Moldova’s Sandu warns of “unprecedented” Russian pressure on diaspora ahead of elections

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has sounded the alarm over “unprecedented” pressure on the Moldovan diaspora from hostile foreign forces, particularly Russia, as the country approaches its pivotal parliamentary elections on 28 September.

In a speech at the Diaspora Congress in Chișinău on 15 August, Sandu revealed attempts to bribe diaspora voters and a surge in fake social media accounts spreading anti-European and anti-Moldovan propaganda.

“Hostile forces from abroad are targeting our diaspora with unparalleled intensity,” she said, citing evidence of vote-buying schemes and coordinated online campaigns aimed at undermining Moldova’s pro-European reforms and national interests.

Sandu warned that these efforts are set to escalate in the weeks leading up to the elections. She urged Moldovans abroad to remain vigilant and united, emphasizing their critical role in defending the country’s sovereignty, democracy, and commitment to European integration.

“Never before in our history has it been so vital for our diaspora to stand together and protect our freedom and European choice,” she declared.

“The diaspora’s voice is Moldova’s voice,” she affirmed, calling on citizens abroad to resist manipulation and vote to secure a democratic, European future.

The Moldovan diaspora, estimated at over 1 million people, includes approximately 640,000 to 1 million Moldovans with dual Moldovan-Romanian citizenship, many of whom live in Western Europe and voted overwhelmingly for Nicusor Dan, providing a decisive 135,000 votes in Moldova alone to secure his victory in Romania’s May 2025 presidential election. Their record turnout, with 88% supporting Dan, was pivotal in countering the far-right candidate and preserving Romania’s pro-European trajectory.

Addressing attempts to discredit their influence, Sandu rejected claims by adversaries that the diaspora should not shape Moldova’s future, accusing them of portraying Moldovans abroad as a group to be manipulated or disconnected from their homeland.

The September 28 elections are a defining moment for Moldova, a former Soviet republic of 2.6 million nestled between Ukraine and Romania. The vote will determine whether the country continues its pro-European trajectory under Sandu’s leadership or succumbs to Russian influence seeking to pull it back into Moscow’s orbit.

Moldova’s direction carries significant implications for Ukraine, as a pro-Russian shift could embolden Moscow’s regional ambitions and complicate Kyiv’s security on its western border. Since her election in 2020, Sandu and her Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) have championed EU integration, anti-corruption reforms, and Western alignment, securing EU candidate status in 2022. However, maintaining a parliamentary majority against a fragmented but resilient pro-Russian opposition will be a formidable challenge.

Concentrated in countries like Italy, Germany, and the UK, Moldovans abroad have consistently supported Sandu’s pro-European agenda, with 80% of diaspora votes favoring her in the 2020 presidential election. Their high turnout at polling stations abroad could prove decisive for PAS in securing a majority in the 101-seat parliament.

In contrast, pro-Russian forces, led by the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) under former President Igor Dodon and proxies linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, appeal to rural voters and Russian-speaking communities, particularly in Moldova’s Gagauzia region and the Russian-backed separatist enclave of Transnistria.

Despite the 2023 ban on Shor’s Şor Party, his allies continue to wield influence through illicit financing and media campaigns, advocating closer ties with Russia and opposing EU integration.

Sandu has accused Russia of orchestrating “unprecedented interference” in the elections, a concern echoed by Western intelligence reports. Moscow’s aim is to derail Moldova’s European aspirations and maintain its influence in Eastern Europe, particularly as Moldova supports Ukraine by hosting refugees and aligning with EU sanctions against Russia.

Moldova’s president warns of ‘unprecedented’ Russian interference ahead of election

Russian tactics include disinformation campaigns through fake social media accounts to discredit Sandu’s reforms, bribery attempts targeting diaspora voters, and plans for paid protests and sabotage of voting processes abroad. In 2024, Moldova expelled Russian diplomats suspected of coordinating such activities, underscoring the threat’s severity.

Moldova: The battleground of Russia’s state-of-the-art hybrid influence operation

A pro-Russian victory could strengthen separatist movements in Transnistria, where 1,500 Russian troops are stationed, posing further risks to regional stability.

Sandu’s appeal to the diaspora underscores the elections’ high stakes. With polls indicating a lead for PAS but vulnerability to opposition gains, the diaspora’s turnout has the potential to tip the balance in this geopolitically charged contest and determine Moldova’s future for years to come.

Caption: President of Moldova Maia Sandu delivers her speech during a press conference after the meeting of the Supreme Security Council in the presidential palace in Chisinau, Moldova, 30 July 2025. Sandu spoke about Moldova’s insecurity crisis, Russian hybrid attacks, and foreign influence in electoral preparations. Moldova will hold parliamentary elections on 28 September 2025. EPA/DUMITRU DORU