The crowd filing through central Chisinau waving EU flags on Friday evening was clear: they believe Russia is trying to steal their election and bring pro-Kremlin politicians to power in Moldova. Their weapon is money, your weapon is your vote! was the loudest chant as several hundred supporters of the governing party, PAS, and its pro-European policies joined the final rally before Sunday's ballot.
This week Moldovan police and prosecutors disclosed evidence of election interference on an unprecedented scale: vote-buying and disinformation that they link directly to Russia. They've also uncovered a plot to foment violent unrest, detaining dozens of men who travelled to Serbia for training including in the use of firearms.
Opposition parties dismiss talk of Russian meddling as a political show claiming the government is laying the ground to annul the vote should PAS lose its majority in parliament.
But Moldova took a decisive turn towards EU membership and away from Moscow after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Now the evidence suggests Russia has been investing heavily in restoring its influence. It's trying to claw back control.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean sees these elections as a final battle for his country. There is constant pressure from Russia, he told me, as the pro-PAS crowd broke up after its brief march through Chisinau. They're spending the equivalent of more than 1% of our GDP to overthrow our government - on propaganda and false messages.
Dodon is one of the main opposition candidates on Sunday, for the Socialist Party, and shrugs off talk of Russian interference. In July he travelled to Moscow for meetings and says if he wins this election, he'll oppose all sanctions on Russia and revert to buying gas from Russia to cut costs. He argues this is pro-Moldovan, not pro-Russian.
Police have identified an advanced interference campaign with significant financial backing from Russia, which exceeds previous efforts markedly. Viorel Cernăuțeanu, chief of Moldova's police, confirms that substantial funds were uncovered linked to orchestrating unrest and influencing public sentiment against the current government. Detainees reportedly received training to incite violence, leading to heightened tensions heading into the election day.
Through spirited rallies and contentious debates, Moldova stands at a political crossroads, with the outcome shaping its future direction between the Western alliance and Russian influence.
This week Moldovan police and prosecutors disclosed evidence of election interference on an unprecedented scale: vote-buying and disinformation that they link directly to Russia. They've also uncovered a plot to foment violent unrest, detaining dozens of men who travelled to Serbia for training including in the use of firearms.
Opposition parties dismiss talk of Russian meddling as a political show claiming the government is laying the ground to annul the vote should PAS lose its majority in parliament.
But Moldova took a decisive turn towards EU membership and away from Moscow after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Now the evidence suggests Russia has been investing heavily in restoring its influence. It's trying to claw back control.
Prime Minister Dorin Recean sees these elections as a final battle for his country. There is constant pressure from Russia, he told me, as the pro-PAS crowd broke up after its brief march through Chisinau. They're spending the equivalent of more than 1% of our GDP to overthrow our government - on propaganda and false messages.
Dodon is one of the main opposition candidates on Sunday, for the Socialist Party, and shrugs off talk of Russian interference. In July he travelled to Moscow for meetings and says if he wins this election, he'll oppose all sanctions on Russia and revert to buying gas from Russia to cut costs. He argues this is pro-Moldovan, not pro-Russian.
Police have identified an advanced interference campaign with significant financial backing from Russia, which exceeds previous efforts markedly. Viorel Cernăuțeanu, chief of Moldova's police, confirms that substantial funds were uncovered linked to orchestrating unrest and influencing public sentiment against the current government. Detainees reportedly received training to incite violence, leading to heightened tensions heading into the election day.
Through spirited rallies and contentious debates, Moldova stands at a political crossroads, with the outcome shaping its future direction between the Western alliance and Russian influence.
