How Moldovans bravely fought off Russian election meddling – and stood up for democracy | Paula Erizanu

Journalists and police challenged disinformation, intimidation and cash-for-vote schemes, while huge numbers turned up to vote

Having lived in Britain for 12 years, I returned to my native Moldova in 2022 because I was worried that Russia's war in Ukraine would spill into my country. Thanks to the Ukrainian resistance, the skies are still clear in Moldova. But in the past weeks leading up to the presidential runoff between the pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu and the Russian-supported former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, I felt as if I might lose my country once again.

The scale of interference in these Moldovan elections has been unprecedented. As reported by excellent independent journalists in the country, our law enforcement agencies alleged the existence of a large-scale, vote-buying scheme in the first round, run by Ilan Shor - a Russian-backed fugitive oligarch, who denies any wrongdoing.