine and brought Russia right up to the southeastern border of both the EU and NATO.

Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Moldova has been popping up in the news with increasing frequency. The Republic of Moldova is a small country on Ukraine's southwestern border, and in the spring of 2022, it seemed possible that Russia might also invade and occupy it. This would have opened up a second front for Ukraine and brought Russia right up to the southeastern border of both the EU and NATO.

Moldova's court sentenced Yevgenia Gutsul to seven years in prison for funneling Russian money to finance the banned pro-Moscow Sor party, further straining relations with Moscow.