In a chilly evening rally near Moldova’s capital, President Maia Sandu addressed concerns about Russian interference as she campaigns for reelection, emphasizing that joining the European Union is the country’s only viable path forward. Her comments come ahead of two pivotal votes that could determine Moldova’s future direction.
Sandu is seeking a second term in Sunday’s presidential election, facing off against several pro-Russian candidates among a total of 11 contenders. On the same day, Moldovans will vote in a referendum on whether to enshrine the country’s commitment to EU accession in its constitution.
“This decision will shape not only the next four years but also the decades ahead,” Sandu told the crowd in the village of Magdacesti, roughly 10 miles from Chisinau. “The future of our country is at stake.”
In her speech, Sandu warned of external efforts to destabilize Moldova and highlighted the importance of rejecting such interference. A campaign flyer distributed by young supporters at the rally alleged that criminal groups had paid 15 million euros ($16.2 million) to 130,000 people last month in a large-scale vote-buying scheme aimed at sowing instability in the small Eastern European country, which has a population of approximately 2.5 million.
As Moldova prepares for the crucial votes, the threat of Russian “hybrid attacks” continues to loom, with officials citing concerns about external efforts to influence the election and disrupt the democratic process.
