Attempts to disrupt Moldova’s parliamentary election, viewed as pivotal for the country’s political future, were reported by local authorities on Sept. 28.
Bomb threats were also reported at polling stations for the Moldovan diaspora in Belgium, Italy, Romania, Spain, and the U.S., Moldova’s Foreign Ministry said on Sept. 28, in what officials described as “the Russian Federation’s assault on the electoral process in the Republic of Moldova.”
“State institutions were prepared for this scenario, we have established clear procedures, and we are cooperating with our partners in other countries to ensure the electoral process is not affected. We urge all citizens (in the diaspora) to follow the recommendations of the authorities, rely on official information, and continue honest voting,” Moldova’s Foreign Ministry said.
Moldova’s Information Technology and Cyber Security Service also said that it had blocked a series of cyberattacks targeting the country’s election infrastructure.
The targets of the cyberattacks included Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission website, government cloud service systems and process automation systems, as well as some voting stations abroad, according to the Information Technology and Cyber Security Service.
Among the reported incidents were distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, including one orchestrated simultaneously from multiple countries, with over 16 million generated sessions designed to simulate real traffic and bypass protection systems.
“All attacks were detected and neutralized in real time without affecting the availability or integrity of electoral services,” Moldova’s Information Technology and Cyber Security Service said.
Moldovans, both at home and abroad, are heading to the polls in critical parliamentary elections on Sept. 28 that could determine whether the country continues to move toward its path of EU integration, as envisioned by President Maia Sandu’s party, or pivots back to Moscow.
“Moldova, our beloved home, is in danger and needs the help of each of you. You can save it today with your vote — tomorrow it might be too late,” Sandu said after casting her vote on Sept. 28, urging Moldovan citizens to go out and vote.
“Let’s show the world that the Republic of Moldova is not only a small country with a big heart, but also a country of dignified people, people who do not sell their country. Let’s not allow thieves and traitors to sell our future.”
On the eve of the election, Moldovan authorities barred the pro-Kremlin Greater Moldova (Moldova Mare) party from participating, citing suspicions of illegal financing, officials said on Sept. 27.
A day earlier, the country’s Central Electoral Commission had suspended the Heart of Moldova party, one of four factions in the Russia-aligned Patriotic Bloc, which had been positioning itself to challenge Sandu’s ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS).
Citing documents it had seen, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 22 that Moscow has devised a plan to interfere in Moldova’s parliamentary elections and hinder the country’s bid for EU membership. In a separate investigation published Sept. 21, the BBC said a covert, Russia-funded network was working to influence the outcome of the vote.
Since the end of the 1992 Transnistrian War, Russia has exerted control over Moldova’s Transnistrian region, maintaining a military presence there.
Russia targets Moldova’s future as voters head to the polls
CHIȘINǍU, Moldova — Russian-controlled politicians, troll farms, cyberattacks, vote-buying, and coordinated violence… As Moldovans will head to the polls this Sunday, Russia has doubled down on its longstanding aim — to gain hold of the country of 2.6 million. The ruling pro-European PAS party, founded by President Maia Sandu, is likely to come first with around 30-40 percent, according to a number of polls. It may fall just short of a parliamentary majority. The main opposition, the Kremlin-
