Residents of Moldova voted in a tight preliminary round

Moldovans voted in a crucial second-round presidential election on Sunday pitting pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu against a Russia-friendly challenger, as persistent claims of voter fraud and intimidation threaten democracy in the European Union candidate country.

In the first round, which took place on October 20, Sandu won 42 percent of the vote, but could not get an absolute majority. She is opposed by Oleksandr Stoyanoglo, a former prosecutor general who topped the polls in the first round with nearly 26 percent of the vote.

The poll, published by research firm iData, points to a tight race that is tipped for Sandu’s narrow victory, an outcome that could hinge on Moldova’s large diaspora. The role of the president involves significant powers in foreign policy and security.