Pro-EU President Maia Sandu Faces Tense Run-Off Amid Accusations of Russian Meddling in Moldova’s Election

The country stands at a crossroads ahead of a decisive presidential run-off in which Moldovans will choose between a European-aligned future under President Maia Sandu and a shift toward Russia represented by her challenger Alexandr Stoianoglo. The election is being closely watched as it might redefine the foreign policy and political landscape of Moldova.

It turns out that in the first round, Sandu earned 42.4 percent of the vote, lagging behind Stoianoglo’s 26%, but not reaching the mark to win the elections without a second round. Here, in the second round, Stoianoglo has gained momentum by finding support from other pro-Russian factions, who present themselves as a “neutral” candidate advocating a balanced approach to foreign policy. “I will ensure the nation’s security, peace and prosperity,” he said earlier, promising Moldovans a “truly European model.”

Yet officials in Moldova and in Russia insist that Russian has its influence, where oligarch running from a verdict apparently tried to sway this election for Moscow’s favourite. The Kremlin denies just the same, which the Kremlin had also denied against accusation of interference during recently conducted elections in Georgia where exactly the same accusations of interference were present. According to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman: “We reject firmly any accusations that we are interfering somehow.”

Political analysts feel that if Stoianoglo wins, Russia would have much easier ways to get back its hold on the Danube and Black Sea areas. The country of Moldova is holding its breath for this election because much is at stake with sovereignty and international relations.

The run-off might just turn out to be a moment of no return for the country of Moldova because it tries to straddle between East and West where geopolitics are growing tension.