Russia reportedly meddling in Moldova referendum (October 19, 2024)
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... Russia criticized for meddling attempts

Moldovan authorities have accused Russia and Russian-allied figures of trying to disrupt Sunday's vote with a variety of nefarious tactics. Earlier this month, police officers said 130,000 Moldovans had been bribed with a total of $15 million to vote against enshrining EU ambitions.

On Thursday, police said it uncovered a scheme involving people being regularly sent to Russia for training in how to take part in protests and civil unrest in Moldova, the Reuters news agency reported.

Moscow has denied all allegations of interference in Moldova's electoral process. "We categorically reject these accusations," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday in comments picked up by TASS, a Russian state news agency. "We do not interfere in other countries' internal affairs."

As far back as June, Chisinau's Western allies had sounded the alarm about interference risks in the election. In a joint statement, the US, Britain and Canada raised the "Kremlin's use of criminal groups to finance political activities and undermine Moldova's democratic institutions." ...