Moldova accuses Russia of ‘destabilisation plans’ ahead of elections
Prime Minister Dorin Recean has accused the Russian Federation of trying to "seize power" in the country by undermining the upcoming elections.
The statement was made on Wednesday, as he stressed that "the state of the Republic of Moldova is resisting, and authorities will thwart Russia's plan for occupation."
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Recean outlined four main methods he claims the Kremlin is using to destabilise Moldova. He said the first method involves "mass disorder" organised by criminal groups, who are recruiting and training young Moldovans in Serbia to provoke violence.
He claimed that young people aged 19 to 40 were taken to Serbia for training, coordinated by individuals from Russian special services, the GRU (Central Intelligence Agency). They were allegedly taught how to use firearms and break police cordons. Following searches, weapons, batons, tens of thousands of euros and camouflage clothing were found. An investigation, he added, has established a clear link between these individuals, Russian services and Moldovan political parties.
The Prime Minister also alleged that Russia is trying to recruit people from the breakaway Transnistrian region's so-called MGB (Ministry of State Security) for acts of "vandalism, arson, and destabilisation" on the right bank of the Dniester River.
Another method listed by the Prime Minister is buying votes through the "Șor" criminal network. "Russia is spending hundreds of millions of euros to buy votes in the elections," he said. "But our state will not allow vote theft to turn into an electoral coup."
Mr Recean said there is "evidence, including wiretaps, that shows the vote-buying operation is financed by the Russian Federation," adding that the criminal group "is the instrument, and the beneficiaries are several electoral contestants."
"We see that some parties funded by the Russian Federation are preparing a vote-rigging scheme called the 'carousel'," he said. He detailed how a voter enters the polling station with a fake ballot, marks the real one for the paid candidate, then gives the real ballot to the next paid voter, who repeats the process.
The head of government also drew attention to a third method: cyber attacks against state institutions. He claimed that more than 1,000 cyber attacks against key government infrastructure had been identified and "countered" in the current year.
Mr Recean also spoke about a "massive information poisoning" campaign, stating that an "unprecedented avalanche of propaganda" is targeting Moldova.
The Prime Minister urged citizens to report any irregularities to the police or electoral bureaus and to "continue to vote honestly."
He also issued a direct warning to electoral candidates, naming several prominent figures including Igor Dodon and Ion Ceban, urging them to "publicly condemn and dissociate" themselves from the criminal group, vote-buying and Kremlin influence.
"This is not an ordinary electoral battle. It is a siege of our country," he said.
Translation Iurie Tataru
