Official Protest Submitted to Russian Ambassador
Moldova has lodged a formal protest with Russia, accusing Moscow of meddling in its recent presidential election and a referendum on European Union membership. The Moldovan Foreign Ministry presented a “note of firm protest” to Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov on Tuesday, citing “illegal and deliberate interference” in the democratic process.
Allegations of Election Interference
Chisinau claims Russia attempted to influence the election outcome through various tactics, including ineligible voting, bribery, and security threats. Pro-Western candidate Maia Sandu narrowly won the presidency with support from Moldovan expatriates, while voters also approved a constitutional amendment to set EU membership as a national goal. Russia has denied the accusations, dismissing Sandu’s victory as illegitimate and suggesting the votes were unfair.
Tensions Over Moldova’s Shift Toward the EU
Moldova’s push toward EU membership has strained its relationship with Moscow in recent years, with support for Moldova’s allegations of Russian interference coming from both the European Union and the United States. Russia’s ongoing influence in former Soviet states has been a source of growing diplomatic conflict, particularly as Moldova seeks closer ties with the West.
Airspace Violation by Alleged Russian Drones
The Moldovan Foreign Ministry also condemned what it described as an incursion by two Russian drones into Moldovan airspace on Sunday. Chisinau claims to have evidence linking the drones to Russia, emphasizing that these incursions posed a significant threat to public safety.
Russian Ambassador Denies Summons and Drone Involvement
Ambassador Ozerov denied being formally summoned, describing the meeting as mutually agreed. He refuted Moldova’s accusations regarding the drones, asserting that Russia did not conduct drone flights over countries neighboring Ukraine and that there was no evidence implicating Russian forces in the incident.
Drone Incident Investigation
Moldova reported discovering two crashed Russian “decoy” drones in villages near the Ukrainian border following a Russian drone attack on Ukraine. No casualties were reported in the incident.