Moldova Is Not Preparing for War but Must Be Ready, Defence Ministry Says

Ministry of Defence: Moldova is not preparing for war, but must be ready for it

The Ministry of Defence held public consultations on the controversial draft law on special legal regimes in the event of war and states of emergency. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Agency for Military Science and Remembrance. Representatives of veterans’ organisations, the academic community and delegates from the International Committee of the Red Cross took part in the discussion. Following the discussion, the parties agreed to draw up practical recommendations to help make the wording of the bill clearer and more applicable in practice.

Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatîi (Photo: Dumitru Doru / EPA / TASS)

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In response to speculation from a number of politicians, the Ministry of Defence has issued an official refutation of the misinformation surrounding the draft law ‘On Special Legal Regimes of an Exceptional Nature’ and provided further clarification.

The draft bill ‘On Special Legal Regimes of an Exceptional Nature’, drawn up by the Ministry of Defence, is intended to completely replace the law on states of emergency, siege and martial law, which has been in force since 2004. The need for reform stems from changes in the security situation, the emergence of hybrid threats and the modernisation of the national defence system.

As the authors of the initiative explain, the document does not introduce new legal regimes, but rather modernises the mechanisms for governing the state in times of crisis. The draft law eliminates duplication of functions and clearly defines the powers and coordination mechanisms between Parliament, the President, the Government and the security agencies.

The Ministry of Defence has emphasised that interpretations circulating online deliberately distort the essence of the reform with the aim of sowing panic.

Clarifications on the main points of contention:

The fake news about ‘preparations for war’. The Ministry stated that the mere presence in the law of legal terms such as ‘siege’ or ‘martial law’ does not imply the introduction of these regimes or the country’s preparation for participation in a military conflict. The draft merely updates the outdated 2004 law, adapting it to modern hybrid threats without introducing any new regimes.
Fake news about the forced repatriation of the diaspora. The Ministry categorically rejected rumours that Moldovan citizens would be forcibly returned from abroad for mobilisation. According to the Ministry of Defence’s clarification, the document merely sets out a mechanism for providing assistance through diplomatic missions to those citizens who themselves express a desire to return voluntarily to their homeland to defend it. The draft does not alter the mobilisation procedure itself — this is regulated by a separate law dating from 2002.
Fake news about the arbitrary confiscation of property. The Ministry pointed out that the provision allowing for the temporary seizure or use of citizens’ vehicles and buildings for state purposes in exceptional cases has been in force in Moldova since 2002. It is applied strictly within the framework of the law and provides for the mandatory payment of compensation to owners.

Separately, the Ministry of Defence notes that the text of the initiative can be viewed and suggestions submitted via the government platform particip.gov.md. Once the public consultation phase has concluded (17 November), the draft will be submitted to parliament for consideration by the relevant committees and for a vote in plenary sessions.

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