Moldova, one of Ukraine's western neighbours and itself a post-Soviet state, is a country under pressure. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, nearly half a million refugees have crossed through the country. Moldova's resolute support for Ukraine has impressed the international community in light of its unique vulnerability to Russia, whose troops are present in the breakaway region of Transnistria, and its own political instability: It was only three years ago that Moldova's judiciary failed to block the pro-European Maia Sandu from forming a government, since which time Sandu has gone on to be elected president. In his talk, Denis Cenusa will reflect on how Chisinau has weathered the war so far.
Denis Cenusa is a Moldovan analyst affiliated with the Eastern Europe Studies Centre in Lithuania and Expert Grup in Moldova. He is also a columnist for InfoPrim, a Moldovan news agency. He is an alumnus of the College of Europe in Natolin (Poland) and Moldova State University and a PhD candidate at Justus Liebig University Giessen.