DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFPMoldovans will vote on Sunday in the second round of a presidential election seen as a choice between a European future or a return to Russian influence.
Pro-European President Maia Sandu faces Alexandr Stoianoglo, whom she fired as chief prosecutor, who has promised to balance foreign policy between the West and Russia and has the backing of the Party Pro-Russian society.
Authorities in Sandu and Moldova have warned that a fugitive oligarch based in Russia is trying to buy the election for Moscow.
The Kremlin has denied meddling in the vote, as it did in last weekend’s disputed election in Georgia, where the president described the vote as a “Russian special operation”.
“We firmly reject any accusations that we are somehow interfering in this,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. We don’t do this.”
Sandu won the first round of voting two weeks ago with 42.4%, well ahead of Alexandr Stoianoglo’s 26%, but fell short of the 50% she needs to win outright. His votes will likely increase due to the votes of candidates who did not make it to the second round.
Stoianoglo told the people of Moldova that he would be an “apolitical president” for everyone, with the goals of security, peace and prosperity and a “true European model”.
But commentators and politicians have warned that Stoianoglu’s victory could radically change the political landscape in the Danube and Black Sea region, not least because he is some kind of “Trojan horse”. somehow, but rather because Russia supported him.
ReutersFormer Moldova Defense Minister Anatol Salaru said the election will decide whether Moldova will “continue the process of European integration or return to Russia”.
A former Soviet republic located next to Ukraine and Romania and one of Europe’s poorest countries, Moldova has a population of 2.5 million. It also has a large expatriate population of 1.2 million, whose votes could prove pivotal for Maia Sandu in the next race.
Moldova opened negotiations on joining the European Union, and on the same day as the first round, Moldovans voted in favor of constitutional changes that included a commitment to join the EU.
The small percentage of support was a surprise, although Maia Sandu said there was clear evidence of an attempt to buy 300,000 votes.
The BBC spoke to one voter who said she and others had sold their votes for up to 1,000 rubles (£8).
Whatever Russia’s role behind the scenes, police say fugitive tycoon Ilan Shor transferred $39 million over two months from Moscow to a Moldovan bank account in September and October, benefiting benefits at least 138,000 voters.
Shor denies wrongdoing but has promised cash to those prepared to back his “firm no” call for the EU. He faces a long prison sentence in Moldova for money laundering and embezzlement.
Stoianoglo denies links to Ilan Shor but he has the support of the pro-Russian opposition Socialist Party, led by former president Igor Dodon.
A third-ranking former populist mayor refused to support him or Maia Sandu, criticizing both in equal measure.
“Do what you see fit. You have to decide for yourself,” Renato Usatii told his supporters, leaving the race wide open.
