Moldovan President Maia Sandu has warned that Russia is preparing an unprecedented interference campaign ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections scheduled for September, NewsMaker reported on July 30.
Speaking after a meeting of the Supreme Security Council, Sandu said the Kremlin is investing in several political projects aimed at securing seats for its allies in the next parliament. According to her, all these projects are being coordinated from a single center and are largely funded through schemes linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.
The president also noted that Moldovan authorities expect a wave of disinformation and manipulation campaigns organized from abroad, the orchestration of paid protests, and attempts to sabotage voting among Moldovan citizens living abroad.
Sandu warned of broader hybrid threats as well, including potential cyberattacks targeting Moldova’s electoral infrastructure and other critical systems.
According to her, foreign actors may attempt to use religious institutions to push anti-European narratives. “Opinion leaders” and online influencers, she said, could also be recruited as intermediaries to spread messages designed to steer the country away from its European course.
“This should not frighten us—it should mobilize us,” Sandu emphasized. “Russia’s interference poses serious risks to public order and national security, and most importantly, it could severely undermine the country’s sovereignty and our European future.”
She assured that state institutions are prepared to respond. “In the coming period, they must act more cohesively, professionally, and as a unified team to protect national interests. A difficult period lies ahead, dear citizens. But our future depends solely on us.”
Amid these concerns, new reports have emerged detailing how Russian intelligence services allegedly established mercenary training camps in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
These camps, according to Ukrainian and Moldovan sources, were used to train Moldovan nationals for a coup attempt in Moldova. Recruits were reportedly required to surrender their phones and passports before undergoing instruction in drone operations, riot tactics, and crowd control.
The operation was designed to destabilize Moldova during the presidential election in October–November 2024, in which pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu ultimately defeated pro-Russian candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo.
Earlier, it was reported that the European Union expanded its sanctions against individuals and entities threatening Moldova’s sovereignty.
The measures target seven people and three organizations engaged in activities “aimed at destabilising, undermining or threatening the sovereignty and independence as well as democracy, the rule of law, and stability” of Moldova.
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