The United States is ‘concerned’ that Russia will try to disrupt Moldova’s upcoming presidential runoff and prevent citizens from exercising their vote, U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken said.
He berated “serious attempts by Russia to undermine the integrity of the process, as noted by the OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission,” on Oct. 20 in which Moldovans voted on a pro-EU referendum and cast ballots in the first round of the presidential elections.
“Russia did everything in its power to disrupt the election and referendum to undermine Moldova’s democracy, including through illicit financing and vote buying, disinformation, and malicious cyber activities,” he said.
Despite “unprecedented Russian efforts to deny the Moldovan people their right to choose their own future, a majority of Moldovans voted to amend their constitution to advance Moldova’s accession to the EU,” Mr. Blinken said in a statement.
Moldovans voted by the thinnest of margins in favor of joining the European Union, amuch tighter result than polls predicted a comfortable win. President Maia Sandu condemned an “unprecedented assault” by foreign actors on the country’s democracy.
She said Sandu said Moldovan authorities had “clear evidence that these criminal groups aimed to buy 300,000 votes, a fraud of unprecedented scale.”
Final results showed 50.46% had voted “yes” in the pivotal referendum on whether to enshrine in the country’s constitution a path towards the EU. The referendum only passed due to votes from Moldovans living abroad.
In his statement, Mr. Blinken congratulated “the Moldovan people for making their voices heard in record numbers in the simultaneous presidential election and referendum on EU accession and the government and election authorities for ensuring “the election was well-managed and competitive.”
“As we look ahead to Moldova’s runoff presidential election on November 3, the United States remains concerned Russia will again attempt to prevent Moldovans from exercising their sovereign right to choose their own leaders.”
He said Washington “will continue to support Moldova’s efforts to ensure a credible, transparent, and democratic process on November 3.”
Mrs. Sandu faces Socialist challenger and former Prosecutor-General Alexandr Stoianoglo. He won 26 percent to her 42 percent.
“The United States stands with the Moldovan people in their desire for a secure, prosperous, and democratic future.”
