The law that authorized the sale of the site of the former Republican Stadium to the United States for construction of a New Embassy Compound was revoked. The U.S. Embassy reacted, saying the United States regrets and criticizes the passage of legislation revoking Law #151 from 2018, which authorized the sale. “We urge the Moldovan authorities to rethink this step and uphold its end of the bargain,” the Embassy says in a press release that is quoted by IPN.

“The United States negotiated in good faith with successive Moldovan governments for over a decade to acquire the site. This abrogation violates a binding bilateral agreement, violates international law, and negatively affects the U.S./Moldovan relationship,” said the Embassy.

“The United States is prepared to invest more than 250 million dollars to build a new embassy in Chisinau, creating hundreds of jobs, supporting local businesses, and revitalizing Chisinau’s economy. As we have consistently said, any new development on the property would respect the cultural and historic significance of the site.”

The abrogation bill was drafted by the Socialist MPs. According to them, the law to sell the site was adopted without taking into account the national public interest, wasn’t broadly debated with experts from different fields, with civil society and local public authorities.

The abrogation was voted by the MPs of the PSRM, the Shor Party and For Moldova Platform in the December 3 sitting of Parliament during which the opposition MPs blocked the central rostrum, with verbal altercations and pushing being later witnessed.