UK, US and Canada Accuse Russia of Plot to Interfere With Elections in Moldova
14 June 2024 at 16:22
The UK, US and Canada have accused Russia of an elaborate plot to interfere in Moldovaβs upcoming presidential election and referendum on EU membership. The allegations came in a joint statement released on the opening day of the G7 summit, pointing to a far-reaching campaign of political meddling by Moscow.
The three nations claim Russia is actively spreading disinformation to 'undermine Moldovan democratic institutions' and 'degrade public confidence' in the government ahead of the votes on October 20th. Specific targets include President Maia Sandu and her pro-Western administration, which has strongly backed Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Kremlin Actors Seeking to Discredit Moldova's Leaders
According to a statementΒ from the U.S. Embassy in Russia, Russian threat actors are aggressively distributing propaganda to βfoment negative public perceptionsβ of President Sandu. This involves fabricating electoral irregularities while also aiming to incite protests if the incumbent president is re-elected. The plot dates back years, with the Kremlin providing support to fugitive Moldovan businessman Ilan Shor. Shor had previously been sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with the disappearance of $1 billion from Moldovan banks in 2014. All three countries had issued sanctions on Shor for his connection to the incident. The statement singled out Russian state-television channel RT for providing several years of support to Shor. The UK, US and Canada claim they have already shared detailed evidence with Moldovan authorities to enable further investigation and disruption. They also state they will continue backing Moldova with a range of support measures as it deals with Russian interference and fallout from the Ukraine war.All Three Countries Announce Support at G7 Summit
The three nations expressed confidence in Moldova's ability to manage these threats linked to Russian interference. They have taken several measures to support Moldova's efforts, including:- The sharing of detailed information with Moldovan partners to investigate, thwart, and put a stop to the Kremlin's plans.
- Increasing accountability and punishment for individuals and entities involved in covertly financing political activities in Moldova through sanctions and potential further actions.
- Strongly supporting Moldova's democratic, economic, security, and anti-corruption reforms, as well as its deepening European integration.