CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) 鈥 Moldovans have started casting ballots in two key votes Sunday that could determine whether the European Union candidate country, which neighbors Ukraine, remains on a pro-western path amid ongoing allegations that Russia has tried to undermine the electoral process.
Incumbent President is the favorite to secure another term in office in a presidential race in which 11 candidates are running. Voters will also choose 鈥測es鈥 or 鈥渘o鈥 in a referendum on whether to enshrine in the country鈥檚 constitution its path toward the 27-nation EU.
Polls by WatchDog, a Chisinau-based think-tank show a clear majority of more than 50% support the EU path. The referendum needs a one-third turnout to be valid.
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0400GMT) and are expected to close at 9 p.m. (1800GMT).
If Sandu fails to win an outright majority on Sunday, a run-off will be held on Nov. 3 which could pit her against Alexandr Stoianoglo, a Russia-friendly former prosecutor general who is polling at around 10%.
The two pivotal ballots are held amid ongoing claims by Moldovan authorities that Moscow has intensified an alleged 鈥渉ybrid war鈥 campaign to destabilize the country and derail its EU path. The allegations include funding pro-Moscow opposition groups, spreading disinformation, , and backing a major vote-buying scheme.
U.S. national security spokesman John Kirby echoed those concerns this week, saying in a statement that "Russia is working actively to undermine Moldova鈥檚 election and its European integration". Moscow has repeatedly denied it is interfering in Moldova.
鈥淚n the last several months, Moscow has dedicated millions of dollars to influencing Moldova鈥檚 presidential election,鈥 Kirby said. "We assess that this money has gone toward financing its preferred parties and spreading disinformation on social media in favor of their campaigns.鈥
In early October, Moldovan law enforcement said it had uncovered a massive vote-buying scheme orchestrated by Ilan Shor, an who currently resides in Russia, which paid 15 million euros ($16.2 million) to 130,000 individuals to undermine the two ballots.
Shor, who was to 15 years in jail on fraud and money laundering in the case of $1 billion that went missing from Moldovan banks in 2014, denied allegations, saying 鈥渢he payments are legal鈥 and cited a right to freedom of expression. Shor鈥檚 populist Russia-friendly Shor Party was declared unconstitutional last year and banned.
On Thursday, Moldovan authorities foiled another plot in which more than 100 young Moldovans received training in Moscow from private military groups on how to create civil unrest around the two votes. Some also attended 鈥渕ore advanced training in guerrilla camps鈥 in Serbia and Bosnia, police said, and four people were detained for 30 days.
has been in power in Moldova since 2021, a year after Sandu won the presidency, and a parliamentary election will be held next year.
Moldova, a former Soviet republic with a population of about 2.5 million, applied to join the EU in the wake of Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and was granted candidate status that summer, alongside Ukraine. Brussels agreed in June .
