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The EP condemned Russia’s interference in Moldova, called for the withdrawal of Russian troops

by AI | 11.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

According to MEPs, $15 million was handed over to 130,000 Moldovans as part of the voter bribery operation.

President of Moldova Maia Sandu signs a decree opening accession negotiations with Moldova to the EU. The European Union agreed on Friday to start accession negotiations with conflict-ridden Ukraine and Moldova. On Friday, June 21, 2024. Photo: AP/dpa.

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Bribery of voters, cyber operations, and information warfare – such activities, according to MEPs, are being carried out by Russia in Moldova. As stated in the EU resolution, the Kremlin should respect the country’s independence, cease such actions, and withdraw military forces from its territory.

On Wednesday, MEPs adopted a resolution on Moldova, which is facing pressure from Russia, but nonetheless officially received candidate status for the EU in 2022. The resolution was adopted with 508 votes in favor, 53 against, and 104 abstentions.

The document stated, among other things, that according to Moldovan security services, Russia spent around 100 million euros ahead of the upcoming elections to persuade Moldovans to vote against closer ties with the EU. In this context, Moldovan oligarch Ilan Sor was mentioned, who allegedly financed a large-scale electoral fraud program.

According to MEPs, 15 million dollars were transferred to 130,000 Moldovans as part of a voter bribery operation.

The EU Parliament also called in the resolution for member states to impose further sanctions on Russia for actions destabilizing Moldova, to tighten cooperation with this country on the path to EU membership, and to support journalists and civil society.

The EU previously imposed sanctions on Moldovan oligarchs and pro-Russian actors, including Ilan Sor and Vladimir Plahotniuc, Igor Ceaika, Gheorghe Cavaliuc, and Marina Tauber. They are banned from entering the EU, and their assets are frozen within the community’s territory.

On October 20, presidential elections will be held in Moldova, in which President Maia Sandu, advocating for the country’s accession to the EU, will seek re-election against ten other candidates. Sandu is the election favorite with polling support at 27%. The next candidates in terms of support are moderately pro-Russian Renato Usatii and former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo, who each received about 12% of the votes in the polls.

Alongside the elections, a referendum initiated by Sandu will take place, where Moldovans will answer the question of whether Eurointegration should be enshrined in the constitution as a strategic goal of the state.

According to authorities in Chisinau, Russian hybrid activities aimed at undermining the policy of the pro-Western government have become even more intense than before the elections.

In September, Moldovan authorities blocked access to the Russian search engine Yandex and the Rutube service, which was intended by Russia to be an alternative to YouTube. (09.10.2024)

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