“Massive” Russian interference in elections, say Moldovan officials during crucial presidential vote

Moldovan authorities see “massive interference” by Russia in the second round of the country’s presidential elections, an official said.

The current president’s national security adviser, Stanislav Sekriieru, described it as “an effort with great potential to distort the outcome.”

Moldova is voting in a presidential election that could determine the country’s future as a nation seeking to join the EU or move closer to Russia.

Pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu faced a second and final runoff against Oleksandr Stoianoglo, a former attorney general who is backed by the pro-Russian Socialist Party.

Ms. Sandu supports Moldova’s ambition to join the EU by 2030, while Mr. Stojanoglo has said that as president he will also support EU integration and develop ties with Russia in the national interest.

He promised to try to restore the supply of cheap Russian gas and said he would meet with the Russian president Vladimir Putin if Moldovans wanted it.

In the first round, which took place on October 20, Ms. Sandu won 42% of the vote, but was unable to obtain an outright majority.

Mr. Stoyanoglo topped the polls in the first round, gaining almost 26% of the vote.

Moldova, an Eastern European country of three million people, narrowly voted for closer ties with the European Union in referendum last month where claims of Russian interference dominated.

A spokesman for the European Union said there was “unprecedented intimidation and foreign interference from the Russia and his proxies” as Mrs. Sandu accused groups “working with foreign powers” of trying to buy 300,000 votes.

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During the campaign, Ms. Sandu portrayed Mr. Stojanoglo as a Kremlin man and a political Trojan horse.

Mr. Stojanoglo says that this is not true and that she did not take care of the interests of ordinary Moldovans.

Moscow called its government “Russophobic”.

The EU is expected to closely monitor Moldova’s election, which comes a week after Georgia, another former Soviet state hoping to join the 27-member bloc, re-elected a ruling party seen as increasingly pro-Russian.

President told Sky News the election was ‘stolen’.