Moldova holds the main elections, as it waves greatly Russia

The crowd, which was advancing across Chesino, waved the European Union flags on Friday evening: they believe that Russia is trying to steal their elections and bring in the political supporters of generosity in Moldova.

“Their weapon is money, your weapon is your vote!” , It was the highest chant as it joined several hundred supporters of the ruling party, PAS, and its pro -European policies joined the final gathering before Sunday’s polling.

Moldovan’s police and prosecutors revealed evidence of the intervention of the elections on an unprecedented scale: the purchase of the votes and the misinformation they link directly with Russia. They also discovered a plot to stir violent disturbances, detention of dozens of men who traveled to Serbia for training, including in using firearms.

The opposition parties refuse to talk about Russian intervention as a “political offer” claiming that the government is setting the land to cancel the vote if it loses its majority in Parliament.

But Moldova took a decisive turn towards the membership of the European Union and away from Moscow after Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine. Evidence now indicates that Russia was invested extensively in restoring its influence.

He is trying to control the back.

Moldova was introduced between Romania and Ukraine, where the Soviet Union collapsed more than three decades ago. Last summer, the European Union’s joining talks were launched alongside Ukraine.

Prime Minister Doreen Rayban believes that these elections are a “last battle” of his country.

“There is constant pressure from Russia,” he told me, as the pro -PAS crowd separated after his short career via Chisinau.

“They spend the equivalent of more than 1 % of our gross domestic product to topple our government – advertising and wrong messages.”

Some of this fake network-which publishes PAS Control content-has been revealed- A modern investigation of the British Broadcasting Authority.

It is associated with ILAN SOR, which is now the fugitive moldovan now in Moscow.

In response to the BBC investigation, the Russian embassy in the United Kingdom denied its involvement in fake news and electoral intervention and claimed that the European Union was the one that was interfering in the election of Moldova.

All of this happens as Russia’s bombing of Ukraine and Moscow has escalated with more hostile activity anywhere in Europe, such as sending drones to Poland.

So Pas is trying to mobilize voters by leading the danger to the homeland.

The bright yellow elections publications are full of promises that the party guarantees the membership of the European Union “in the next four years”, in addition to the reward for European investment and the maximum respect in the world.

But the other side of the paper is dark and disturbing. There is a picture of the war -destroyed Ukrainian homes and a warning not to “surrender our country to Russia.”

Then come to the faces of the opposition leaders Moldova and the slogan: “Say no to Putin’s candidates.”

“This is exactly the danger now in Moldova,” says the Prime Minister.

In addition to the dilapidated Soviet era blocks on the outskirts of the city of Christinu, a short car leads to a field on the field lined with grape chrome. It is like a small Tuscany with a lot of drilling.

In Cricova, with the sun starts to slip, women speak on seats on the main arena while their children walk on a climbing frame.

Moldova is not rich, even in sites that produce wine like this, and huge numbers have left the country to search for a better life and enter abroad. He created this diaspora very large, and its vote became decisive.

Since Russia has been widely invaded to Ukraine in 2022, the increase in energy prices has been strained further-to nearly growth.

“The politicians have a fictional paper to print their posters and electoral bulletins, but there is nothing appropriate for textbooks for our children,” one of the mothers complained, and displays a picture on its phone from textbooks, double and mixed.

Another says that his salary on the factory production line is stuck at about 100 pounds per month, but the cost of living increased. “I don’t know who will vote, all of them make promises.” “Then they do nothing.”

Behind the PAS, the selection includes on Sunday the national bloc, which consists in the first place of socialist and communist parties. It was prevented from a major member, IRINA VLAH, from running on Friday due to the illegal financing allegations.

There is another bloc, Alternativa, which is offered as a supporter of the European Union, but its candidates include the mayor of Chisinau who has been banned from traveling in the Schengen region in Europe for unlimited security reasons. It appeals the ruling.

All, there are more than 20 participants, although there is a minimum to enter Parliament.

Tamara, who in the 1960s, tells me that her own vote will not be determined due to the lack of textbooks or even salaries.

“We have chosen the way to the European Union, and I want to continue this path, like anyone else,” she says.

“I don’t want to go back. This is frightening! I was already there.”

Igor Dodon is not afraid by restoring relations with Russia. It is something that he is actively seeking.

Although Moscow swings to the war on Moldova’s neighbor, Ukraine, the former president has three photos of Russian leader Vladimir Putin between the photo gallery on the wall of his office.

He refers to other photos, including old shots with US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, as evidence of a “balanced” policy.

But Putin and his allies dominate the screen.

Dodon is one of the main candidates for the opposition on Sunday, for the Socialist Party, and ignores the talk about Russian intervention. In July, he traveled to Moscow to attend the meetings and says that if he wins these elections, he will oppose all sanctions against Russia “even if Brussels dictates them.”

It is also due to the purchase of gas from Russia to reduce costs. Why not, he wants to know, if European Union members and Hungary can do so?

Dodon calls his pro -fossibly approaches, and not a supporter of Russia, driven by profit margins, not ethics. When he was pushed, he says that the war in Ukraine was the mistake of “both sides”.

“We need good relationships with everyone. This means that we should not be friends with someone against someone else,” he says.

But he is not ever friendly with President Mia Sando, who founded PAS, or with her allies.

“If PAS said they won on Sunday, we will appear that it is a solution. They can only get the majority by forgery,” Dodon announced, and promised a wave of protests in the streets if that happens.

He says, “We will announce and defend it.” “We will not allow them to cancel the vote.”

The only documented efforts to distort the Moldova elections so far by Russia.

“This is one of the most advanced interference campaigns,” says police chief Fiorel Sernoyano.

It is also bigger.

In the presidential elections last year, he says people are being paid to $ 40 to vote for the forces loyal to Russia who then approached the victory.

“We calculate that Russia has invested more than $ 100 million last year,” says the police chief. “Now more than three times this amount.”

The process is also more advanced, using the encryption currency instead of cash bags.

“For the Russian side, Moldova is seen as a region in which they should have a truly influence … within the borders of the ancient empire,” explains John Loew, head of foreign policy at the European Strategy Center (NST), a London -based research center.

“With a very traditional imperial thinking … they see it’s their right to Moldova around it.

“If they can bring to power a friendly government for them, then this will be frustrating for the Europeans.”

There is also an opportunity for a toe finger in Europe for more Hybrid activity The capabilities offered by the Transnistria separation area, which borders Ukraine.

Supported by Moscow, it is still home to an ammunition store in the Soviet era and the title of Russian forces.

Loew notes that the government of Russia “can make things more difficult for the Ukrainians” due to the Treatysteria.

Moscow denied these allegations and accused the Moldovan authorities of publishing the anti -Russian speech.

“The authorities are so afraid of the elections to the point that they hinder the candidacy, participate in voting and monitor voting,” said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement this week.

For police chief cernăuțeanu, it is a conspiracy of more serious violent disturbances.

More than 100 people – especially “sports” men – have been arrested to attend the training in Serbia, including penetrating the police lines and seizing weapons.

Two were linked to the political structure of Dodon. The former president says the party is still verifying its records.

On Friday, the Serbian police announced the arrest of two men suspected of organizing training for up to 170 others. Moldova believes that Russia’s military intelligence was involved.

“I don’t think anyone in Europe has suffered from such intervention,” says Mr. Sernoyano.

“Before voting, we work around the clock throughout the week to reduce risks. But we understand very well that Russia will completely try all ways to achieve what you want.”