Moldovan presidential election: fake bomb threats recorded at four foreign polling stations
Kyiv • UNN
Frankfurt, Liverpool, and Northampton received fake reports of mining of polling stations for the presidential elections in Moldova. The Moldovan Foreign Ministry warned of possible attempts by Russia to disrupt the diaspora vote.
On November 3, local authorities in the German city of Frankfurt and the British cities of Liverpool and Northampton received information about the possible mining of four polling stations open for the presidential election in Moldova. The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the information about the "mining" was false, UNN reports with reference to Newsmaker.
"Specialized services organized checks and confirmed that the reports were false. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that the false bomb threats are aimed at disrupting the vote. The Moldovan authorities have previously warned about the possibility of false reports of bombs and are coordinating with the authorities of the affected countries," the ministry said in a statement.
Earlier, Reuters reported, citing its sources, that the Moldovan authorities had warned several European Union countries, including Romania, that Russia could prevent the Moldovan diaspora from voting. An anonymous source told the agency that polling stations in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Canada, Romania, the United States, and the United Kingdom could be targeted by Moscow. According to the newspaper, the Russian authorities intend to prevent voting, including by sending false bomb threats to evacuate all polling station staff.
Add
Moldovan President Maia Sandu addresses citizens after reports of mining at several polling stations opened abroad.
"Dear Moldovans in the diaspora, thank you for your exceptional mobilization! You are an extraordinary force! The thieves are afraid of you, so they are sending out false bomb threats at several polling stations. Do not be afraid. Keep voting. Every honest vote saves Moldova!" Sandu said.
Context
Today, November 3, Moldova is holding a second round of presidential elections. It is contested by incumbent President Maia Sandu and former Prosecutor General Alexandru Stoianoglo, who was supported by the Socialist Party. In the first round, Sandu won 42.49% of the vote, while Stoianoglo received 25.95%.
