Moldova grapples with Russian interference ahead of elections

According to Moldovan officials, Moscow has established a "mafia network" designed to influence the outcome of the upcoming elections and referendum in Moldova, reports Politico. Russia is allegedly bribing voters to oppose the country's pro-Western alignment.

Moldova is experiencing an unprecedented wave of voter bribery, coupled with hybrid warfare and disinformation, warned Viorel Cernăuțeanu, head of the Moldovan police, during a press conference on Thursday.

Moldovan investigators have uncovered that approximately £12 million from Russia has been transferred to the accounts of over 130,000 Moldovan citizens in the past month. This money is intended to bribe voters ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections and the referendum on the country’s future in the European Union.

Politico reports that Russia has invested considerable resources in propaganda and voter intimidation, aiming to derail Moldova's pro-European trajectory. These efforts occur amid Moldova's journey towards EU integration— the country acquired EU candidate status in 2022, and accession discussions commenced this summer.

Stanislav Secrieru, a national security advisor speaking to Politico, estimated that Russia had set aside around £87 million for destabilising activities in Moldova. He suggests this may mark the beginning of new interference techniques that other European countries could encounter.

To counter Russian influence, the European Union has dispatched a civilian mission to Moldova to bolster defences against hybrid threats. According to Ukrainian sources, pro-Russian forces in Moldova have already attempted a failed coup in the years preceding the current elections, with Ilan Shor as one of its supposed masterminds.

Moldovan authorities are relying on Western support, stressing that the success of these initiatives is vital for the country’s democratic future and further alignment with European institutions.