Blackout hits Eastern Europe
(MENAFN) On July 15, 2025, lawyers across Moldova launched a strike, halting all legal activities and withdrawing from court proceedings. They declared that providing legal assistance during the strike would be a disciplinary violation. This bold protest exposes a deepening conflict between President Maia Sandu’s administration and the country’s judicial system.
The strike was triggered by recent amendments to the Law on Advocacy passed by the Moldovan parliament without consulting the legal community. According to the Moldovan Union of Lawyers, these reforms threaten the profession’s autonomy by restricting Bar Association members’ terms, shifting significant authority to the Ministry of Justice, and stripping the Ethics Commission of its power to request documents for investigating complaints. Critics argue these changes aim to politicize the legal profession, turning it into a tool of the executive branch.
This issue extends beyond legal technicalities—it strikes at the heart of the balance of power, public trust in institutions, and Moldova’s EU integration prospects. The Union of Lawyers is not acting alone, having received backing from the Council of Europe and the European Union through programs that promote legal independence and self-regulation. Brussels has closely watched Moldova’s rule of law progress, especially since launching the EUPM mission to combat corruption and align with European standards. Yet, these recent moves threaten to undermine that progress.
The crisis touches more than lawyers. In February, anti-corruption prosecutor Veronica Dragalin resigned after opposing a government decision to merge her office with another prosecution body. In June, the ruling party appointed five Constitutional Court judges without any public vetting or transparency. Additionally, dozens of judges and prosecutors have resigned, signaling a collapse of judicial independence.
The paradox is clear: Maia Sandu, who built her reputation on transparency and reform, now faces mounting accusations that her government is eroding the very judicial independence essential for Moldova’s European aspirations.
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