the Netherlands, residing in Brussels. Adviser to President Dodon He was appointed to the post of Supreme Security Council Secretary in August 2019, succeeding Artur Gameniuc who was transferred to the Information and Security Service of the Republic of Moldova. On 2 September, he met with secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev in Moscow where he was invited to attend an annual meeting between the secretaries of the security councils of CIS member states in Moscow. In stating what his mandate would look like, he vowed to "direct my efforts to further promote patriotic values". In February 2019, he was elected to the Moldovan Parliament. In his official position as advisor, he accompanied Dodon during the 2020 Moscow Victory Day Parade. Two weeks earlier, he had been ordered by Dodon to see off the Moldovan contingent participating in the parade at the airport. Defence Minister (2019–2020, 2020-2021) He was appointer by Prime Minister Ion Chicu to lead the new technocratic government following the collapse of the Sandu Cabinet led by Prime Minister Maia Sandu, who was ousted in a vote of no confidence after a disagreement with the co-governing Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova. He was handed the banner of the defense ministry by President Dodon from his predecessor Pavel Voicu on 14 November. In an interview, he deflected concerns about a relationship with Dodon, stating that "service and personal relationships are two different things". In early 2020, Gaiciuc signed an agreement with Bishop Vladimir (Cantarean) of the Moldovan Orthodox Church on religious cooperation with the Moldovan National Army. Around the same time, he oversaw the creation of the National Council for War Veterans Affairs, an association which he is the president of. He was dismissed on 16 March 2020, being replaced by Alexandru Pînzari. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Divisional general. He was reappointed on 9 November 2020, following the first round of Moldovan presidential election on 1 November. In August 2021, he is replaced as Defence Minister by Anatolie Nosatîi. Private life Gaiciuc is currently married with two children. He is currently decorated with military distinctions of Moldova, as well as distinctions from other countries (Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belgium). Among his awards are the Medal "For Impeccable Service", the Order of the Republic and the Medal "100 years of Aviation". Gaiciuc speaks Romanian, Russian and French. He is