Moldova on High Alert: President Sandu Accuses Kremlin of Election Meddling Ahead of Crucial Vote

Chisinau, Moldova – With just days remaining until pivotal parliamentary elections, Moldovan President Maia Sandu has issued a stark warning, accusing the Kremlin of actively attempting to destabilize the nation and undermine its sovereignty. Sandu’s urgent address to the nation comes as police announced significant arrests and the confiscation of weapons and explosives in raids across the country, linked to an alleged Russian-backed plot to foment violent disorder.

President Sandu asserted that Europe remains the sole guarantor of Moldova’s security and sovereignty, vehemently condemning Russia for ‘pouring hundreds of millions of euros’ into the country. This influx of funds, she claims, is designed to spread disinformation, incite fear, and orchestrate violence ahead of Sunday’s vote. Authorities allege that some of the 74 detainees had received training from Russian instructors in Serbia, including firearm use.

“The Kremlin believes that we are all for sale. That we are too small to resist. That we are not a country, only a territory,” Sandu declared, emphasizing the gravity of Russian involvement. “But Moldova is our home. And our home is not for sale.”

The upcoming elections are critical, with pro-Russian parties poised to challenge the pro-EU status quo currently held by Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS). Sandu has urged a high voter turnout, particularly from the diaspora, to safeguard Moldova’s European future. The country, which declared independence from the USSR over three decades ago, has a significant Russian-speaking population and the breakaway region of Transnistria, supported by Moscow, still hosts Russian troops.

Despite last year’s referendum where voters narrowly approved enshrining EU accession in the constitution – a ballot marred by allegations of Russian meddling, including vote-buying – the path remains contentious. Pro-Russian factions accuse Sandu of intimidation tactics, while Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service has mirrored Moldova’s claims, counter-accusing European countries of plotting election falsification and even threatening an ‘armed incursion.’

Experts like Sergiu Panainte of the German Marshall Fund warn that these actions indicate Russia’s “Plan B” if pro-EU forces retain a majority, suggesting a readiness to escalate to violence and staged attacks. The stakes for Moldova’s independence and its Western trajectory have never been higher as the nation prepares to cast its ballots.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.