Latest news with #MaiaSandu
Free Malaysia Today
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Moldovan president warns of Russian interference in September vote
Maia Sandu has been a vocal critic of Russia, particularly since the start of the Ukraine war. (EPA Images pic) 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.
Euractiv
a day ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
Moldovan president warns of Russian interference in September vote
CHISINAU – Moldova's pro-European President Maia Sandu on Wednesday 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 euros" have been earmarked, Sandu told a press conference on Wednesday. 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 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 2021. 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.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Kremlin denies seeking to ‘control' EU candidate state
The Kremlin on Wednesday rejected accusations by Moldovan President Maia Sandu that Russia is attempting to interfere in her country's parliamentary election by covertly funding opposition candidates. A staunchly pro-EU politician who frequently accuses her opponents of being 'pro-Russian' in order to justify their exclusion from politics, Sandu claimed this week that Moscow planned to channel more than €100 million ($115 million) to her political rivals ahead of Moldova's parliamentary election, scheduled for September. 'This is not true. Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of other states,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wedensday. Peskov added that Moldova should focus on addressing its own alleged restrictions on democratic participation, both domestically and abroad. During Moldova's 2024 presidential campaign, Moscow accused the Sandu administration of excluding opposition candidates and limiting ballot access for Moldovan citizens in Russia, in order to sway the outcome in her favor. Sandu in turn has accused Moscow of attempting regime change, claiming Russia sought to 'take control' of Moldova and derail its aspirations for EU membership. As part of her government's response, Sandu claimed her government has worked major social media platforms to flag 'suspicious activity' but admitted that her officials received no response from messaging platform Telegram. The EU granted Moldova candidate status alongside Ukraine in 2022. The move was widely interpreted as a geopolitical signal to Russia rather than a reflection of Moldova's readiness to meet membership criteria.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Moldova's president warns of Russian interference threat ahead of election
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Moldovan President Maia Sandu speaks during a press conference with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the first Moldova-EU summit in Chisinau, Moldova July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza/File Photo CHISINAU - Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on Wednesday that electoral corruption and illegal external financing from Russia were the biggest threats to a parliamentary election on September 28, allegations that Moscow denied. The vote could see Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity lose its majority in the assembly of the ex-Soviet state, which lies between Ukraine and Romania. "The Russian Federation wants to control the Republic of Moldova from autumn onwards and is preparing unprecedented interference in the September elections," Sandu told a press conference in Chisinau. The Kremlin denied on Wednesday that Russia sought to meddle in the election. Four pro-Russian parties have said they will form a bloc in order to press for victory in the election and oust the government, which is committed to seeking European Union membership by 2030. Ties between Russia and Moldova, which was formerly part of the Soviet Union, have deteriorated as the Moldovan government has accelerated its push to integrate with the EU. "The greatest danger of Russia's interference in our internal affairs is that it poses a direct threat to our country's national security, sovereignty, and European future," Sandu said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Water supply issues during Toa Payoh blaze affected firefighting operations; SCDF investigating Singapore MHA to support HSA's crackdown on Kpod abusers and help in treatment of offenders: Shanmugam Singapore Bukit Panjang LRT to shut on 2 Sundays to facilitate tests; some upgrading work nearing completion Singapore Jail, fine for man linked to case involving 3 bank accounts that received over $680m in total Singapore Provision shop owner who raped 11-year-old gets more than 14 years' jail Business S'pore's economic resilience will face headwinds in second half of 2025 from tariffs, trade conflicts: MAS Business S'pore's Q2 total employment rises but infocomm, professional services see more job cuts Singapore Fewer than 1 in 5 people noticed suspicious items during MHA's social experiments Moldova also accused Russia of interfering in the presidential election and a referendum on joining the European Union last year. Moscow denied those allegations. The government said the main instruments that could be deployed by Russia included bribery of voters, cyberattacks, information manipulation campaigns and paid protests. "Funding of approximately 100 million euros is planned through cryptocurrencies alone," Sandu said about funds which she said could be used for electoral corruption. She provided no evidence for the allegations. A poll published in July put Sandu's PAS on 27.4% support ahead of the election, compared with 10.4% for the opposition Socialists. Moldova's Central Election Commission this month refused to register the pro-Russian Victory bloc, formed in 2024 and backed by pro-Kremlin fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, for the vote on grounds of violating electoral financing laws. Shor dismissed the decision as absurd. REUTERS
Reuters
a day ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Moldova's president warns of Russian interference threat ahead of election
CHISINAU, July 30 (Reuters) - Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on Wednesday that electoral corruption and illegal external financing from Russia were the biggest threats to a parliamentary election on September 28, allegations that Moscow denied. The vote could see Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity lose its majority in the assembly of the ex-Soviet state, which lies between Ukraine and Romania. "The Russian Federation wants to control the Republic of Moldova from autumn onwards and is preparing unprecedented interference in the September elections," Sandu told a press conference in Chisinau. The Kremlin denied on Wednesday that Russia sought to meddle in the election. Four pro-Russian parties have said they will form a bloc in order to press for victory in the election and oust the government, which is committed to seeking European Union membership by 2030. Ties between Russia and Moldova, which was formerly part of the Soviet Union, have deteriorated as the Moldovan government has accelerated its push to integrate with the EU. "The greatest danger of Russia's interference in our internal affairs is that it poses a direct threat to our country's national security, sovereignty, and European future," Sandu said. Moldova also accused Russia of interfering in the presidential election and a referendum on joining the European Union last year. Moscow denied those allegations. The government said the main instruments that could be deployed by Russia included bribery of voters, cyberattacks, information manipulation campaigns and paid protests. "Funding of approximately 100 million euros is planned through cryptocurrencies alone," Sandu said about funds which she said could be used for electoral corruption. She provided no evidence for the allegations. A poll published in July put Sandu's PAS on 27.4% support ahead of the election, compared with 10.4% for the opposition Socialists. Moldova's Central Election Commission this month refused to register the pro-Russian Victory bloc, formed in 2024 and backed by pro-Kremlin fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, for the vote on grounds of violating electoral financing laws. Shor dismissed the decision as absurd.
