EU says Moldova suffered ‘unprecedented intimidation’ from Russia to thwart referendum

In the end, Moldovans have supported inscribing in the Constitution the objective of entering the EU with a very narrow majority of 50.38% of the votesthat is, a surprising difference of just 11,300 votes out of the total of 1.5 million cast. For her part, the president Maia Sanduwho aspires to repeat his position with a pro-European program, has not achieved a sufficient majority in the first round and will have to compete on November 3 with the pro-Russian Alexandr Stoianoglo.

“Have first hand information which allows us to say that Moldova has faced truly unprecedented intimidation and foreign interference from Russia and its allies in the face of these two important votes,” said Peter Stano, spokesman for the head of European diplomacy. Josep Borrell.

“This interference and manipulation of information by Russia and its allies has many faces and is happening in many ways. And it has not only happened in the days immediately before the vote. This is a long-term effort that we have observed for a long time“said the spokesperson.

“The most recent efforts include allegations of vote buying. In addition, we have the enormous propaganda spread in Moldova by Russia and its allies,” Stano stressed. In response to these activities by the Kremlin, the EU already launched a year and a half ago “partnership mission” in order to help Chisinau build its “resilience”.

“It’s a long-term fight. The reason why It looks like they might have been successful. In some moments it is that they have no limits. The EU and its partners, in everything we do, respect certain principles, including laws. But Russia and its allies do not respect it and operate in a freer environment than we do,” the spokesperson justified. The pressure on Moldova has also increased since the outbreak of the Kremlin’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

In any case, the results of the referendum are not going to change the EU’s policy towards Moldova. “The EU is committed to fulfilling everything promised to Moldova as a candidate country and to continue working on its accession,” the spokesperson insisted. However, Brussels does not plan to accelerate either to counteract pressure from Vladimir Putin. “Accession is a procedure based on merit and we will continue to respect this principle,” he added.

The president of the Commission herself, Ursula von der Leyenvisited Chisinau in the middle of the electoral campaign, on October 10, to announce a aid plan of 1.8 billion euros between 2025 and 2027. This is the largest financial assistance package received by Moldova since its independence, with the aim of boosting its economy and accelerating reforms ahead of its entry into the EU, according to the president.

During her visit, Von der Leyen already warned of Moscow’s attempts at interference and encouraged Moldovans to “use their vote and express their freedom of choice.” “It is you, Moldovans, who have to decide. It is your sovereign choice to decide what to do with your country, and no one can interfere“said the president.

Moldova applied to join the EU in March 2022, immediately after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. European leaders granted it candidate country status in June 2022. Accession talks were officially launched with the first EU-Moldova intergovernmental conference in June 2024, but no accession chapter has yet been opened.