3 w. ago From Moldova to the UK: How Russia is using interference to try to disrupt elections

As claims of Russian interference in Moldova’s parliamentary elections continue, Bryony Gooch asks what exactly Russian interference is – and whether it even works

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova’s president Maia Sandu hails voters’ refusal to be ‘bought’ by Moscow

Ruling party holds on to its majority in Sunday’s poll, which it says is ‘strong mandate for EU accession’Europe live – latest updatesMoldova’s pro-western president, Maia Sandu, has hailed voters’ refusal to be “bought” by Moscow after her ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority in Sunday’s pivotal election, bolstering the tiny country’s aspiration of joining the EU and distancing itself from Russia’s influence.“We did not allow ourselves to be bought, intimidated or frightened,” she said on Monday. “We mobilised and defended our country through honest, democratic choice. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Hybrid attacks such as drones ‘part of new reality’, Danish minister warns, as Russia embarks on huge army call

Peter Hummelgaard compared recent spate of hybrid attacks on Europe to 9/11 terrorism; 135,000 called up in RussiaBut Zelenskyy also warns about the worsening situation in Georgia and Belarus.“That is why we cannot afford to lose a single day or a single country. After Moldova’s election, we must keep supporting Moldova. The hardest task is to meet voters’ expectations,” he says.Russia failed to destabilise Moldova, even after spending huge, huge resources to undermine it and to corrupt whoever they could. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Hybrid attacks such as drones ‘part of our new reality’, Danish justice minister warns – Europe live

Peter Hummelgaard compared recent spate of hybrid attacks on Europe to 9/11 terrorismBut Zelenskyy also warns about the worsening situation in Georgia and Belarus.“That is why we cannot afford to lose a single day or a single country. After Moldova’s election, we must keep supporting Moldova. The hardest task is to meet voters’ expectations,” he says.Russia failed to destabilise Moldova, even after spending huge, huge resources to undermine it and to corrupt whoever they could. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Moldova’s election result bolsters move towards EU and away from Moscow

Pro-European ruling party win comes after ‘massive pressure from Russia and its proxies’Europe live – latest updatesMoldova’s pro-European ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority after Sunday’s pivotal election, strengthening the country of 2.4 million’s attempt to move towards the EU and away from Moscow.With more than 99.9% of ballots counted, president Maia Sandu’s pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) had 50.03% of the vote, putting it on track to win 55 of the 101 seats in parliament. That compared with 24.26% for a Moscow-leaning alliance of Soviet-nostalgic parties led by the former president Igor Dodon, according to results published on the election commission’s website. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova’s president hails voters’ refusal refusal to be ‘bought’ by Moscow

Ruling party holds on to its majority in Sunday’s poll which it says is ‘strong mandate for EU accession’Europe live – latest updatesMoldova’s pro-European ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority after Sunday’s pivotal election, strengthening the country of 2.4 million’s attempt to move towards the EU and away from Moscow.With more than 99.9% of ballots counted, president Maia Sandu’s pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) had 50.03% of the vote, putting it on track to win 55 of the 101 seats in parliament. That compared with 24.26% for a Moscow-leaning alliance of Soviet-nostalgic parties led by the former president Igor Dodon, according to results published on the election commission’s website. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Putin ‘does not want a ceasefire and does not want peace for Ukraine’, says German defence minister – Europe live

Boris Pistorius says Europe ‘will not be lured into Putin’s trap of continuous escalation’But Zelenskyy also warns about the worsening situation in Georgia and Belarus.“That is why we cannot afford to lose a single day or a single country. After Moldova’s election, we must keep supporting Moldova. The hardest task is to meet voters’ expectations,” he says.Russia failed to destabilise Moldova, even after spending huge, huge resources to undermine it and to corrupt whoever they could. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova’s election result boosts move towards EU and away from Moscow

Pro-European ruling party win comes after ‘massive pressure from Russia and its proxies’Europe live – latest updatesMoldova’s pro-European ruling party held on to its parliamentary majority after Sunday’s pivotal election, strengthening the country of 2.4 million’s attempt to move towards the EU and away from Moscow.With more than 99.9% of ballots counted, president Maia Sandu’s pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) had 50.03% of the vote, putting it on track to win 55 of the 101 seats in parliament. That compared with 24.26% for a Moscow-leaning alliance of Soviet-nostalgic parties headed by the former president Igor Dodon, according to results published on the election commission’s website. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldovans vote in pivotal election that could steer it closer to EU or Russia

Day marked by attempts of disruption including cyberattacks on election systems and fake bomb threatsMoldovans voted in a pivotal parliamentary election on Sunday that will decide whether the country of 2.4 million stays on its path towards EU membership or drifts back into Moscow’s orbit, amid widespread reports of Russian meddling.The president, Maia Sandu, and her pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS) faced a stiff challenge in the election from an alliance of Soviet-nostalgic, Moscow-friendly parties led in part by the former president, Igor Dodon, whom Sandu defeated in 2020. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldovans begin voting in key election between EU and Russia

President Maia Sandu casts the election as an existential test for the country of 2.4 million

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova heads to polls in pivotal vote that could steer it closer to EU or Russia

President tells voters ‘our dear home is in danger’, as her pro-west party tries to hold on to parliamentary majority Moldovans have begun voting in a pivotal parliamentary election that will decide whether the country of 2.4 million stays on its path towards EU membership or drifts back into Moscow’s orbit, amid widespread reports of Russian meddling.The president, Maia Sandu, and her pro-western Action and Solidarity party (PAS), face a stiff challenge in Sunday’s election from an alliance of Soviet-nostalgic, pro-Russian parties led in part by the former president Igor Dodon, whom Sandu defeated in 2020. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Moldova heads to the polls in tense vote that could steer country closer to EU or Russia

President Maia Sandu says parliamentary vote is Moldova’s ‘most consequential election’ and warns against falling deeper into Moscow’s orbitMoldovans began voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections that could see the country neighbouring Ukraine swerve from its pro-European path towards Moscow, with the government and the EU accusing Russia of “deeply interfering”.Moldova, an EU candidate country, has long been divided over closer ties with Brussels or maintaining Soviet-era relations with Moscow. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Moldovans face stark choice between EU and Russia in critical election

The parliamentary election has been fraught with claims of Russian interference

Politics

4 w. ago Moldovan diaspora critical in elections as country battles Russian vote

Watchdogs say Russia offering overseas voters cash for evidence of voter fraud in possible ploy to declare election riggedThe Moldovan diaspora will hold a critical role in Sunday’s high-stakes parliamentary elections as the country battles against an unprecedented Russian vote-buying operation to try to unseat the incumbent pro-European party, said the former deputy prime minister.Civilian foreign interference watchdogs say Russia is flooding the overseas voter communities with cash, including one advertising campaign offering people €500 to be election observers in the EU with the lure of “bonuses of up to €30,000” for evidence of voter fraud. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Why are Moldova’s parliamentary elections on Sunday so important?

The background, key players and likely outcome of a contest of crucial interest to both Europe and RussiaMoldova will vote this Sunday in parliamentary elections that its president has described as the most important in the history of the small country. The results will confirm if Moldova, a former Soviet republic that gained independence in 1991, continues on its path of western integration, or moves back into Russia’s orbit. Continue reading...

Politics