Claims that “Russian will be banned” or that pensions will be reduced to 800 lei are being presented as scare narratives promoted at a roundtable in Tiraspol focused on so-called “forced reintegration.”
Nikolai Bucheatski, described in regional media as a “journalist,” “defender of Transnistria,” and director of an alleged human rights foundation, made several misleading statements at the event. Media outlets in Tiraspol later amplified his remarks.
Bucheatski claimed that Russian assistance and pensions would stop and that Russian-language schools would close. He also alleged that authorities would dismiss officials who do not speak Romanian.
In reality, Moldova pays a minimum pension of over 3,200 lei for people with a full contribution record. The state provides a social allowance for those without sufficient contributions at roughly half that level, about 1,600 lei, under Article 13 of the Law on Social Allowances.
Moldova continues to operate Russian-language schools and kindergartens under its education framework. The Education Code guarantees access to minority-language education where demand exists, while requiring students to learn Romanian and at least two international languages.