Russia spent nearly 400 million euros to influence the September parliamentary elections in favor of pro-Russian candidates, Moldova’s Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu said. This is hybrid warfare, he added, according to TVP.
An attempt to change the political course of a country seeking EU membership
The 28 September parliamentary elections were seen as decisive for Moldova, as they were expected to confirm the country’s commitment to staying on its pro-European path and avoiding a return to Moscow’s orbit.
The ruling pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) won the vote, securing a majority of 55 seats in the 101-seat parliament. At the same time, the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP) came in second, winning 26 seats.
Even criminal networks were utilized
Igor Grosu, who is also the leader of PAS, said on 24 November that Russia spent hundreds of millions of euros trying to ensure the election of politicians dependent on the Kremlin, as well as individuals with ties to the criminal underworld.
“This is a hybrid war in which Russia invested nearly €400 million,” he claimed.
The September elections were a major test
According to him, Moldova became the target of an “unprecedented disinformation campaign,” but the country’s citizens “resisted this pressure and manipulation, choosing the path of freedom and stability.”
The September parliamentary elections were viewed as decisive for Moldova, as they were meant to reaffirm the country’s determination to remain on a pro-European course rather than return to Moscow’s sphere of influence.
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