Moldovan President Maia Sandu has claimed the Kremlin is investing in several projects to get its people into the next parliament, with elections scheduled to take place in September. All these projects, she noted, are being coordinated from a single centre and are largely funded through schemes linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Șor.
Ms Sandu warned of disinformation and public opinion manipulation campaigns organised from abroad, paid protests and attempts to sabotage voting. She also raised concerns about potential cyberattacks targeting the digital infrastructure of the election process, as well as other critical infrastructure facilities. Moldovan authorities expect the church to be used in the interest of a foreign state and “opinion leaders” and online influencers to act as intermediaries spreading anti-European messages. “This should not scare us; it should mobilise us. Russian interference poses serious risks to public order and national security and, most importantly, could severely undermine the country’s sovereignty and our European future,” the president said.
The Moldovan president reassured citizens that state institutions know what they need to do.
“In the coming period, they must act more cohesively, professionally and as a single team to protect national interests. A difficult period lies ahead, dear citizens. But our future depends only on us,” she added.
Parliamentary elections in Moldova are scheduled for September 28.
Recently, the Central Election Commission of Moldova rejected an application from the pro-Russian bloc Victory, which is linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Șor.
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, reported The Strait Times.
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.
Moscow denied the allegations on Wednesday.
