Cristian Canțâr
@cristiancantir.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Oakland University. Foreign policy analysis, paradiplomacy/sub-state diplomacy, role theory, Romania, Moldova, fiction, and TV. Academic work: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=Vvx23r4AAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubda
... generate a positive news cycle and showboating are dangerous since they don't take into consideration either Russia's continuing imperialistic intentions or the long-term viability of any agreement that effectively endorses RU's illegal use of force.
November 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
... generate a positive news cycle and showboating are dangerous since they don't take into consideration either Russia's continuing imperialistic intentions or the long-term viability of any agreement that effectively endorses RU's illegal use of force.
... to push a quick reintegration process that would weaken Chișinău's ability to join the European Union and reopen doors for Russia to reassert its influence in Moldova. This instinct to give the Kremlin major concessions and ask for easy solutions that ...
November 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
... to push a quick reintegration process that would weaken Chișinău's ability to join the European Union and reopen doors for Russia to reassert its influence in Moldova. This instinct to give the Kremlin major concessions and ask for easy solutions that ...
... I know D.C. can't be marginalized from Transnistrian resolution negotiations and that Moldova has to pretend like it has good-faith interlocutors in the U.S. for the moment, but I hope Brussels and Chișinău are thinking of ways to manage any effort Trump may be making ...
November 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
... I know D.C. can't be marginalized from Transnistrian resolution negotiations and that Moldova has to pretend like it has good-faith interlocutors in the U.S. for the moment, but I hope Brussels and Chișinău are thinking of ways to manage any effort Trump may be making ...
... legislative elections in 2026, which may loosen Șor's grip over both the executive and legislative offices there, and may lead to some better communication between central authorities in Moldova and Comrat (Source for Șor here: md.kp.media/daily/27745/...).
Мунтяну — главный ответственный за реформу, которая должна превратить Гагаузию в обычный район, — едет в автономию
Илан Шор — о словах премьера Александра Мунтяну
md.kp.media
November 19, 2025 at 1:48 PM
... legislative elections in 2026, which may loosen Șor's grip over both the executive and legislative offices there, and may lead to some better communication between central authorities in Moldova and Comrat (Source for Șor here: md.kp.media/daily/27745/...).
... in Moldova's domestic affairs, especially via pro-RU fugitive oligarch Ilan Șor, and its investigations have shed light on corruption in Moldova. So pro-RU politicians and analysts have made it a frequent target of their criticism.
November 19, 2025 at 12:36 PM
... in Moldova's domestic affairs, especially via pro-RU fugitive oligarch Ilan Șor, and its investigations have shed light on corruption in Moldova. So pro-RU politicians and analysts have made it a frequent target of their criticism.
... to counterbalance Chișinău's pro-Kyiv stance, and I suspect it's also an attempt to attack the EU since Moldova and Ukraine are bundled thus far in the EU integration process. Source for Dodon's statement: his Facebook account.
November 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
... to counterbalance Chișinău's pro-Kyiv stance, and I suspect it's also an attempt to attack the EU since Moldova and Ukraine are bundled thus far in the EU integration process. Source for Dodon's statement: his Facebook account.
... who ostensibly wants to come back to power. If he does, he's effectively tattered his (and his party's) relationship with Romania and Ukraine, Moldova's only neighbors. So part of the goal here is to keep anti-Ukrainian messaging alive in the public sphere ...
November 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
... who ostensibly wants to come back to power. If he does, he's effectively tattered his (and his party's) relationship with Romania and Ukraine, Moldova's only neighbors. So part of the goal here is to keep anti-Ukrainian messaging alive in the public sphere ...
... breaking ties with Ukraine entirely before. This type of messaging has one important target, of course - the Kremlin - as Dodon tries to recover some of the shine he lost after losing the Sep. 2025 elections. But it's a very odd long-term strategy for a politician ...
November 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
... breaking ties with Ukraine entirely before. This type of messaging has one important target, of course - the Kremlin - as Dodon tries to recover some of the shine he lost after losing the Sep. 2025 elections. But it's a very odd long-term strategy for a politician ...
... and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Maia Sandu are taking orders from the West. Dodon has been very critical of Ukraine after Russia's invasion (while saying nothing about RU's invasion or atrocities), but I haven't seen him asking for ...
November 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
... and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Maia Sandu are taking orders from the West. Dodon has been very critical of Ukraine after Russia's invasion (while saying nothing about RU's invasion or atrocities), but I haven't seen him asking for ...
The amount of mockery some of these pro-RU politicians get on social media is hilarious. What's especially interesting now is that some of the criticism is coming from their own supporters, which points to frustration brewing inside the pro-RU movement.
November 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The amount of mockery some of these pro-RU politicians get on social media is hilarious. What's especially interesting now is that some of the criticism is coming from their own supporters, which points to frustration brewing inside the pro-RU movement.
... the pro-RU opposition still seems stunned by the loss, hasn't been as aggressive, and is searching for a way out of the rut of the Sep. 2025 elections.
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
... the pro-RU opposition still seems stunned by the loss, hasn't been as aggressive, and is searching for a way out of the rut of the Sep. 2025 elections.
... vulnerable because of Moldova's numerous structural problems. Plus, EU negotiations haven't gotten to the hard part yet, which will require some painful reforms that will make some people angry (and the opposition can capitalize on that). But, thus far, ...
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
... vulnerable because of Moldova's numerous structural problems. Plus, EU negotiations haven't gotten to the hard part yet, which will require some painful reforms that will make some people angry (and the opposition can capitalize on that). But, thus far, ...
... of Russophobia, but I don't know if this has that much cache anymore. And there's still incoherence about EU integration: do they oppose it entirely? Do they want to reformat negotiations? Do they support ultimate integration? It's worth noting that PAS is indeed ...
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
... of Russophobia, but I don't know if this has that much cache anymore. And there's still incoherence about EU integration: do they oppose it entirely? Do they want to reformat negotiations? Do they support ultimate integration? It's worth noting that PAS is indeed ...
... how exactly to oppose authorities for the next few years and what narratives can stick, especially as EU integration remains genuinely popular in Moldova. Their primary instincts in the last few weeks have been to continue accusing Chișinău ...
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
... how exactly to oppose authorities for the next few years and what narratives can stick, especially as EU integration remains genuinely popular in Moldova. Their primary instincts in the last few weeks have been to continue accusing Chișinău ...
... and point to vulnerabilities like accusations of corruption or socio-economic issues like lingering poverty. I think this is also indicative of the frustration felt by both some of the pro-RU electorate and the Kremlin, who are now scrambling to figure out ...
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
... and point to vulnerabilities like accusations of corruption or socio-economic issues like lingering poverty. I think this is also indicative of the frustration felt by both some of the pro-RU electorate and the Kremlin, who are now scrambling to figure out ...
... and also says that even many pro-RU voters don't really care that much about confrontational opposition (md.kp.media/daily/27742/...). Both of these commentators claim that EU integration and PAS politicians aren't as popular as indicated by their institutional power, ...
Верхи врут и воруют, низы устали: Почему жители Молдовы отказались от борьбы за собственные взгляды, права и интересы
Журналист Дмитрий Чубашенко считает, что вина за то, что наше общество опустилось до таких глубин депрессии и апатии, в первую очередь, лежит, конечно, на политиках
md.kp.media
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
... and also says that even many pro-RU voters don't really care that much about confrontational opposition (md.kp.media/daily/27742/...). Both of these commentators claim that EU integration and PAS politicians aren't as popular as indicated by their institutional power, ...
... Tkaci also says that voters are very disappointed with the opposition (evedomosti.md/news/tkach-o...). And pro-RU commentator Dmitri Ciubashenco says the opposition is being submissive and not fighting PAS, ...
Ткач: Оппозиционеры превратились в политический трэш
В Молдове сейчас многие обращают внимание на странное поведение парламентской оппозиции. В ситуации, когда страну фактически закатывают в евроасфальт, уничтожают, оппозиционные силы действуют, будто н...
evedomosti.md
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
... Tkaci also says that voters are very disappointed with the opposition (evedomosti.md/news/tkach-o...). And pro-RU commentator Dmitri Ciubashenco says the opposition is being submissive and not fighting PAS, ...
... Pro-RU commentator Serghei Tkaci says that the opposition is "political trash" and is acting like "nothing existential or important" is happening, and is not fighting authorities in Chișinău for pushing Moldova into the EU, which is preparing war with Russia...
November 17, 2025 at 2:49 PM
... Pro-RU commentator Serghei Tkaci says that the opposition is "political trash" and is acting like "nothing existential or important" is happening, and is not fighting authorities in Chișinău for pushing Moldova into the EU, which is preparing war with Russia...
... A lot of this is self-inflicted, of course, since RU sees trade as part of its imperialist project, so all of the punitive actions against Moldovan goods, enacted for decades, have turned RU into less of a trading partner than Czechia and Bulgaria (statistica.gov.md/ro/comertul-...).
Comerțul internațional cu mărfuri al Republicii Moldova în luna septembrie 2025
Exporturile de mărfuri realizate în luna septembrie 2025 au avut o valoare de 345,4 milioane dolari SUA, cu 3,8% mai mult în raport cu luna august 2025 și cu 23,1% mai mult comparativ cu luna septembr...
statistica.gov.md
November 15, 2025 at 4:07 PM
... A lot of this is self-inflicted, of course, since RU sees trade as part of its imperialist project, so all of the punitive actions against Moldovan goods, enacted for decades, have turned RU into less of a trading partner than Czechia and Bulgaria (statistica.gov.md/ro/comertul-...).