Moldova’s parliament voted early Friday to enact a 60-day state of emergency starting December 16, bracing for a potential halt in Russian gas supplies from January 1.
The decision, supported by 56 lawmakers in the 101-seat chamber, came after Prime Minister Dorin Recean urged swift action to secure gas supplies for the separatist Transdniestria region and counter what he called Moscow’s “gas blackmail.”
“This winter must be the last in our history where we can be held hostage by energy blackmail,” Recean declared.
The emergency powers enable the government to act quickly, including restricting energy exports. Moldova, which relies on approximately 2 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually, receives supplies via Ukraine. However, Ukraine has announced it will not renew its transit contract with Russia’s Gazprom, set to expire on December 31.
Recean accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of leveraging energy supplies to destabilize Moldova and pressure Transdniestria, a breakaway region reliant on Russian gas for heating, electricity, and its economy.
Failing to provide gas to Transdniestria, the government warned, could trigger a humanitarian crisis and threaten Moldova’s overall energy stability. Transdniestria declared its own state of economic emergency earlier this week.
Moldova has been exploring alternative routes to supply Transdniestria, including the TurkStream pipeline via Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania. However, negotiations with Gazprom remain fraught, with Russia demanding payment of a disputed $709 million gas debt before considering alternative supply options.
The state of emergency underscores Moldova’s vulnerability in the face of geopolitical tensions and energy supply disruptions, as the country seeks to strengthen its energy independence.
