Moldova president hails EU referendum win after Russia meddling claims

CHISINAU: Moldova´s pro-Brussels President Maia Sandu on Monday said her camp “won justly in an unjust struggle” in an EU referendum and first-round presidential elections marked by claims of Russian interference.

The referendum on joining the EU passed with a razor-thin majority, while Sandu managed to come first in a key electoral test for her leadership of the former Soviet republic bordering war-torn Ukraine.

Sandu said “dirty interference” cost her camp support, after blaming “criminal groups, working together with foreign forces hostile to our national interests” for “an unprecedented assault” on Moldova´s democracy.

The Kremlin called on Sandu to “prove” allegations that it had interfered in the elections and alleged “anomalies” in Moldova´s vote count. Sandu, 52, a former World Bank economist and Moldova´s first woman president, is expected to face a tough second round presidential vote on November 3 against Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor backed by the pro-Russian Socialists.

A European Union spokesman said voting was marred by Russia´s “unprecedented interference and intimidation”. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said Moldova chose “a European future” despite “Russia´s hybrid tactics”.