“The decision to ban me from entering Romania was strictly political, taken two months before the parliamentary election campaign in the Republic of Moldova, and I have communicated about this. Therefore, I will go to all courts, because I know I am right”, commented the leader of the MAN party.

The lawsuit was initiated in 2025 at the Bucharest Court, after Ion Ceban accused Oana Toiu of defamatory statements in an interview given in the context of the Romanian authorities’ decision to ban him from entering Romanian territory and the Schengen area. At that time, the mayor of Chisinau requested symbolic moral damages worth one leu.

Subsequently, Oana Toiu explained in an interview that the measure was taken based on security assessments, mentioning the existence of connections between Ion Ceban and people from the Russian Federation. The statements were contested by the mayor, who argued that they had affected his public image.

All throughout the last year, another request from Ion Ceban to lift the travel restriction was rejected by the courts in Bucharest.

Following the decision in the defamation case, Ion Ceban announced that he will challenge the verdict through all legal procedures. He maintains that he will pursue all avenues provided by Romanian legislation and international mechanisms, in order to defend his image and to contest the statements made against him.

Ion Ceban was banned from entering Romania and the Schengen area in 2025, for a period of five years.

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According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of people who have traveled without visas has steadily increased in the first years after the abolition of the visa regime, from about 158 thousand in 2014 to approximately 891 thousand in 2019. At the same time, there has been a decrease in cases of entry denial or illegal stay.

In the years 2020 and 2021, traffic significantly decreased due to the restrictions imposed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, with the lifting of these, the number of trips gradually returned to pre-pandemic levels and the use of the visa-free regime stabilized.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates that free movement implies adherence to the rules of entry and stay within the Schengen Area, a fact that contributes to avoiding border issues and maintaining the visa-free regime for Moldovan citizens.

Furthermore, the authorities remind that, starting from April 2026, a new entry and exit registration system has been introduced at the external borders of the EU, which does not change the travel conditions, but may extend the verification time at the border.

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The European Commission has adopted the eighth report on the European Union’s visa suspension mechanism, a document which notes that the authorities in Chisinau have undertaken the necessary measures to implement the recommendations from the previous report.

Moldova’s progress in areas related to the operation of the visa-free regime – visa policies, illegal migration, cooperation in border management, and security aspects – has been evaluated.

However, the European Commission recommends the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to continue aligning visa policies with EU standards, especially towards third countries considered at increased risk. The need to intensify measures to reduce unjustified asylum applications filed by Moldovan citizens in EU member states is also indicated, including through information and monitoring actions.

In the 11 years since the visa-free regime came into effect, over 2.6 million Moldovan citizens have exercised this right, making over 18 million trips to the EU.

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According to the new mechanism, the European Commission will be able to temporarily reintroduce visa requirements for a certain country in case of security concerns. The measure will be accompanied by an official investigation and a dialogue process. If the problems persist, the restrictions may become permanent.

The suspension of the liberalized visa regime can be applied based on several reasons. Among these are the increase in criminal offenses committed by the citizens of the targeted state. Another reason is the increase in the number of rejected asylum applications. Also, a significant increase in the number of people exceeding the legal period of stay can be taken into account.

Other criteria include the respective state’s non-alignment with the visa policy of the European Union. Suspension can also be justified by violations of the UN Charter, human rights, or international humanitarian law. In addition, non-compliance with the decisions of international courts can provide grounds for the re-imposition of visas.

Even though the Republic of Moldova is among the 61 countries whose citizens can travel without a visa to the European Union, this privilege comes with certain conditions. Only individuals who hold biometric passports can benefit from the visa-free regime.

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Within the City Hall, it is said that the dismissals are related to “internal reorganization processes”. However, according to three interlocutors who are familiar with the situation, Ceban “is said to be in a difficult situation and is about to make a very important choice – both personally and professionally.”

According to people from his team (including former members), the situation could be related to “sensitive data” that appeared in anonymous Telegram channels shortly before the elections. The IPN interlocutors, who have worked or are still working in the mayor’s team, refused to specify exactly what data they are talking about.

As it emerges from the publications of the last two weeks, analyzed by IPN, in the mentioned channels, Ceban’s colleagues from the Alternative Bloc, as well as Ceban himself, were accused of possible connections with the Russian special services. There was also a reference to a supposed planned visit of Ceban to Washington this summer, which, however, did not take place. Previously, the former minister Anatol Șalaru stated, without presenting evidence, that Ceban would have been banned from entering the USA “for political reasons”. Neither Ceban nor the American authorities have commented on these statements.

Another concern circulating in the City Hall, according to sources, refers to a possible arrest of Ion Ceban. This information was confirmed for IPN by several interlocutors – two representatives of the force structures, as well as a high-ranking official of the City Hall, who wished to remain anonymous due to the “delicacy of the situation”.

The first two sources suggest that the possible arrest of the MAN leader could be related to the Romanian authorities’ decision to ban him from entering the Schengen area, and that behind this decision, there are “more than convincing evidence”, which, according to them, the authorities and special services of the Republic of Moldova have already received from the Romanian side.

The city hall official, in turn, believes that political pressures are being exerted on Ceban, which have nothing to do with any violation or offense committed by the mayor.

IPN tried to get in touch with Mayor Ion Ceban, but his phone is turned off.

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He announced that his lawyers in Romania have issued an official statement requesting clarifications regarding the decision of the Romanian authorities. According to the mayor, appeals have been sent to all institutions in Romania that could be responsible, but so far he has not received a clear response regarding the institution that issued the ban, the applied procedure or the official motivation.

At the same time, Ion Ceban stated that he requested the suspension of the decision, which he describes as “hallucinatory”. In his opinion, the measure was taken in an electoral context. He accused an alleged political understanding between President Maia Sandu and the Romanian authorities. “I believe it is political, I believe it is directed against me personally. I think they consider that today I pose a threat to the parliamentary elections on September 28,” the mayor affirmed.

Ion Ceban, who is also the leader of the National Alternative Movement Party, mentioned that he will send initiatives to European institutions as well. He expressed confidence that all necessary actions will be undertaken to resolve the case.

At the beginning of July, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Ion Ceban is under a ban from entering Romanian territory and the Schengen area, along with two other Moldovan citizens. The measure was imposed “for reasons related to national security considerations.”

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