Reuters. Moldova's referendum on joining the European Union took place amid "unprecedented interference" by Russia and its proxies, an EU spokesperson said on Monday (October 21).
A very slim majority - 50.17% - voted yes in Sunday's referendum to inserting a clause in the constitution that would define EU membership as a goal, with fewer than 1.5% of the ballots still to be counted. In a presidential election held alongside the referendum, Sandu won 42.45%, short of the 50% needed to win outright and paving the way for a Nov. 3 runoff against former prosecutor-general Alexandr Stoianoglo, who won 25.98%.
President Maia Sandu, who is also seeking re-election, wants Moldova, a small country nestled between EU member Romania and Ukraine, to join the bloc by 2030.
"This vote took place under unprecedented interference and intimidation by Russia and its proxies, aiming to destabilise the democratic processes in the Republic of Moldova," Peter Stano, the EU spokesman said. Russia denies the allegations of meddling.
"This is an ongoing effort from Russia and its proxies - not only in Moldova; indeed also against our countries - and it's a long-term fight. They don't have boundaries. We, as the European Union ... respect certain principles, including the laws, but Russia and its actors and its proxies do not respect that," Stano said. The referendum - along with the presidential election, whose first round also took place on Sunday - are seen as a test of whether the former Soviet republic can escape Moscow's sphere once and for all.
Before the vote, Moldovan authorities said Ilan Shor, a fugitive tycoon who lives in Russia, had made concerted attempts to meddle in the referendum and election. The authorities said they had taken down online resources that hosted disinformation and had uncovered a programme in Russia to train Moldovans to take part in mass unrest.
The European Union is also "very concerned" about reports of growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, Stano said on Monday. "If the reports about transfer of soldiers from North Korea to Russia would be confirmed, this would mark another level of escalation and significant increase in their cooperation," spokesman Peter Stano said at a press briefing.
"This only illustrates how Russia is determined to escalate its illegal actions against Ukraine, that Russia is absolutely not interested to look for peaceful solutions."
