Russia intensifies interference ahead of Moldova's elections
In the Republic of Moldova, Russia will continue to usurp the popular will in order to maintain its geopolitical influence, asserts Romanian political analyst Cătălin Gabriel Done.
During the "În Context" show on Moldova 1, the expert stated that Vladimir Putin cannot accept the decision made by Moldovan citizens to choose a European future. As a result, he will intensify pressure by strengthening the representation of pro-Russian forces in the political arena, especially with the upcoming 2025 parliamentary elections in view.
The expert notes that Russia's campaign to discredit the presidential election is, in itself, an acknowledgment of its interference in Moldova's electoral process.
"Finally, Russia admits that there were no free elections in the Republic of Moldova. It accepts its role in trying to influence the vote in Chișinău. This can only be seen as a positive, but the fact that Russia discusses the legitimacy of Moldova's President, Maia Sandu, is hypocrisy, given that we all know how long Vladimir Putin has remained in power."
The analyst warns that Moscow's rhetoric will grow more aggressive as it seeks to preserve its geopolitical standing. "I am not surprised that Russia does not acknowledge the results of the elections and the referendum because Moldova remains the last stronghold in Vladimir Putin’s plan to conquer Eastern Europe and transform it once again into the backyard of the Russian presidential palace. The Russian Federation is determined to halt Moldova’s European trajectory."
Cătălin Gabriel Done anticipates that the influence of pro-Russian forces will significantly increase during the parliamentary elections. "I am not surprised by Mrs. Vlah's announcement. We know that the former governor is loyal to Moscow, despite occasionally expressing support for closer ties with the European Union. A very tough battle lies ahead—the parliamentary elections. We know that Moldova is not governed by the president but by Parliament. After four years at the helm of the state, Maia Sandu has only lost 12,000 votes in the country, with erosion of her support being minimal. The extent to which PAS (Sandu's party) has weakened will become clear in the next elections. I hope we will see the formation of a new pro-European coalition that brings together all pro-European forces to prevent Russia's plan to completely capture the state of Moldova."
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the Kremlin and pro-Russian politicians in Moldova have launched a coordinated campaign to discredit the presidential elections, which were won by the current president, pro-European Maia Sandu. ISW previously reported on Russia's systematic efforts to interfere in Moldova's elections, seeking to derail the country’s adoption of the European Union referendum and to undermine Maia Sandu's victory.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
