On September 28, Moldovan citizens will vote in parliamentary elections that will decide whether the country maintains its course towards the EU or leans towards Russia. Large-scale disinformation campaigns supported by the Kremlin are creating a tense situation, and President Maia Sandu is urging citizens not to succumb to manipulation.
Former leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova, Vladimir Plahotniuc, has been extradited from Greece to Chisinau. He will be placed under arrest in a solitary cell on charges of stealing a billion dollars.
The BBC has uncovered a secret network, funded by Russia, that is trying to undermine democratic elections in Moldova on September 28. Participants in the network were promised money for spreading pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation against the pro-European party.
Ukraine supports democratic elections in the neighboring country and is ready to help Moldova move towards EU membership.
A voter bribery scheme, organized through the TAITO app and financed by Russian structures of oligarch Ilan Shor, has been exposed in Moldova. People were promised large payments for participating in rallies and distributing anti-European materials, but they did not receive the money.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced unprecedented Russian interference in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The Kremlin is financing political projects and planning voter bribery, disinformation, cyberattacks, and the involvement of the church.
Former leader of the Democratic Party of Moldova, Vlad Plahotniuc, has been detained in Greece. He was wanted in connection with three criminal cases, including the theft of a billion dollars from banks.
EU ambassadors approved sanctions against 7 individuals and 3 organizations accused of destabilizing the situation in Moldova. The sanctions will officially come into force next week.
Ilan Shor's pro-Russian political bloc "Victory" announced its participation in Moldova's parliamentary elections. The list will be headed by Evghenia Guțul, head of Gagauzia, with the aim of "overthrowing the fascist regime" and holding early elections.
Moldova's Action and Solidarity Party, led by Dorin Recean, leads in polls, garnering about 40% of the vote, which corresponds to 49 seats in parliament. This is not enough for an absolute majority; the party is two votes short.
Moldovan authorities are stepping up investigations into pro-Russian politicians following the detention of the head of Gagauzia. She is suspected of corruption related to the financing of the pro-Russian bloc.
The Institute for the Study of War reports on attempts by Russian agents to discredit Maia Sandu's victory in the elections in Moldova. Pro-Russian politicians and oligarchs are spreading statements about the illegitimacy of the voting results.
150 Moldovan citizens were transported from Russia via Istanbul free of charge to participate in the second round of elections. The transportation was carried out by plane and bus through Turkey and Bulgaria.
In a referendum in Moldova, 53. 52% of voters opposed joining the EU. President Maia Sandu spoke of an “attack on freedom and democracy” and the influence of “criminal groups” in cooperation with foreign forces.
The Moldovan police announced that they had uncovered a program that sent Moldovan citizens to Russia to learn how to organize riots. The program is linked to pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor.
In Moldova, five websites were blocked on the instructions of the Information and Security Service, including Russian Yandex, Rutube, and Dzen. Two websites of the MD24 Internet TV channel, associated with oligarch Ilan Shor, were also blocked.
Moldovan police say that Russia transferred $15 million to 130,000 citizens to vote against joining the EU. The funds were transferred through the network of pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor.
Moldova's Constitutional Court has overturned a law that banned a pro-Russian party linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor from running in the elections. Members of the party are also allowed to run in the elections, despite Shor's conviction for fraud.
