(ANSA-AFP) - CHISINAU, 20 OTT - Voters in Moldova began
casting their ballots this morning for presidential elections
and a referendum on EU membership, amid fears of Russian
meddling in the two key election tests amid the war in
neighboring Ukraine. The elections are the decisive test of the
former Soviet republic's pro-European turn under the leadership
of incumbent President Maia Sandu, who is seeking a second term
in the country of 2.6 million. Police have made hundreds of
arrests after uncovering a massive vote-buying scheme, warning
this week that up to a quarter of the votes cast may have been
influenced by Russian money. "Our country is at a crossroads ...
A group of thieves is trying to deceive people, promise them
money, provide them with false information," said Prime Minister
Dorin Recean, urging Moldovans "to be vigilant." Sandu, who beat
a Moscow-backed incumbent president in 2020, has cut ties with
Russia and called for Moldova's accession to the EU following
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The president has
repeatedly sounded the alarm about Russian attempts to interfere
in the vote-a claim Moscow has rejected. (ANSA-AFP).
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