David Smith
@dsmith890.bsky.social
American entrepreneur living in Moldova. I write a newsletter about Moldovan political and economic news each week in English at Moldova Matters.
https://moldovamatters.substack.com
https://moldovamatters.substack.com
Today we take a deep dive into the current situation in Transnistria. We look at their recent “election,” the changed power dynamics between Chisinau and Tiraspol and how internal Transnistrian politics might impact future reintegration.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Today we take a deep dive into the current situation in Transnistria. We look at their recent “election,” the changed power dynamics between Chisinau and Tiraspol and how internal Transnistrian politics might impact future reintegration.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Europe’s in a pickle. Trump's Administration new National Security Policy spells out what should have been clear for nearly a year - the transatlantic security consensus is dead. The US is moving on and Europe does not seem to have internalized this as a *fact.*
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 9, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Europe’s in a pickle. Trump's Administration new National Security Policy spells out what should have been clear for nearly a year - the transatlantic security consensus is dead. The US is moving on and Europe does not seem to have internalized this as a *fact.*
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Michael Druckman writes for Moldova Matter’s new series “The Next Economy: Moldova 2030” and argues that Moldova’s renewable energy transition can play a key role in the eventual reconstruction of Ukraine.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 8, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Michael Druckman writes for Moldova Matter’s new series “The Next Economy: Moldova 2030” and argues that Moldova’s renewable energy transition can play a key role in the eventual reconstruction of Ukraine.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Shor signals he’s closing up shop in Moldova? We look at what this means for the Kremlin’s hybrid war. Russian drones cause Moldova to briefly close its airspace, and the Moldovan army gets some new ket. All this and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 5, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Shor signals he’s closing up shop in Moldova? We look at what this means for the Kremlin’s hybrid war. Russian drones cause Moldova to briefly close its airspace, and the Moldovan army gets some new ket. All this and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Curious what fun seasonal events are happening in Chisinau this month? Check out Moldova Matter’s new “The Month Ahead” series and learn about the musical and cultural events coming up in the capital!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 4, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Curious what fun seasonal events are happening in Chisinau this month? Check out Moldova Matter’s new “The Month Ahead” series and learn about the musical and cultural events coming up in the capital!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
In this first article of our new The Next Economy: Moldova 2030 series, former Deputy PM and Minister of Economy Dumitru Alaiba makes the case for one important policy that could help Moldova shift from a consumption to an investment economy.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
December 3, 2025 at 8:57 AM
In this first article of our new The Next Economy: Moldova 2030 series, former Deputy PM and Minister of Economy Dumitru Alaiba makes the case for one important policy that could help Moldova shift from a consumption to an investment economy.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
This week, Moldova and Romania commemorated the passing of Ilie Ilașcu - a national hero for his role in confronting the Transnistrian “authorities.” We also look at the latest political news, and an archeological find by 2 Moldovan grade school students.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 27, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This week, Moldova and Romania commemorated the passing of Ilie Ilașcu - a national hero for his role in confronting the Transnistrian “authorities.” We also look at the latest political news, and an archeological find by 2 Moldovan grade school students.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Russian drones violated Moldovan airspace multiple times with one crash landing on the roof of a house. Also, Moldovan and Romanian customs officers seized a shipment containing anti-tank missiles and MANPADS leaving Moldova. This week’s roundup:
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 26, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Russian drones violated Moldovan airspace multiple times with one crash landing on the roof of a house. Also, Moldovan and Romanian customs officers seized a shipment containing anti-tank missiles and MANPADS leaving Moldova. This week’s roundup:
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Today I’m announcing a new non-profit that I co-founded - the Moldova Resilience Fund. This US based 501c3 will support independent media, civil society and civic activism groups in Moldova. Read this announcement to find out more - and how you can get involved.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 10, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Today I’m announcing a new non-profit that I co-founded - the Moldova Resilience Fund. This US based 501c3 will support independent media, civil society and civic activism groups in Moldova. Read this announcement to find out more - and how you can get involved.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Today the Journo Birds team write about the story of Simpals - one of Moldova’s most successful local IT companies and a veritable factory of innovative startups!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Today the Journo Birds team write about the story of Simpals - one of Moldova’s most successful local IT companies and a veritable factory of innovative startups!
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
The EU gives Moldova high marks on reforms, Gagauzia backtracks on Shor, Plaha says he would be out already if there wasn’t this pesky “justice reform” and a truly ludicrous MMA match planned in Chisinau. All this and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 7, 2025 at 11:30 AM
The EU gives Moldova high marks on reforms, Gagauzia backtracks on Shor, Plaha says he would be out already if there wasn’t this pesky “justice reform” and a truly ludicrous MMA match planned in Chisinau. All this and more in this week’s roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Check out Part 2 of my Meet the Ministers series. I look at who’s in, who’s out and what it all means for Moldova’s new government.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 4, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Check out Part 2 of my Meet the Ministers series. I look at who’s in, who’s out and what it all means for Moldova’s new government.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
In Part 1 of our Meet the Ministers series we take a deep dive into Prime Minister Munteanu’s new cabinet. Who’s out, who’s in, and what does it signal going forward?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 3, 2025 at 2:05 PM
In Part 1 of our Meet the Ministers series we take a deep dive into Prime Minister Munteanu’s new cabinet. Who’s out, who’s in, and what does it signal going forward?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Alexandru Munteanu presented the program of his new government yesterday for a vote of confidence in parliament. We take a deep dive into this program to see what the new PM has planned for the next 4 years.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
November 1, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Alexandru Munteanu presented the program of his new government yesterday for a vote of confidence in parliament. We take a deep dive into this program to see what the new PM has planned for the next 4 years.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Alexandru Munteanu has named his proposed government. In today’s roundup we look at this and other updates of the week from Moldova.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Alexandru Munteanu has named his proposed government. In today’s roundup we look at this and other updates of the week from Moldova.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Patricia Mihailă tells the story of Moldova’s migration from hand scribbled medical prescriptions to a secure, online e-prescription system. It’s just one more fascinating story of how Moldova is using digital infrastructure to simplify people’s daily lives.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 27, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Patricia Mihailă tells the story of Moldova’s migration from hand scribbled medical prescriptions to a secure, online e-prescription system. It’s just one more fascinating story of how Moldova is using digital infrastructure to simplify people’s daily lives.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
The Patriotic Bloc has fractured, leaving only 1 MP in the Kremlin’s primary election vehicle. This week Parliament was seated, factions were formed and the process of appointing a new Prime Minister officially began.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 24, 2025 at 11:34 AM
The Patriotic Bloc has fractured, leaving only 1 MP in the Kremlin’s primary election vehicle. This week Parliament was seated, factions were formed and the process of appointing a new Prime Minister officially began.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Prime Minister Candidate Alexandru Munteanu has 3 citizenships, Plaha gets 30 more days behind bars and Voronin continues to piss off Igor Dodon. All this and more in the Weekly Roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 21, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Prime Minister Candidate Alexandru Munteanu has 3 citizenships, Plaha gets 30 more days behind bars and Voronin continues to piss off Igor Dodon. All this and more in the Weekly Roundup.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
In a new story, the JournoBirds team explores cybersecurity for SMEs and startups like Pinky Cybersafe in Moldova.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 19, 2025 at 12:04 PM
In a new story, the JournoBirds team explores cybersecurity for SMEs and startups like Pinky Cybersafe in Moldova.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
President Maia Sandu addressed the Venice Commission on what may be the political question of our time - are our democratic institutions capable of handling hybrid attacks via crypto, social media and other new channels?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 18, 2025 at 8:34 AM
President Maia Sandu addressed the Venice Commission on what may be the political question of our time - are our democratic institutions capable of handling hybrid attacks via crypto, social media and other new channels?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Moldova has a new candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Who is he (like, really) and what does his selection say about the direction of the country? In my latest article I try and answer these questions and more.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Moldova has a new candidate for the post of Prime Minister. Who is he (like, really) and what does his selection say about the direction of the country? In my latest article I try and answer these questions and more.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
In today’s roundup I look at what happens next in forming a government, why PAS just lost 2 new MPs, updates on Russia’s hybrid attacks - and we finally answer the question, where is Plaha’s lackey - Constantin Țuțu?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 6, 2025 at 9:42 AM
In today’s roundup I look at what happens next in forming a government, why PAS just lost 2 new MPs, updates on Russia’s hybrid attacks - and we finally answer the question, where is Plaha’s lackey - Constantin Țuțu?
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
My first thoughts on what we should learn from the massive PAS victory in these elections. Also, on making house wine.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
October 3, 2025 at 5:43 PM
My first thoughts on what we should learn from the massive PAS victory in these elections. Also, on making house wine.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
PAS wins a decisive election. President Sandu’s party will be able to form a government and Moldova will continue its path to Europe. I dive into the results and reactions to the historic victory.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
PAS wins a decisive election. President Sandu’s party will be able to form a government and Moldova will continue its path to Europe. I dive into the results and reactions to the historic victory.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Yesterday I appeared on the Power Vertical Podcast for a discussion titled “The Battle for Moldova.” In a final article before the elections I also go through some final electoral updates - such as Victoria Furtuna’s being excluded from the elections.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
September 27, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Yesterday I appeared on the Power Vertical Podcast for a discussion titled “The Battle for Moldova.” In a final article before the elections I also go through some final electoral updates - such as Victoria Furtuna’s being excluded from the elections.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...