Moldova warns of Russian ‘disruptive’ moves against overseas voting in Sunday’s runoff

Moldova is warning that Russia may attempt “disruptive activities” at overseas polling stations during the Moldovan runoff presidential election on Sunday, according to documents obtained by Welt am Sonntag.The Moldovan government wrote to Berlin saying Moldova’s secret service warned the government in Chișinău about “Russia’s disruptive activities,” which could include “fake bomb threats targeting polling stations,” according to the documents obtained by Welt, a sister publication of POLITICO in the Axel Springer Group.
According to the warning, sabotage attempts against the runoff vote could also occur in France, Spain, Italy, Britain, the U.S. and Canada.
“The aim is to disrupt the electoral process,” the letter warned.
Sunday’s runoff election will decide whether incumbent President Maia Sandu will remain in power. In the first round of voting two weeks ago, Sandu received 42 percent of the vote, ahead of Alexandr Stoianoglo of the pro-Russian Socialists, who got 26 percent.
There were already accusations of election manipulation by Russia in the first round. A simultaneous referendum to join the EU narrowly won with 50.5 percent of the vote.