Media: Putin’s secret plan to meddle in Moldova’s crucial election uncovered

Russia has drawn up a covert, multi-pronged plan to interfere in Moldova’s upcoming parliamentary election and derail its pro-European trajectory, internal documents confirmed. The strategy, finalized earlier this year and allegedly coordinated directly by the Kremlin, is aimed at weakening President Maia Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) ahead of the pivotal September 28 vote.

The documents outline how Moscow seeks to undermine Moldova’s government, disrupt its European Union accession ambitions, and ultimately see Sandu removed from power. Moldova — a small, strategically located nation between war-torn Ukraine and EU-member Romania — has become a critical battleground between pro-European and pro-Russian political forces, Bloomberg reports.

Key elements of the plan include the recruitment of Moldovans living abroad, particularly in Russia, to vote in polling stations across the EU and elsewhere, as well as deploying others to participate in disruptive protests. A widespread disinformation campaign on platforms like Telegram, TikTok, and Facebook, coupled with pressure tactics using compromising material against public officials, also features prominently.

“The Kremlin’s goal is clear: to capture Moldova through the ballot box, to use us against Ukraine and to turn us into a launchpad for hybrid attacks on the European Union,” Sandu told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg on September 9. “That is why this election is very important. By defending it, we protect not only Moldova, but also regional security and stability.”

Moldovan authorities are fighting back. Police have been cracking down on fake news campaigns and attempts to buy votes. In August, they requested the blocking of 443 TikTok channels. On September 16, police seized 5 million Moldovan lei ($302,000) in raids targeting a suspected money-laundering operation aimed at financing political disruption.

The Kremlin did not respond to a request for comment. Russia has repeatedly denied interfering in foreign elections. During Moldova’s 2024 EU referendum, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman dismissed the accusations as “Russophobia,” calling it “an essential component of the European Moldova project.”

The documents suggest Russia plans to “engineer the perception of a competitive contest” while strategically diluting PAS’ support. The Moldovan diaspora, crucial in past elections, is again a focus — with Moscow allegedly offering to finance travel for voters abroad.

Further, Russia plans to mobilize young men from sports clubs and criminal groups to stage violent provocations during and after the vote. These would include calls for Sandu’s resignation if PAS loses or claims of electoral fraud if it wins.

European officials said that it is “almost certain” Russia intends to carry out these plans. One official said the Kremlin had already spent the equivalent of 1% of Moldova’s GDP — about €150 million — to influence previous votes and is likely to invest a similar amount this time.

By Vafa Guliyeva