The Moldovan National Security Adviser has warned of extensive interference in the country’s elections by Moscow, as the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP) and the opaque Alternativa opposition bloc are poised to exploit a wave of disinformation and bribery. “Russia is pulling out all the stops to tip this election,” Stanislav Secrieru stated, noting an escalation in vote-buying, artificial intelligence-driven disinformation campaigns, and the mobilization of resources to incite street violence, reports 24brussels.
As the voting progressed, initial results emerged mainly from rural areas, with larger cities and overseas ballots expected later. By 9:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. Brussels), the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) planned to release preliminary results, with updates anticipated throughout the night, including votes from the diaspora around 11 p.m. local time.
On polling day, authorities reported bomb threats at various overseas voting locations, including one incident that led to the evacuation of Moldova’s embassy in Brussels. Secrieru revealed on social media that intelligence indicated groups were planning unrest in Chișinău, coinciding with a protest organized by the pro-Russian Patriotic bloc.
In the backdrop of this election, last year’s referendum on EU membership narrowly passed, and liberal President Maia Sandu secured a second term amid allegations of Kremlin interference. Votes from Moldovans living abroad, particularly those in EU nations, played a crucial role in both outcomes.
Dorina Baltag, a researcher at the Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs and co-founder of the diaspora group Noroc Olanda, emphasized the significance of these votes, stating they would again be “of critical importance, both numerically and symbolically.”
