Moldova president alleges voter fraud as EU referendum hangs in balance

Moldova's pro-Western president has accused “criminal groups” of carrying retired “unprecedented” voter fraud arsenic the state votes connected a pivotal referendum connected joining the EU.

The ballot hung successful the equilibrium connected Monday morning, with the "yes" ballot somewhat up astatine 50.03 per cent, portion the "no" campy were astatine 49.97 per cent with astir each votes counted.

The country’s president, Maia Sandu, who is besides warring for reelection successful the ballot, said that “foreign forces” were down an effort to thwart the referendum.

"Criminal groups, moving unneurotic with overseas forces hostile to our nationalist interests, person attacked our state with tens of millions of euros, lies and propaganda, utilizing the astir disgraceful means to support our citizens and our federation trapped successful uncertainty and instability," she said.

"We person wide grounds that these transgression groups aimed to bargain 300,000 votes - a fraud of unprecedented scale.

"Their nonsubjective was to undermine a antiauthoritarian process."

The run-up to the ballot was overshadowed by a slew of allegations of predetermination meddling by fugitive tycoon Ilan Shor who lives successful Russia. Both Moscow and Shor contradict wrongdoing.

Earlier this month, Moldovan constabulary accused Shor, who was jailed successful absentia for fraud and theft, of trying to wage disconnected a web of astatine slightest 130,000 voters to ballot "no" and enactment "our candidate" astatine the elections.

He has openly offered connected societal media to wage Moldovans to person others to ballot successful a definite mode and said that is simply a morganatic usage of wealth that helium earned.

Polls by WatchDog, a Chisinau-based deliberation tank, amusement a wide bulk of much than 50% enactment the EU path.

The referendum needs a one-third turnout to beryllium valid.

If Ms Sandu fails to triumph an outright bulk connected Sunday, a run-off volition beryllium held connected November 3 which could pit her against Alexandr Stoianoglo, a Russia-friendly erstwhile authoritative wide who is polling astatine astir 10%.

The 2 pivotal ballots are being held amid ongoing claims by Moldovan authorities that Moscow has intensified an alleged "hybrid war" run to destabilise the state and derail its EU path.

On Thursday, Moldovan authorities said they had foiled different crippled successful which much than 100 young Moldovans received grooming successful Moscow from backstage subject groups connected however to make civilian unrest astir the 2 votes.

Some besides attended "more precocious grooming successful guerrilla camps" successful Serbia and Bosnia, constabulary said, and 4 radical were detained for 30 days.

A pro-Western authorities has been successful powerfulness successful Moldova since 2021, a twelvemonth aft Ms Sandu won the presidency, and a parliamentary predetermination volition beryllium held adjacent year.