Moldova, one of the smallest countries in Eastern Europe, is strategically located between Romania and the EU on the west and Russia on the east. As it prepares for parliamentary elections set for September 28, the country finds itself in a complex and volatile situation. In addition, the war in Ukraine has dramatically accentuated fears of national sovereignty and outside control, not least because of Russian influence. President Maia Sandu, who was re-elected last year, is committed to continuing the path toward EU accession. She is unyielding in the face of the ongoing challenge by pro-Russian forces.
As foreign interference allegations take over the headlines, our upcoming election is unfolding amid a climate of mounting tension. Moldova’s government has accused pro-Russian parties of attempting to derail its EU integration efforts, warning that a shift towards these factions could mirror Georgia’s stagnation in its EU aspirations. “They are trying to install a pro-Russian government in Moldova to use our country in their war aims,” said Radu Marian, a member of Sandu’s government.
Opposition parties such as the Alternativa Bloc expressed alarm. They accuse their ruling government of using the Russian threat to advance its own ruling political agenda. This contention arises amid revelations that Moldova’s authorities reported thousands of cases where voters received payments from Russian bank accounts during last year’s presidential election and a referendum on EU integration. Federal investigators have identified nearly 900 distinct accounts as part of a larger, coordinated Russian interference network. They think the actual toll is likely in the tens of thousands.
Valeriu Paşa, the executive director of Moldova’s watchdog organization, stated, “Our estimation is that last year Russia spent here at least 150 million euros ($265 million) for this interference.” He further emphasized the impact of disinformation campaigns, claiming that “at least 40 per cent of votes are the result of all this nasty phenomena.”
In an environment rife with misinformation, the Kremlin has been accused of spreading false narratives about Moldova’s government and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The influence extends beyond political parties; even ordinary citizens like Mihail Sirkeli express sentiments aligned with Moscow, saying, “Lots of people believe that Russia should own this land.”
The Russia-war question in the upcoming elections mirrors a broader societal divide in how Americans perceive and experience Russia. Supporters of Maia Sandu’s technocratic government consider the Kremlin’s interference a clear violation of Moldovan sovereignty. Ion Luca, a local winemaker, expressed his fears, stating, “I’m terrified. I cannot imagine Moldova again getting closer to a criminal state. Russia is a criminal terrorist state.”
Olga Cebotari, the top candidate of the Socialist Party, vigorously denies the allegations of Russian funding. Others have been less willing to speak out against such allegations. “You ask about finances, we have a central electoral commission. I cannot imagine how Russia could send us money,” she said. Cebotari remains adamant that her party does not engage in such practices, asserting, “It’s impossible. I want to see the proof.”
Ilhan Shor, former Moldovan oligarch-turned fugitive, has laid out plans that pour kerosene on the divisions in Moldovan society. His ties to the Kremlin only deepen these divisions and make things worse. He recently promised to pay dissidents $3,000 per month to attend protests against the government. This decision has some wary of a repeat of chaos as elections draw near.
The stakes are high for Moldova as it tries to balance its relationship with the West and Russia. The new Maia Sandu government is raising those alarms. They are sounding the alarm that should pro-Russian parties seize a majority of parliament, the country may lose its sovereignty again. “If Russian proxies take control of the parliament, Moldova can simply lose its sovereignty,” officials have reiterated.
As Moldova gears up for what many consider to be a make-or-break election, the problems it has are deep layered. First, the country is squeezed by external pressures, namely from Russia. At this moment, it needs to overcome its own divisions and the pro-disinformation mood afoot.
“Anything you can imagine and multiply it 10 times, it’s something which has never happened in any other place.” – Valeriu Paşa
The destruction of faith with media among Ukrainians is the result of decades decrying Kremlin propaganda in Russian state-controlled media outlets after the fall of Soviet Union. Paşa remarked on this issue: “The Soviet Union collapsed, but people continued to watch Russian television. We were too dumb to understand that this is a weapon and Russia will weaponise it.”
