CHISINAU - At least 5,000 people rallied in Moldova's capital on Sunday, demanding the resignation of the government and pro-Western President Maia Sandu, blaming them for high inflation and rising energy prices.

Moldova buys its gas from the Russian gas giant Gazprom under a contract that was drawn up last year.

The price fluctuates monthly and is calculated from the spot price for gas and oil depending on the season. Spot prices have soared this year.

"Moldova is now in clinical death, to which the current authorities have brought it," said Dinu Turcanu, a politician from an opposition party of Ilan Shor, a businessman convicted of fraud in connection with a US$1 billion (S$1.4 billion) bank scandal.

Moldova, the smallest post-Soviet state of 3.5 million people, is experiencing serious economic difficulties associated with high energy prices, the cost of which has increased by 29 per cent in September after surging almost 50 per cent in August.

The country has slashed its growth estimate to zero for 2022, hurt by record high inflation at 34.3 per cent and interest rates at 21.5 per cent.

Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita said this month that Moldova's economy was expected to post moderate growth of 1.5 per cent next year. REUTERS