More than 1.2 million Moldovans, or around 43% of eligible voters, cast their ballots by 5 p.m. in the country’s crucial parliamentary elections, seen as a defining moment between European Union integration and closer ties with Russia.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 9 p.m., with results expected shortly after. The elections take place against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine, economic hardship, and an unprecedented wave of Kremlin-backed disinformation.
Kremlin Disinformation & Security Concerns
Authorities reported extensive fake accounts and AI-generated bot networks spreading pro-Russian propaganda and false claims of fraud across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. TikTok confirmed removing over 100,000 fake accounts tied to the effort.
Adding to tensions, Moldovan police detained 74 individuals allegedly trained in Serbia in destabilization tactics, including breaking police cordons and using weapons. Several polling stations, both inside and outside Moldova, faced bomb threats, including in Italy, Romania, Spain, and the U.S.
Sandu Urges Moldovans To Defend Democracy
President Maia Sandu, who cast her vote earlier in Chisinau, called on citizens at home and abroad to stand firm:
“Russia poses a danger to our democracy. Our future depends on the honest vote of Moldovans everywhere. Today, democracy is in the hands of our people.”
Sandu’s ruling Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) faces off against the Patriotic Electoral Bloc, an alliance of pro-Russian parties, including the Socialists led by former president Igor Dodon, who labeled the government a “criminal regime” and urged supporters to prepare for protests.
EU Voices Support
European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos praised Moldova’s resilience, saying the government has shown it can “fight back the forces that want to see this country turn away from the European path.”
Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest nations, received EU candidate status in 2022 and opened accession talks last year, aligning itself closely with Ukraine and the EU sanctions regime against Moscow.
Still, the country faces major challenges, including the breakaway region of Transdniester, where Russian troops remain stationed since the early 1990s.
