Moldova is set to hold parliamentary elections on February 24, with 15 parties competing. The main contenders are the ruling Democratic Party led by Vladimir Plahotniuc, the pro-Russian Party of Socialists under former president Igor Dodon, and the pro-European ACUM opposition bloc. The Socialists are leading in polls, while the Democratic Party's reputation has suffered due to corruption scandals. The ACUM bloc, led by Maia Sandu and Andrei Năstase, seeks closer ties with the West. A mixed electoral system was introduced in 2017, which has been criticized for favoring large parties, particularly the Democratic Party. A concurrent referendum will ask citizens about reducing the number of MPs and allowing the recall of non-performing deputies. Moldova's foreign policy and relations with the EU and Russia are at stake, with the government accused of using internet trolls and fake news to influence voters. Facebook has removed over 200 fake profiles linked to the Moldovan government.

Russian dachas, traditional holiday homes, have evolved from tsarist rewards to middle-class escapes and post-revolution subsistence farming. A new law simplifies dacha categories to 'gardening plots' and 'vegetable farming plots,' with residential buildings allowed only on the former. This change also facilitates easier registration of dachas as permanent residences.

A survey by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) revealed that most Russians consider the teaching profession to be underpaid and only 20% view it as prestigious. The majority of respondents rated the work of modern teachers as satisfactory, citing low salaries as the main reason for their subpar performance. The survey also found that life circumstances of respondents, such as having children or grandchildren in school, influenced their opinions, with more positive evaluations from those directly connected to the education system. Additionally, dissatisfaction with teacher performance was higher in larger cities. Comparisons with past education standards showed that 53% of respondents believe modern teachers are inferior to those from their own school days, with only 13% stating that teachers now perform better.

On July 14, 2016, in Moscow, as part of the city festival 'MuStEdFest' (Music, Streetart, Education), a street art event titled 'Real Superheroes' took place at the Moscow City Pedagogical University. Graffiti artists created wall portraits of prominent educators from the past century in the style of superhero comics. The featured educators were Janusz Korczak, Anton Makarenko, Lev Vygotsky, and Nikolai Kyung. The event highlighted their contributions and resilience, with Korczak and Kyung being remembered for their efforts to save and educate children in Nazi concentration camps. The festival organizers explained that these individuals were chosen as superheroes because of their inner strength and lasting impact on history.