Moldova detains 74 people over alleged Russia-backed plot before elections

As Moldovan President Maia Sandu accused Russia of trying to sway the country’s parliamentary elections on the weekend, at least 74 people have been detained in Moldova over an alleged plot to “mass riot” there.

After more than 250 nationwide raids, the police announced the suspects’ arrest on Monday. The searches relate to a criminal investigation into the planning of widespread riots and destabilization, which were coordinated by criminal groups in the Russian Federation, according to a statement released on Monday.

Leading Moldovan prosecutor Victor Furtuna claimed that the majority of those detained had received training in Serbia and were between the ages of 19 and 45.

The Kremlin allegedly poured “hundreds of millions of euros” into the nation in an effort to sway the elections, according to pro-Western Sandu, who has referred to Sunday’s voting as the “most consequential” in the country’s history.

After the raids on Monday, Sandu claimed that “people are intoxicated daily with lies.” “Sorrow, violence, and fear are all used against hundreds of people.”

The president continued, “I make an appeal to all citizens: We must not allow our country to be controlled by foreign interests.”

Moscow has long disputed interference in Moldova’s domestic affairs.

Romania’s neighbor, Moldova, has also been accused of influencing the Kremlin’s politics.

The Constitutional Court, which accused Russia of meddling in the electoral process, annulled the first round of Romania’s presidential election last year, winning it by far-right candidate Calin Georgescu. Moscow denied any involvement.

Georgescu, a vocal critic of NATO, was prohibited from running in Romania’s rerun of the election this year.

The elections in Moldova are important for both Moldova and the entire continent, according to Sandu’s ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS). If a pro-Russian government were to rule the nation, the president has warned that it would serve as “a launchpad for hybrid attacks on the European Union.”

German, French, and Polish leaders have recently visited Moldova, which was accused of being a part of the West’s growing investigation into Russian interference in the country after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine occurred in 2022.

Political analysts predict a close election result, despite the Moldovan government’s lead in the majority of pre-election polls.

The pro-Russian Patriotic bloc-led opposition is attempting to stifle voter anger over unfulfilled reform promises and economic hardships.

Some of its members were targeted in the raids, according to Igor Dodon, a former president and joint leader of the Patriotic bloc, who posted a message on the Telegram messaging app on Monday.

He claimed that the Moldovan government is “trying to intimidate, frighten, and silence us.”

Ilan Shor, a fugitive businessman from Moldova and an alleged Russian agent, issued a $3, 000 reward for joining anti-government protests last month. He has been imprisoned by the US and the EU.

Diaspora voters could have a significant impact on Sunday’s voting because more than one million Moldovans reside abroad.