Moldova has informed EU nations that Russia intends to disrupt the second phase of its presidential elections by targeting overseas voting, possibly using bomb threats to stop polling.
Reuters reports that a source within the Moldovan government has confirmed that Moldova has warned several European Union member countries that Russia would attempt to disrupt the voting of expatriates at polling stations overseas during the second round presidential election.
Russia’s interference in Moldova’s election is crucial for its strategy to maintain influence in post-Soviet regions, especially as Moldova moves towards European integration. Moscow’s goal is to undermine Moldova’s democratic processes by actively supporting pro Russian candidates and engaging in extensive voting schemes. This interference is not only intended to destabilize Moldova, but also to warn other former Soviet countries about the dangers of closer ties to the West. Russia’s actions are a concerted attempt to reassert dominance and counter the growing influence of European Union in Eastern Europe.
According to the latest Moldovan report, polling stations located in Italy, France Germany Spain Canada, Romania the US and UK could be targeted to disrupt elections by Moscow, with possible bomb threats.
The Moldovan government says that the goal is to disrupt voting during evacuation due bomb threats and police checks.
In the second round, two candidates will be competing: incumbent President Maia Sandu who supports the pro-European path of the country, and former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo supported by pro Russian opposition parties.
Most Moldovans who reside in Western countries tend to be pro-European. This means that they will likely support the incumbent, Maia Sandu. Reuters reports that the diaspora vote played a crucial role in Sandu’s team winning the referendum on Moldova joining the EU.
The incumbent President Maia Sandu, who has been in office since 2007, won the first round of presidential elections on 20 October. She received 42.45% of votes, while her main rival, Alexandr Stoianoglo got 25.98%. Moldova is now preparing to hold the second round on 3 November.
The presidential election coincided in time with a referendum about the future of the country within the EU. The majority of citizens voted for EU membership, but the margin of victory was small. Only 50.35 percent of Moldovans supported the EU. The diaspora accounted for the fact that the “yes” vote was only 11,277 votes more than the opposition.
Related:
Sandu claims that 300,000 votes were bought in “fraud on an unprecedented scale” during the first round of Moldovan presidential election
* Inside Russia’s EUR150 million propaganda blitz against Moldova’s EU path
* EU continues to support Moldova despite rising Russian interference
* German FM says that Moldova will be the next target of Russia if Ukraine falls
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