Kremlin will try to influence this year's parliamentary elections. Maia Sandu: "Those who sell their vote, are selling their country"
The Republic of Moldova faces major risks of external interference on the eve of parliamentary elections, and Kremlin could try to destabilize the situation by illegally financing parties, organizing paid protests and cyber attacks. During the program "La 360 de grade" on Radio Moldova, President Maia Sandu warned that state institutions are ready to counter attempts at electoral fraud. The head of state emphasized that Moldovans must decide their future, without external influences, and those who try to buy or sell votes will be sanctioned.
In these elections, Moldovans must decide for Moldova, not someone else's money, regardless of where this money comes from. People who sell their votes, sell their country, let this be very clear, it is our country, our land, we have a responsibility for the land and the future of this country and voting is a right, but it is also a responsibility and we must be aware of this, because if not, those who sell the vote will be sanctioned.
The President drew attention to the methods by which attempts are made to influence the election, noting that the authorities are prepared to combat these phenomena.
Now there are many dimensions on which we act and we have discussed at the Supreme Security Council several times about the actions that the institutions are taking. Actions to combat political corruption, because someone brings this money into the country, someone organizes these networks through which voters are corrupted, it is about sanctioning people who sold their votes and institutions are responsible and must act, but the most important thing is to sanction those who organize these things, that is why judges and prosecutors need to do their job well.
Although the law prohibits the use of funds from abroad, and state institutions act to block these practices, there is a danger that, as the elections approach, attempts will be made to introduce larger amounts through various methods, warned Maia Sandu.
Asked about the involvement of priests in the electoral campaign, the head of state reiterated that they must respect the law and not become an instrument of foreign influence.
Priests must know that they are citizens of this country and have the same responsibilities as other citizens, and if they carry out orders from outside, it means that they are breaking the law and must be sanctioned. They should realize that they serve in this country and should also respect the country and its laws.
The head of state reiterated that despite attempts at electoral fraud, the Republic of Moldova proved, including in previous elections, that it can cope.
It is difficult, they are trying to come up with many actions that are overwhelming for the Republic of Moldova, but the state demonstrated last year and in other elections that it can cope, even if the interference last year was dramatic.
We recall that the 2024 elections held in the Republic of Moldova were marked by attempts at foreign influence and actions to corrupt voters, show findings of the authorities and international observers. Officials reported multiple cases of external involvement in the electoral process, including through disinformation campaigns and obscure financing, by the criminal group led by Ilan Shor, aimed at favoring certain candidates. At the same time, the authorities found that, starting with September 2022, massive flows of illegal money have arrived from the Russian Federation to the Republic of Moldova. Initially—through smuggling or cryptocurrencies, and later – through a Russian bank under international sanctions. According to the latest data presented by the head of the IGP, over 300,000 Moldovan voters were allegedly the target of attempts to corrupt through various methods in the presidential elections and the pro-EU referendum last year.
