Victoria Furtuna, head of the "Greater Moldova" party, claims that President Maia Sandu accepted awards in violation of the law during 2024–2025 and that these were not declared in her assets and interests disclosure. For this reason, Furtună filed a complaint with the General Prosecutor’s Office “on the grounds of reasonable suspicion of serious offenses committed by the President of the Republic of Moldova”, IPN reports.
In a press conference, Victoria Furtuna stated that her complaint is not a political act, but one of civic and constitutional responsibility, and that all claims made are based on relevant evidence. The politician is calling for a criminal case to be opened and for international commissions to be formed in order to determine the circumstances and reasons behind why the president “received awards amounting to €155,000 while the people are starving”.
According to Victoria Furtuna, between 2024 and 2025, Maia Sandu accepted awards totaling tens of thousands of euros: €30,000 in January 2024 – the "Timisoara for European Values" award, €25,000 in May 2024 – the "Robert Blum for Democracy" award, and €100,000 in February 2025 – the "Reinhard Mohn" award. Furtună claims that this income was not included in Sandu’s declaration of assets and interests, and that under the law, such awards should not have been accepted.
Maia Sandu had previously announced that the awards she received would be donated. The Presidency clarified that the "Timișoara for European Values" prize was donated to the organization “Prietena Mea”, the €25,000 accompanying the "Robert Blum for Democracy 2024" award was donated for the renovation of the "Saint Parascheva" Church in the village of Niscani, Calarasi district, and the €100,000 related to the Reinhard Mohn award was directed toward projects in Risipeni, the president’s hometown.
IPN requested a comment from the Presidency following Victoria Furtuna’s statements. Igor Zaharov, an adviser and spokesman for Maia Sandu, said, „the presidency does not comment on political statements, especially those made by actors involved in the schemes of an organised criminal group”.
