Guțul and Popan remain behind bars: request for release rejected by Chișinău Court of Appeal

Two months after their conviction, Bashkan Evghenia Guțul and Svetlana Popan, the secretary of the former "Șor" party, are seeking release. However, the Chisinau Court of Appeal rejected their request, which was submitted by their lawyers on Wednesday. Additionally, the judges denied a request for repeated witness hearings and for conducting an economic and financial analysis. The hearing at the Centru Court of Appeal was conducted via videoconference, and the lawyers had also requested that the defendants be physically present in court. This request was also denied by the judges.

Government and EU grant 130 million lei in electricity compensation via ODA and AIPA

Entrepreneurs in the Republic of Moldova received approximately 98 million lei as compensation for electricity costs between January and August 2025, through the Organization for the Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA). Additionally, another 32 million lei was provided as compensation through AIPA. This initiative is part of the Government's Program aimed at compensating 50% of the increase in electricity tariffs, which is supported financially by the European Union.

MEP Victor Negrescu: "Moldova could start EU talks by year’s end"

Romanian MEP Victor Negrescu stated that the Republic of Moldova could advance to the next stage of the European Union accession process by the end of this year. He noted that 55 members of the European Parliament from 19 different member states have signed a letter to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa. The letter requests that the topic of initiating negotiations on chapters with the Republic of Moldova be included in the Council's agenda.

Sugar prices will remain stable, authorities

Sugar prices will not increase, despite restrictions on the import of cheap production from Serbia. The assurances were given by the Government, which approved a project on Wednesday, October 8, that limits sugar imports from Serbia to no more than 1,000 tons.

Vladimir Plahotniuc misses court again

Former Democratic Party leader Vladimir Plahotniuc continues to refuse to attend court hearings. He did not appear on Wednesday, October 8, at the Chisinau Court based in Buiucani, where the examination of the "bank fraud" case resumed. According to the judges, the court received a notice of refusal and a request signed by Plahotniuc, stating that he requested not to be escorted to the hearing on October 8 because he needed time to familiarize himself with the case materials.

Comrat Mayor: Holding elections is the key to resolving the impasse in Gagauz Autonomy

Serghei Anastasov, the mayor of Comrat, believes that organizing elections as soon as possible to establish a new People's Assembly in Gagauzia is the key solution to overcoming the region's current impasse. In an interview with journalist Svetlana Bogatu from Radio Moldova, Anastasov emphasized that the new local legislature should consist of individuals with impeccable political reputations and no connections to the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.

Constantin Țuțu failed to appear in court, citing ‘personal reasons,’ and will be brought in forcibly at the next hearing

Former Democratic MP Constantin Țuțu did not attend the court hearing scheduled for October 8, where he faces charges of illicit enrichment and influence peddling. Additionally, his lawyer was also absent, leading to the hearing being postponed until October 20. Prosecutors have stated that at the next hearing, Constantin Țuțu will be brought to court forcibly and will be represented by a public defender to prevent further delays in the case. Furthermore, the former MP's lawyer will face a fine of 2,000 lei for their unjustified absence.

Daniel Vodă: Moldovans have no reason to worry about the new mechanism for suspending the EU visa-free regime

There is no reason for concern among the citizens of the Republic of Moldova regarding the visa regime with the European Union, said Government spokesperson Daniel Vodă, referring to the new mechanism for suspending the visa-free regime approved by the European Parliament on October 7.

Patients and doctors will save time as medical certificates become electronic

Starting March 1, 2026, doctors and specialists will issue medical leave certificates in digital format, which will be available online. Upon request, they can also provide a printed version with a QR code that allows authenticity verification.

Power outages reported again in Transnistrian region and the Security Zone

Several households in the village of Varnița, located in the Security Zone, are currently without electricity. Over the next two days, several streets in the town will also experience power outages due to the gas conservation measures implemented on October 2 in the Transnistrian region, from which the town receives its electricity. This information was shared on the Security Zone platform on Telegram.

Fire at Florești nursing home: 7 emergency vehicles, 20 rescuers on site

A nursing home in the village of Căprești, Florești district, was engulfed in flames on the morning of October 8. According to the General Inspectorate for Emergencies (IGSU), the 112 Service received a call at 11:24 after witnesses observed thick smoke coming from under the roof of a separate building on the nursing home's premises.

Electricity compensation program extended through year-end

All citizens of the Republic of Moldova will receive electricity compensation for the first 110 kWh consumed in September and October. This measure was approved during a recent government meeting. According to Alexei Buzu, the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, the program, which was initiated in February of this year, is periodically extended based on available resources and is financially supported by the European Union.