Chișinău Mayor Ion Ceban released a video statement claiming he is facing unprecedented pressure from the authorities: he has been summoned to the police at 10 a.m., while also receiving multiple summonses from the prosecutor’s office in several cases.
According to the mayor, the reason lies in his refusal to stay silent about pressing issues: water supply cuts in the north of the country, rising fuel prices, falling drones, and the release of drug traffickers.
“All these actions are being taken against me to intimidate me. So that I do not speak the truth about the water situation and do not demand evidence on the basis of which water was cut off in the north, especially in Bălți. So that I do not talk about the rising prices of diesel fuel and gasoline, which will soon reach 30 lei.
About drones that are falling with no one held accountable, about laws being changed overnight, about the release of drug traffickers, and many other illegal actions,” he said.
From Ally to Target
The cynicism of the situation lies in the fact that not long ago Ion Ceban was seen by the Party of Action and Solidarity (Romanian: Partidul Acțiune și Solidaritate, PAS) as a вполне respectable partner. However, once he shifted from support to what he describes as reasoned criticism, the authorities’ attitude changed dramatically.
Until recently, accusations against the mayor did not trigger any serious reaction from the country’s leadership. For example, in June 2025, complaints were filed with the police regarding his “aggressive and rude” behavior and “anti-democratic conduct.” Allegations of bribery, hinted at by Education Minister Dan Perciun, were also not investigated while Ceban remained aligned with the authorities.
But as soon as he turned to criticism, summonses from both the prosecutor’s office and the police followed. Even Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder, whose ministry was criticized for the delayed response to the contamination of the Dniester River, has now publicly criticized Ceban.
Political Pressure?
Observers note that the situation raises questions about whether legal actions are being used selectively against political figures who challenge the government.
It remains to be seen how the political narrative around Ion Ceban will evolve in the coming weeks.
