Washington pledges to help Moldova counter ‘Russian electoral interference’

On Tuesday, Washington said that it would help Moldova counter “Russian interference” in its presidential election scheduled for Sunday, which coincides with a referendum on the eastern European country’s bid to join the European Union.

“Russia is actively working to undermine Moldova’s elections and its European integration,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

“The United States and our allies stand shoulder to shoulder with all Moldovans in their efforts to preserve the integrity and security of their elections,” he added.

Kirby confirmed that “Moscow has spent millions of dollars in recent months to influence the results of the presidential elections in Moldova”.

He added that these sums are in addition to the “tens of millions of dollars invested in NGOs” by exiled Israeli-born, Moldovan pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor with the aim of spreading a pro-Kremlin message.

Shor is subject to US and EU sanctions and is wanted by the Moldovan judiciary.

Moldova has long demanded that Israel extradite Shor, who was born in Israel and fled there after the Moldovan judiciary opened an investigation into him in 2019 in a corruption case dubbed the “theft of the century”.

Kirby stressed that “the United States will continue to support Moldova and the Moldovan people and expose and thwart Russian attempts to subvert democracy in Moldova”.

Moldova is a small, poor country that has long been torn between Russia and the European Union.

Moldova will hold a presidential election and a referendum on European Union membership next Sunday, two separate votes taking place against the backdrop of a two-and-a-half-year war in neighboring Ukraine.

Eleven candidates are competing in the presidential elections, the most prominent of whom is President Maia Sandu, who has turned the aspirations of this former Soviet republic towards the West and is considered the most likely candidate to win a new term.

In parallel with the elections, a referendum is being held in which voters must decide whether or not they want their country to seek to join the European Union.

Moldovan authorities warn of Russian attempts to destabilize the country and disrupt the voting process.