Dmitry Peskov. Photo: Evgenia Novozhenina / Reuters
The Kremlin said on Friday that Russia is monitoring the election process in the Republic of Moldova but “does not interfere in the voting process,” denying accusations by Western countries and incumbent pro-European President Maia Sandu, who says otherwise, Reuters reports .
Moldova’s presidential election campaign will reach its peak in the second round on Sunday. President Sandu, who is seeking a second mandate, is vying for support in a country that has become the scene of a geopolitical standoff between Russia and the European Union.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Moscow categorically denies any attempts to interfere in the electoral process. At the same time, he expressed doubts about the transparency of the election campaign, stressing that the Moldovan authorities are trying to eliminate pro-Russian votes.
Russia, in turn, accuses the Moldovan government of using “dirty methods” to limit pro-Russian influence. Instead, Chisinau claims that the measures taken are aimed at neutralising the Kremlin’s illegitimate influence operations.
The confrontation over the elections in Moldova highlights the deep divide between countries that stand with the West and those that are oriented towards Moscow, which has put Moldova back in the spotlight of global diplomacy.
