"Russia Accused of Rigging Moldova's Election in Favour of Pro-EU Rivals"

Moldova's Pro-EU Party Claims Victory Amid Widespread Allegations of Russian Election Interference In a closely watched election, Moldova's pro-European party, the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), secured a decisive victory on Sunday, winning around 50% of the vote. The outcome is seen as a significant boost for pro-EU forces in the country, which has been at the center of a heated debate over its future path. According to reports from the ground, President Maia Sandu had warned voters that their democracy was young and fragile and that Russia endangered it. Sandu's warnings came after voting, when she accused Russia of "massive interference" in the election process. The allegations of Russian meddling have been a major concern for Moldova, which shares borders with Ukraine and Romania. Igor Grosu, the leader of PAS, confirmed the party's victory, saying that Russia had tried to influence the outcome of the election. "We knew that Russia would try to interfere in our democratic process," Grosu said in an interview. "But we are proud to have secured a clear majority in parliament, which will allow us to move forward with our pro-European agenda." The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, welcomed the result, saying it was a "significant step" towards Moldova's integration into the EU. Von der Leyen praised the Moldovan people for exercising their right to vote and expressed her confidence in the country's ability to build a strong democracy. Moldova's election has been seen as critical for its future path to the EU, with many experts warning that the country's young and fragile democracy is vulnerable to external interference. The allegations of Russian meddling have sparked concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the potential impact on Moldova's relations with the West. According to a report by the BBC, Sandu had warned voters that their democracy was at stake, saying "Russia endangered our country." The report also noted that Sandu had accused Russia of trying to influence the outcome of the election through various means, including disinformation campaigns and cyber attacks. The outcome of the election is seen as a significant victory for pro-EU forces in Moldova, which has been a major point of contention between the country's government and opposition. The PAS party has been a strong advocate for Moldova's integration into the EU, and its victory is expected to pave the way for further cooperation with Brussels. As the dust settles on the election, experts are warning that the allegations of Russian interference will continue to be a major concern for Moldova's democracy. "The fact that Russia has tried to interfere in our democratic process is a serious concern," said Grosu. "But we are confident that our victory will send a strong message to Moscow and other external actors that we will not be intimidated or influenced." In the coming days, the PAS party is expected to begin forming a new government, which will be tasked with implementing its pro-European agenda. The outcome of the election has been hailed as a significant step towards Moldova's integration into the EU, but experts warn that the country still faces many challenges in building a strong and stable democracy. The European Commission has pledged to continue supporting Moldova's efforts to integrate into the EU, and von der Leyen is expected to visit the country soon to discuss further cooperation. As Moldova looks to build its future path, one thing is clear: the country's young and fragile democracy will require continued support and protection from external actors. Sources: BBC World Anadolu via Getty Images This story was compiled from reports by BBC World and BBC World.