Moldovan president warns of Russian interference in September vote
CHISINAU : Moldova's pro-European president Maia Sandu today accused Russia of seeking to meddle in the September national elections, warning that Moscow was planning 'unprecedented' action to 'get its people into the next parliament'.
Sandu, a vocal critic of Russia, in particular since the start of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has repeatedly accused Moscow of political interference in the former Soviet republic that lies between war-torn Ukraine and EU and Nato member Romania.
Fears of Russian meddling have been looming large as Sandu has been steering Moldova toward official EU accession talks that started in June 2024.
'The Russian federation wants to control Moldova from the fall and is preparing an unprecedented interference in the September elections,' including by vote buying and illicit financing through cryptocurrencies for which '€100 million' have been earmarked, Sandu told a press conference today.
The head of state, who won last year's re-election, detailed the plans Moscow has allegedly put in place ahead of the vote.
Sandu said the Kremlin was planning to launch 'information manipulation campaigns' and cyber attacks, and organise paid 'violent' protests, while also looking to exploit traditional religious structures.
She accused the two main opposition forces of taking advantage of Moscow's purported plans to deprive her centre-right Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) of its parliamentary majority.
Sandu was referring to people affiliated to fugitive pro-Russian politician Ilan Shor, who she said was leading a 'criminal group' that was aiming to destabilise the country by protests and 'creating networks of vote buying'.
Furthermore, she called out the Russian-financed 'sovereignist' force that promotes Euroscepticism and the subordination of the country's interests to those of Moscow.
Lastly, 'the moderate pro-European electorate' was being targeted in a bid to sow doubt among it, including by sabotaging the electoral process overseas.
'All these projects are coordinated from the same command point' in Moscow, she said.
According to a recent poll, Sandu's PAS is currently leading with 39% support, followed by the pro-Russian opposition Socialist party at 14.9%.
However, about 30% of citizens say they are still undecided.
Earlier this year, police said that more than 140,000 people in the country of 2.5 million are being investigated over a cash-for-votes scheme during the last presidential election.
In the past, authorities have accused pro-Russian media and activists of disseminating disinformation in Moldova, with scores of outlets and Telegram channels being shut down.
Sandu criticised Telegram for not responding to reports regarding voter corruption on its platform.
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