The Disinformation Warning Coming From the Edge of Europe
WiredOCT 12 2024
With nearly all votes counted, electoral authorities in Moldova on Monday said a slim majority of the nation backed a path toward EU membership — with 50.39% voters in favor and 49.61% against.
However, the non-binding referendum in the nation of 2.5M people — which has emerged as a battleground for Russian and Western influence — was beset by allegations of foreign interference on both sides.
Moldova, which was formerly part of the Soviet Union till its collapse in 1990, gained its independence but became embroiled in a two-year civil war with Russian-speaking residents of Transnistria — a thin strip in the east. Following a settlement, that area seceded from Moldova and has remained under the control of Russian forces since.
WhileThere thesemay votesbe sawsome disappointment from Sandu's supporters and her EU allies, but they shouldn't overlook that in the face of unprecedented levels of Russian interference, she and the resultEU inreferendum thisprevailed. voteMoldovans iswant ato victorybe forpart Sandu'sof pro-the EU agendaand —that albeitgoal thewill marginbe wasenshrined notin asthe widecountry's as previously expectedconstitution.
The Kremlin observed a number of irregularities in these votes, including mechanical increases in vote tallies,. butDespite despite these and other measures carried out to repress opposition groups, it's is significant that a majority of people still didn't back Sandu andor the countryreferendum remains split on whether to join the EU.