Igor Dodon

Moldova President Igor Dodon has confirmed that the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will visit Chisinau on September 14-16 for the World Congress of Families, in what is widely seen as a move to boost to the fortunes of the pro-Russian Socialist Party ahead of important elections.

Over 10,000 Moldovans attended the so-called "Great Centennial Assembly"in Chisinau on Sunday, marking 100 years since the union of what was then called Bessarabia with the then kingdom of Romania.

The unification document was signed on March 27, 1918, following the collapse of the Tsarist Empire. The Soviet Union seized Moldova back in World War II.

Moldova's speaker of parliament, Andrian Candu, announced on Thursday night that the country is looking for a major international law company to handle a lawsuit which it is planning to file against Russia at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Moldova's Audiovisual Coordinating Council, CCA has fined 11 radio and TV stations and seven cable network providers 5,000 lei (around 240 euros) each because they did not deliver an overview of their programming output as required by the country's new 'anti-propaganda' law.

Romania's strategic objective in the relations with the Republic of Moldova remains the European integration of the neighboring state, being "the only option that can bring prosperity, security and freedom to citizens regardless of age, ethnicity, spoken language or religion," Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said on Tuesday in a joint press release with his Moldovan counterpa

Moldova's Pro-Russian President Igor Dodon on Wednesday said that he will convene the country's Security Council after several localities passed statements backing Moldova's reunion with Romania.

A NATO expert group responsible for implementing the Western military alliance's defence and security capacity-building initiative is visiting Moldova to provide expertise to develop and implement the country's national security strategy and military action plan.

About 30 of the 101 deputies in Moldova's parliament, from the ruling pro-Western parties, on Wednesday issued a statement accusing Russia of launching "attacks on Moldova's information security and abusive interference in the political life of the country."

President Igor Dodon announced on Monday evening that Moldova will host in September the annual meeting of the World Congress of Families, a US-based umbrella organisation of international groups supporting conservative social values.

"We are bringing together people around the world to discuss the beauty of the family," Dodon said.

The third suspension of Moldova's President, Igor Dodon, by the Constitutional Court has created new friction between Dodon and his Socialist Party, the most popular party in the country and second largest force in the parliament.

Dodon's suspension came after he created an institutional blockage by twice refusing to appoint new ministers in the pro-EU government.