A multidimensional strategy has reportedly been organized by the Kremlin, as Russia intends to interfere in the upcoming elections in Moldova, in order to overturn the government’s efforts to keep the country on the path to European Union integration, according to revelations by Bloomberg.
According to documents examined by the agency, the Kremlin aims to damage the party of pro-European President Maia Sandu in the September 28 elections, in order to remove her from power.
Moldova represents a battleground between pro-European and pro-Russian political forces, while Sunday’s elections take place less than a year after the EU membership referendum, which was approved by a narrow margin amid government claims of Kremlin interference.
Russia’s plans for Moldova – What the Bloomberg report reveals
The Kremlin’s plan, according to Bloomberg, includes recruiting Moldovan citizens abroad to vote at polling stations in the EU and other regions worldwide, hiring individuals to cause unrest, as well as an extensive disinformation campaign on social media. Additionally, Moscow planned to use compromising material to pressure public officials to disrupt the electoral process.
As Bloomberg notes, it cannot confirm whether Russia ultimately implemented its plans, as the election campaign in Moldova reaches its climax this week. However, two European officials stated it is “almost certain” that Moscow intended to implement them extensively.
Meanwhile, Moldovan police have taken strict measures against disinformation campaigns and vote-buying attempts. Last month, authorities requested the blocking of 443 TikTok accounts.
Moldova’s two paths
The upcoming elections are critical, as they will determine whether the country will continue its European path or turn toward Moscow, at a time when Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to end the war with neighboring Ukraine.
Moldova, a former Soviet Union country, has a significant Russian-speaking minority among its 2.4 million inhabitants. At the same time, the breakaway Transnistria remains under Russian occupation, while the leader of the Gagauzia region was convicted by a Moldovan court for illegally channeling Russian money to a political party.
“The Kremlin’s goal is clear: to capture Moldova through elections, use us against Ukraine and turn us into a launch pad for hybrid attacks against the European Union,” Sandu declared in Strasbourg on September 9. “That’s why these elections are so important. By defending the elections, we protect not only Moldova, but also regional security and stability,” she added.
The EU has supported the country’s integration path and leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited Chisinau in late August.
Sandu’s party (PAS) promises to begin the EU integration process and secure access to essential capital, following the start of accession negotiations last year. However, recent polls show that PAS may lose its parliamentary majority, increasing the likelihood of forming an unstable coalition.
PAS faces opponents including the pro-European, as it presents itself, “Alternative” bloc and the pro-Russian bloc led by former president Igor Dodon, who had been revealed to have asked security services to monitor political opponents when he was in power. Dodon accuses the government of illegal pressure on opposition parties and claims that “Western forces” are interfering in the election campaign, threatening to cut aid if PAS loses.
According to European officials, Russia has devoted significant resources to influence elections not only in Moldova, but also in Georgia and Romania. Sandu estimated that Moscow spent 1% of its GDP, approximately 150 million euros, to influence last year’s referendum and her re-election. European officials consider it very likely that similar amounts have been allocated for the upcoming elections.
One of the main elements of Russia’s plan is to create the impression of intense political competition, which in reality aims to weaken support for Sandu, according to documents cited by Bloomberg.
The votes of Moldovans abroad were decisive in the 2024 elections. Thus, as part of its plans, Russia reportedly intended to recruit members of the Moldovan diaspora, paying for their tickets to travel and vote. The plans also included a disinformation campaign on Telegram, TikTok and Facebook, as well as through traditional channels.
Messages in Romanian, which is Moldova’s official language, and Russian accused Sandu of being a “Western puppet leading the country to misery and war.”
At the same time, Russia reportedly planned to recruit young men from sports clubs and criminal networks to organize violent demonstrations during and after the elections, demanding Sandu’s resignation if her party loses, or denouncing the result if it wins.
