US Accuses Russia of Interfering in Moldova’s EU Referendum
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby affirmed the United States and allies’ support for Moldovan efforts to maintain democratic integrity.
Russia has reportedly spent substantial sums trying to sway Moldova’s Oct. 20 referendum on EU membership, as per National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu aims to secure a yes vote in the referendum while campaigning for reelection on a pro-Western stance. Moldova obtained EU candidate status in June 2022.
“In recent months, the U.S. government, Moldovan President Sandu, Moldovan security services, and other allies and partners have cautioned that Russia is seeking to undermine Moldovan democratic institutions in the lead-up to the presidential election and EU membership referendum,” Kirby disclosed at an Oct. 15 press briefing in Washington. “With Moldova’s election imminent, we maintain confidence in our prior assessment that Russia actively seeks to hinder Moldova’s election and European integration.”
National Police Chief Viorel Cernauteanu stated that over 130,000 Moldovans had been incentivized to vote against EU membership and in favor of pro-Kremlin candidates on the same election day.
Recently, a pro-Russian entrepreneur, Ilan Shor, publicized on social media his offer to pay $29 to anyone opposing European integration in the referendum.
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Moldova is situated between Romania, a member of both the EU and NATO, and Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022.
The White House is closely monitoring Moldova’s Oct. 20 referendum, as the country was part of the Soviet Union until 1991.
“Today, I’m here to reaffirm that the United States and its allies stand shoulder to shoulder with Moldova in their endeavors to uphold the integrity and security of their elections,” Kirby declared. “The U.S. government and the Moldovan government have collaborated to expose Russian influence efforts and apply sanctions to those involved since September.”
‘Russia Is Spending Millions’
“We have become aware that Russia is spending millions of dollars to bolster its favored candidates,” Kirby revealed. “Recently, Moscow has allocated significant funds to sway Moldova’s presidential election.”
Kirby mentioned that the funds were used to support the Kremlin’s “preferred factions” and disseminate misinformation on social media.
He alleged that Russian “influence actor” Ilon Shor has been investing tens of millions of dollars monthly in nonprofit organizations that propagate narratives aligned with Russian interests about the election.
Kirby asserted that these nonprofits “have been promoting pro-Russian content through traditional media, local websites, and social media apps.”
The United States has shared intelligence with Moldova in an effort to thwart Russian schemes, Kirby informed.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu (R) welcomes the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen (L), in Chisinau, Moldova, on Oct. 10, 2024. Elena Covalenco/AFP via Getty Images
Kirby mentioned that the White House has implemented sanctions since 2021 on those involved in what he termed Russia’s “malign influence campaigns” in Moldova.
Sandu’s foreign policy adviser, Olga Rosca, stated that a yes vote would signal to Moscow “that Moldova is no longer under its sway and is forging its own path.”
Rosca mentioned that the Kremlin’s reported attempts to influence the vote aim to “destabilize our future and impede Moldova’s EU trajectory.”
In 2020, Sandu secured a significant victory in the elections, but Moldova has faced challenges from the fallout of the pandemic, the economic impact of the war in neighboring Ukraine, which led to an influx of immigrants, and a decrease in Russian gas supplies increasing inflation.
Reuters contributed to this report.
