The president of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has warned that her country's independence and European future are in jeopardy as police detained numerous individuals suspected of engaging in a plot to incite violent disorder, allegedly backed by Russia.
With crucial parliamentary elections approaching on Sunday, Moldovan authorities reported the confiscation of weapons and explosives during nationwide raids.
Officials contend that at least some of the 74 captured individuals had traveled to Serbia for military training conducted by Russian instructors.
In a national address, President Sandu accused the Kremlin of investing hundreds of millions of euros in Moldova with the intent to stir violence and disseminate disinformation and fear.
The Kremlin believes that we are all for sale. That we are too small to resist. That we are not a country, only a territory, she declared, highlighting alleged Russian interference at high levels.
But Moldova is our home. And our home is not for sale, she affirmed.
Pro-Russian parties accused Sandu of intimidating them and trying to sway the forthcoming vote.
Sandu urged her supporters to participate actively in the election, asserting that turnout is critical, especially among the diaspora, as her party, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), faces potential challenges from pro-Russian factions.
Moldova, which gained independence in the aftermath of the Soviet Union's dissolution over 30 years ago, is home to a sizable Russian-speaking population. The breakaway region of Transnistria, supported by Moscow, still hosts a contingent of Russian troops.
The persistent influence of Moscow has been evident in Moldovan politics, but under President Sandu, the nation has undertaken steps to pursue EU membership, including a recent referendum asserting a constitutional commitment to accession.
Although the referendum passed with a slim majority, it was marred by significant evidence of Russian interference, including cash smuggling to influence voters. Experts suggest that even small percentages of such meddling can substantially alter election outcomes in Moldova.
Amid Russia's hybrid warfare, President Sandu faces internal pressures as well, with opponents claiming the government has failed to adequately combat corruption while in predominantly Russian-speaking areas, citizens express a preference for engagements with Moscow instead of antagonism.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Sandu pivoted Moldova firmly towards Europe, identifying it as the sole guarantor of national security and sovereignty.
Recent police actions indicate that Moscow is not relinquishing its interests. Reports from Bloomberg revealed documentation detailing extensive Russian plans to incite unrest and manipulate the electoral process.
The SVR, Russia's foreign intelligence service, has countered these allegations, suggesting that European nations are plotting outright election fraud, even warning of possible aggression from the EU in Moldova.
Sergiu Panainte, a deputy director at the German Marshall Fund, warns that Russia appears prepared to resort to violence should the PAS retain a majority.
