Wired

The Disinformation Warning Coming From the Edge of Europe

NPR Online News

Moldova accuses Russia of meddling ahead of its elections and an EU referendum

Al Jazeera

Moldova votes for president, EU path amid Russian interference allegations

Guardian

Moldovans go to polls to decide whether future lies with Russia or the west

Associated Press

EU candidate Moldova to hold two pivotal votes as officials denounce Russian ‘hybrid attacks’

Moldovans cast votes to choose president and decide on EU path as Russian interference claims spike

Independent

Moldova votes in election and EU referendum amid alleged Russian interference

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.

BBC News

Moldova, which was formerly part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1990, gained its independence but became embroiled in a two-year civil war with Russian-speaking residents of Transnistria. Following a settlement, that area seceded from Moldova and has remained under the control of Russian forces.

Moldova has had a pro-EU government since 2021. Its president, Maia Sandu, who was up for reelection on the same day as the referendum, accused criminal groups and foreign forces of attacking the country with "tens of millions of euros, lies, and propaganda," to sway the vote.

WPLG

Sandu, who won the first round of her election with 42% of the vote, said there's "clear evidence" that "criminal groups" sought to buy 300K votes in a "fraud of unprecedented scale." She will face Alexandr Stoianoglo, a pro-Russia former prosecutor general who came in second with roughly 26% of the vote, in a runoff on Nov. 3.

Russia's allegation was that votes in support of Sandu and EU membership saw "mechanical, hard to explain growth rates," and "abnormalities." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that in spite of this and other alleged interference, it was "noteworthy" that no clear majority backed Sandu or the EU.

TASS

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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.

BBC News #

WPLG #

TASS #

There may be some 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 EU referendum prevailed. Moldovans want to be part of the EU and that goal will be enshrined in the country's constitution.

Guardian #

Moldovans back joining the EU by razor-thin majority

The Kremlin observed a number of irregularities in these votes, including mechanical increases in vote tallies. Despite these and other measures carried out to repress opposition groups, it's significant that a majority of people still didn't back Sandu and the referendum passed by a razor-thin margin.

Abnormal voting for Sandu, Eurointegration seen in Moldovan election — Kremlin

There's a 1% chance that Moldova will unite with Romania before Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Moldova Narrowly Backs Joining EU Amid Foreign Interference Claims

Moldova Narrowly Backs Joining EU Amid Foreign Interference Claims

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Moldova Narrowly Backs Joining EU Amid Foreign Interference Claims

Moldova Narrowly Backs Joining EU Amid Foreign Interference Claims

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Metaculus Prediction

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