Kremlin agents spent about 200 million euros

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Dorin Recean, claimed on Wednesday that ‘Kremlin agents’ spent about 200 million euros to buy votes in the presidential elections and the referendum on the option of accession to the EU that took place at the end of last year.

« The Kremlin agents have launched a mass voting campaign, spending about 200 million euros-about 1% of the Moldovan GDP-to destabilize our country, » the prime minister told a briefing in Chisinau.

The law enforcement authorities in the Republic of Moldova say that the efforts to buy votes have been run by Ilan Șor and his supporters. Ilan Șor, a pro-Russian businessman and politician sought by Moldovan justice and whose party was released outside the law, denied the accusations.

In the Republic of Moldova, this year, in the autumn, parliamentary elections will be a popularity test for the President Maia Sandu and for the pro-EU orientation of the government supported by it. She won the November 2024 elections with the votes of the diaspora, but lost the internal vote in favor of the pro-Russian socialist opponent Alexandr Stoianoglo.

Maia Sandu and his government have repeatedly accused Russia of electoral interference, including attempts to buy votes in the presidential elections and to the referendum of the Constitution for future EU accession at the same time last year. Russia denied the accusations and accused the West of interference meant to influence this electoral process.

The head of the exercise of German diplomacy, ecologist Annalena Baerbock, paid a visit to Chisinau- where he came after a visit to Kiev- and promised European support before the parliamentary elections, in the context of Russian actors to win influence in the Republic of Moldova, the DPA agency reports.

She accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to undermine democracy in the Republic of Moldova through misinformation, false news campaigns and voting shopping.