Elections are being held in Moldova on Sunday (September 28). The polls are open, and the results will show the future path of the country - towards the European Union or Russia
Moldavians vote in parliamentary elections elections which could have a major impact on the government's bid to join the European Union, as a popular pro-Russian group seeks to steer the small nation away from closer ties to the bloc.
Polling stations open at 7:00 a.m. local time and voting lasts until 9:00 p.m.
There are 13 political parties, three electoral blocks and four independent candidates in the election race. In order to pass the electoral census, an independent candidate needs two percent of the vote, a party five percent, an electoral bloc seven percent, and for the election to be valid, at least 33 percent of voters must go to the polls.
The significance of the election for the further path of Moldova
If no party wins a majority in the 101-seat chamber, political trading is likely to ensue, further unsettling one of Europe's poorest countries, battered by war in neighboring Ukraine and suspicions of Russian meddling in politics and religion.
For a government aspiring to join the EU, control of parliament is vital for the long-term legislative efforts required. But power in the former Soviet republic has fluctuated between pro-European and pro-Russian groups for decades.
About a third of the country is controlled by a separatist pro-Russian administration and hosts a small Russian garrison.
According to the latest polls, the ruling pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) of Moldovan President Maja Sandu could lose its majority and be forced to seek coalition partners.
Opposition forces, such as the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc and the nominally pro-European Alternative Alliance, are trying to win over voters dissatisfied with high prices, slow reforms and skepticism towards rapprochement with Europe, reports Reuters.
Russian interference
In the last days before the elections, there were new allegations about Russia's interference in the elections in Moldova.
President of Moldova Maja Sandu warned that Russia is investing hundreds of millions of euros to undermine the elections. "The Kremlin is investing hundreds of millions of euros to buy hundreds of thousands of votes on both banks of the Dniester River and abroad," Sandu said.
"People are being poisoned with lies every day. Hundreds of individuals are being paid to cause riots, violence and spread fear. If Russia takes control of Moldova, the consequences will be immediate and dangerous for our country and the entire region. Every Moldovan will suffer, no matter who they voted for."
Sandu has previously spoken about Moscow's "unprecedented" efforts to interfere in the elections, and her national security adviser Stanislav Sekrieru assessed that Russia not only uses disinformation and fake media channels, but also trains individuals for violence and destabilization, Politico reported.
Russia paid Moldovan Orthodox priests to go on pilgrimages to Moscow and gave them debit cards with hundreds of dollars, and the priests in turn created Telegram channels to influence Moldovan elections, Reuters reported.
Military training in Serbia
Moldovan police said the plan to cause the riots was "coordinated from the Russian Federation, through criminal elements."
Furtuna also said that most of the suspects "systematically traveled" to Serbia, where they received training, and that they are between 19 and 45 years old. For that, as stated, they received around 400 euros.
Due to the suspicion that they organized military training for citizens of Moldova and Romania and the existence of grounds for suspicion that they committed the criminal offense of organizing participation in a war or armed conflict in a foreign country, two persons were arrested. announced the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ministry of Interior).
The arrested LP (1988) and SS (1978) are accused of organizing combat-tactical training for citizens of Moldova and Romania, which, as it is suspected, aimed at training them to provide more effective physical resistance to Moldovan police officers in the event of riots during the election day in that country, scheduled for September 28 this year.
It is suspected that the LP organized and financed the training that was conducted in a restaurant near Loznica, while the SS is accused of helping him in this, the MUP announced.
Source: Reuters/N1/Vreme
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