DISINFO: Signing of the agreement between the IMF and Moldova led to increased taxes and tariffs
SUMMARY
The signing of the agreement between Moldova and International Monetary Fund resulted in increased taxes, tariffs. These refer to gas and electricity tariffs in this country. Maia Sandu stated that her “reforms”, stipulated by the agreement with the IMF, will not affect citizens with low incomes.
RESPONSE
This is a conspiracy theory with no evidence, consistent with pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the IMF. The main goal of the International Monetary Fund in Moldova is to prevent the expansion of the economic crisis. The government led by Maia Sandu was not responsible for the tariff increase. The tariffs in the energy sector are set by independent regulatory institutions, not by the government. In fact, the National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) of Moldova has adjusted the tariffs and prices for electricity. ANRE then explained that the increase in prices was dictated by the evolution of the annual average exchange rate of the national currency against the US dollar for 2019, the increase of the average import price of electricity and new investments. Read more on Stopfals.md.