(Chisinau) Moldova announced on Sunday that it was investigating the alleged establishment by Russia of “organized transport” to allow Moldovan nationals residing on its soil to participate in the second round of a presidential election crucial for the future of the former -Soviet republic.
Published at 11:19 a.m.
“There are reasonable indications of organized transportation of voters both abroad and within the country,” police said in a statement.
“National authorities are carrying out investigations to collect evidence about flights linking Russia to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Turkey” to allow its residents to vote in the Moldovan consulates or embassies of these countries, a she added. The goal is to “preserve the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that every vote is cast freely, without undue pressure or influence.”
Pro-European President Maia Sandu, who is seeking a second term, has continued to warn against “unprecedented” foreign interference, notably through massive vote buying which marred the referendum on the EU on 20 October, according to Chisinau, but also Brussels and Washington.
The Kremlin “categorically” rejected these “serious” allegations.
On Sunday, the candidate once again called for action against “crooks” acting “in an organized manner”.
His national security adviser, Stanislav Secrieru, spoke on the social network .
In front of polling stations in the municipality of Varnita reserved for residents of this region, long queues formed in the afternoon, AFP journalists noted, against a backdrop of increasing participation rates.
The Russian state agency Tass, for its part, reported spontaneous trips by Moldovans, ready to fly several hours and spend their savings to be able to vote.
Voters interviewed by the official Belta news agency say they came to Belarus because of voting restrictions in Russia, where only two polling stations are open.
“Maia Sandu prevents us from voting normally, so we came to Minsk,” said one of them, Sergei Rotaru.
The outgoing head of state, a fervent pro-Western 52-year-old who turned her back on Moscow after the invasion of neighboring Ukraine, faces Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor supported by pro-Russian socialists, in an upcoming election tight.
