Sandu: Starting This Fall, Russia Aims to Take Control of Moldova and Is Preparing to Meddle in the Elections

This morning, July 30, President Maia Sandu convened a meeting of the Supreme Security Council (SSC), where the risks to the country’s information security amid the election campaign were discussed. Special attention was given to foreign interference that could impact the outcome of the upcoming elections, tv8.md reports. Following the meeting, the head of state issued a strong statement: “Starting this fall, the Russian Federation wants to take control of the Republic of Moldova and is preparing an unprecedented interference in the September elections. The Kremlin is investing in various political projects to get its people into Parliament,” said Maia Sandu. According to Sandu, Russia is funding the following forces:

• The so-called “Sovereigntist Bloc” – a structure not connected to Moldova’s interests, used as a front to promote anti-European ideas and move the country closer to Russia;
• A populist and aggressive group allegedly controlled by the network of Ilan Sor;
• Political projects targeting the moderately pro-European electorate, operating under a false flag. Behind these seemingly independent candidates also stands Russia. While they are not directly managed by Moscow, they are used to create the illusion of “objective” criticism and to saturate the information space.