Moldova vote splits nation as EU membership looms
Just over half of Moldovan citizens voted "yes" in the referendum on the country's membership in the EU held on Sunday. The Kremlin has suggested that the election results were rigged. Dmitry Peskov claimed, without providing evidence, that the increase in support for Moldova's integration with the EU is "difficult to explain."
1:03 PM EDT, October 21, 2024
Much of the information provided by Russian media or government representatives is part of a propaganda effort. These reports are components of the information war waged by the Russian Federation.
The referendum results are almost evenly split after counting votes from 99.32% of polling stations. 50.39% of Moldovans supported incorporating Eurointegration into the country's constitution in Sunday's referendum.
"The indicators we observe today, which we monitor, their changing dynamics naturally raise many questions," said Dmitry Peskov. His comments were quoted by the state propaganda agency TASS.
"What we see is certainly a mechanical, difficult-to-explain growth rate in votes for Sandu, and in favor of those participants in the referendum who support aligning with the European Union", he added.
Meanwhile, according to authorities in Chisinau, Russian hybrid activities intensified even more than before the elections, aiming to undermine the pro-Western government's policies. These activities include information campaigns and the illegal transfer of money into the country to support pro-Russian activists and politicians, as well as "buying votes" from voters.
Ignoring these reports, Peskov criticized the election campaign in Moldova as "free of freedom". He also alleged that the opposition in the country was persecuted.
"They were thrown into prisons, interrogated, not allowed into the country, the press was shut down, online resources were blocked, and so on," Peskov enumerated, contrary to the facts.
Earlier, the results of the Moldovan referendum were commented on by the chairman of the European Parliament's delegation on relations with the Republic of Moldova. Siegfried Muresan wrote that it is a "defeat for Russia".
Presidential elections in Moldova: Results are in
In addition to the referendum, presidential elections were held in Moldova. According to preliminary results, after counting 97.7% of votes, the incumbent President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, received 41.91% support, reported the Reuters agency.
Since Sandu won the elections in 2020 (and the following year - her party), Moldova has pursued a pro-Western course, with joining the EU set as the main goal by the authorities. Moldova has started accession negotiations with the EU. Sandu announced the continuation of her policy, focusing on pursuing EU membership, implementing reforms, fostering economic growth, and strengthening democracy.
