US Says Russia Actively Seeking to Undermine Moldova’s EU Referendum

Moldovan President Maia Sandu (R) talks to a woman in Chisinau, Moldova, on Oct. 14, 2024. Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images

Russia has spent millions of dollars trying to influence the outcome of Moldova’s Oct. 20 referendum on joining the European Union, according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu hopes to secure a yes vote in the Oct. 20 referendum at the same time as winning reelection on a pro-Western platform. Moldova was officially granted EU candidate status in June 2022.

“In recent months, the U.S. government, Moldovan President Sandu, the Moldovan security services, and other allies and partners have warned that Russia is seeking to undermine Moldovan democratic institutions in the lead-up to the presidential election and referendum on Moldova’s EU membership,“ Kirby told a press briefing in Washington on Oct. 15. ”Now, with Moldova’s election just days away, we remain confident in our earlier assessment that Russia is looking actively to undermine Moldova’s election and its European integration.”

Earlier this month, the Moldovan police stated that there was evidence of pro-Russian groups paying people to vote no in the referendum.

National police Chief Viorel Cernauteanu said more than 130,000 Moldovans had been bribed to vote no in the EU referendum and in favor of pro-Kremlin candidates in an election taking place on the same day.

Last month, a pro-Russian businessman, Ilan Shor, indicated on social media that he would pay $29 to anyone who voted against European integration in the referendum.

Moldova is sandwiched between Romania—which is in both the EU and NATO—and Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022.

The White House is keeping a close eye on the Oct. 20 referendum in Moldova, which was part of the Soviet Union until 1991.

“Today, I’m here to reaffirm the United States and its allies stand shoulder to shoulder with all Moldova in their efforts to uphold the integrity and security of their elections,“ Kirby said. ”The U.S. government and the government of Moldova have worked hand in hand to expose Russian influence efforts and sanction those involved since September.”

‘Russia Is Spending Millions’

“We have become aware that Russia is spending millions of dollars to support its preferred candidates,” Kirby said. “In the last several months, Moscow has dedicated millions of dollars to influencing Moldova’s presidential election.”

Kirby said the money had gone toward financing the Kremlin’s “preferred parties” and spreading disinformation on social media.

He said Russian “influence actor” Ilon Shor has invested tens of millions of dollars per month into nonprofit organizations that spread narratives about the election that are in line with Russian interests.

Kirby alleged that these nonprofits “have promoted pro-Russian content on traditional media, on local websites, and ... through social media applications.”

He said the United States had shared intelligence with the Moldovans in an attempt to thwart Russian plans.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu (R) welcomes the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen (L), in Chisinau, Moldova, on Oct. 10, 2024. Elena Covalenco/AFP via Getty Images

Kirby said the White House had, since 2021, imposed sanctions on those behind what he said were Russia’s “malign influence campaigns” in Moldova.

In 2022, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Shor and his network, including Igor Chayka, who was mentioned earlier this month when the Treasury sanctioned individuals allegedly involved with the cybercrime group Evil Corp.

Sandu’s foreign policy adviser, Olga Rosca, said that a yes vote would send a clear message to Moscow “that Moldova is no longer under its influence and is charting its own path.”

Rosca said the Kremlin’s alleged efforts to influence the vote are “aimed at destabilizing our future and derailing Moldova’s EU path.”

Sandu won a landslide election victory in 2020, but Moldova has been buffeted by the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic effects of the war in neighboring Ukraine—which has resulted in a wave of immigrants entering the country—and a reduction in Russian natural gas supplies, which has pushed up inflation.

Reuters contributed to this report.