As a non-Moldovan subscriber rooting for the Moldova, I don't understand this:
"Meanwhile, don’t expect Moldovan authorities (especially in justice) to go after the dirty Russian money funding these operations. Don’t expect tax authorities to touch the vloggers who take cash-stuffed bags from Shor."
This is baffling. I was under the distinct impression that Moldova was all set to battle Russian disinfo?
I wrote last year about justice reform and the tension between wanting a "strong, independent and non-corrupt" judiciary, and demands from international partners to primarily focus on the "independent" part of that:
Susanne - I think that the core issue here is that Moldova had a very challenging road to reform around corruption and effectiveness in the best of times. The last 3 years have been extremely challenging beyond anything that came before. I won't speak for Valeriu, but I think that it is important for people not to count on the system to save them. Ultimately, this will come down to voters who are the final backstop.
Thanks. If international partners insist on the independence but go easy on corruption, this must be because they mistakenly believe that only pro-Russians are susceptible to corruption, and don't understand that corruption is systemic rather than ideological.
Hi Susanne, I think it's more than that actually. There's something natural for people to say "just do it like us! our system works great." Major problems can happen when people and organizations don't take the time to understand the real situation in the country.
Not that the international partners are totally to blame here - there's lots of blame to go around :)
As a non-Moldovan subscriber rooting for the Moldova, I don't understand this:
"Meanwhile, don’t expect Moldovan authorities (especially in justice) to go after the dirty Russian money funding these operations. Don’t expect tax authorities to touch the vloggers who take cash-stuffed bags from Shor."
This is baffling. I was under the distinct impression that Moldova was all set to battle Russian disinfo?
Hope you or David could clarify. Best, Susanne
It is simple - independent but corrupt institutions.
I wrote last year about justice reform and the tension between wanting a "strong, independent and non-corrupt" judiciary, and demands from international partners to primarily focus on the "independent" part of that:
https://www.moldovamatters.md/p/perspective-justice-reform-and-paths
Susanne - I think that the core issue here is that Moldova had a very challenging road to reform around corruption and effectiveness in the best of times. The last 3 years have been extremely challenging beyond anything that came before. I won't speak for Valeriu, but I think that it is important for people not to count on the system to save them. Ultimately, this will come down to voters who are the final backstop.
Thanks. If international partners insist on the independence but go easy on corruption, this must be because they mistakenly believe that only pro-Russians are susceptible to corruption, and don't understand that corruption is systemic rather than ideological.
Hi Susanne, I think it's more than that actually. There's something natural for people to say "just do it like us! our system works great." Major problems can happen when people and organizations don't take the time to understand the real situation in the country.
Not that the international partners are totally to blame here - there's lots of blame to go around :)
Quite! I am sure Gabrielius Landsbergis would vehemently agree :-)