Moldova's prime minister accuses Russia of using country's election to 'take power'

Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean warned on Wednesday that Russia is spending hundreds of millions of euros to "take power" in a pivotal parliamentary election that could derail the country's course towards the European Union.

Recean's remarks came days before Sunday’s parliamentary elections, when Moldovans will vote to choose a new 101-seat legislature in a ballot many view as a choice between east and west.

"The Republic of Moldova is in an electoral campaign. The Russian Federation is also in an electoral campaign," he said in an address after a government session.

"It's just that we are campaigning in our country, and the Russian Federation wants to campaign not in its own country, but in our country."

Recean accused the Kremlin of trying "to take power in Chișinău, violating the sovereign will" of the Moldovan population.

"This is not an ordinary electoral battle," he said. "It is a siege on our country."

Recean's allegations

The prime minister outlined several ways Russia is allegedly trying to take control of Moldova and diminish support for the pro-European governing Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS).

That party won a clear majority in 2021's elections but risks losing it on Sunday, with no other viable pro-European alternatives on the ballot.

They include allegedly orchestrating a large-scale vote-buying scheme, conducting more than 1,000 cyber attacks on critical government infrastructure so far this year, a plan to incite riots on voting day and a sprawling disinformation campaign online to sway voters.

However, Moscow has repeatedly denied meddling in Moldova’s internal affairs.

Recean's remarks came a day after Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) alleged that European politicians were attempting to ensure Moldova stayed in line with its own "Russophobic policies."

Moldova's westward geopolitical shift in recent years has irritated Moscow and tensions between the two countries have significantly soured.

Moldova was a Soviet republic until it proclaimed independence in 1991.

In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moldova applied to join the EU and was granted candidate status that year. Brussels agreed to open accession negotiations last year.

Since then, Moldovan authorities have accused Russia of conducting a hybrid war to try to derail the country’s EU path by meddling in elections, illicitly funding pro-Russian parties and running vast disinformation campaigns to voters ahead of elections.

Warning from Zelenskyy

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moldova was defending itself against Russian interference and that its Western allies should step up their support.

"We have already lost Georgia in Europe. Georgia has become dependent on Russia," Zelenskyy said.

"Europe cannot afford to lose Moldova as well. The European Union must provide financial and energy support to Moldova."

Zelenskyy was referring to an announcement by Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze who said in November the country was suspending his country's EU membership process until 2028 after the European Parliament condemned elections that took place in October as neither free nor fair.

Critics of Kobakhidze's ruling Georgian Dream party accuse it of pivoting towards Moscow while the EU has voiced concerns over democratic backsliding, electoral law violations and misuse of state institutions.

"It is very important to remember how the world ignored the need to help Georgia after the Russian attack. We missed that moment. It will not cost much for Europe to support Moldova, but not doing so will have a much higher price," Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy was referring to the 2008 Russian invasion of Georgia, launched by Moscow after it falsely accused Tbilisi of committing genocide in the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

"We must not forget protecting the rights of people and the rights of nations in the regions where these rights are under threat. The UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights must apply everywhere," Zelenskyy said.

Pro-Russian oligarch accused of meddling

A key figure in the alleged campaign to destabilise Moldova is fugitive pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor, who was convicted in 2023 of fraud and money laundering in a case of $1 billion (€850,000) that went missing from Moldovan banks in 2014.

"There is evidence, including wiretaps, that proves that vote buying is financed by the Russian Federation," Recean said.

"The instrument is the Shor criminal group, and the beneficiaries are several electoral competitors."

Ahead of the election, Moldovan authorities have carried out hundreds of searches and detained dozens of suspects.

This week alone, 74 people were detained during 250 raids as part of an investigation into an alleged Russia-backed plan to incite “mass riots” and destabilise the country.

One person was also detained over the financing of a political party allegedly linked to Russia through cryptocurrencies.

"The increasing evidence of Russia’s subversive actions is increasing concern in society. I assure you of one thing: the state of the Republic of Moldova is resisting," Recean said.

"Dear citizens, the final battle is being fought for the future of our country," he said. "And I urge you all to participate with an honest vote."

Russia-friendly bloc holds rally

At a rally on Wednesday organised by the Russia-friendly opposition Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP) in Chișinău, dozens chanted "Down with PAS," and "Down with Maia Sandu," referring to Moldova's pro-Western president.

The BEP is comprised of a group of political parties and has campaigned on promising good relations with the EU and "normalising" ties with Russia.

It has used Moldova-first rhetoric, such as defending the national interest by supporting local agriculture and protecting jobs.

Wednesday's event was billed a "peace rally."

"Neutrality is the guarantee of security for us," independent candidate Nichita Romenschi said.

"Moldova must have good relations with everybody…with the EU and Russia. We want the government to have a humane face and the policies to be directed towards the quality of simple people."

Grigore Novac, a member of parliament for the Party of Socialists, said that "absolutely no one should intervene in the electoral process" in Moldova.