As elections approach, Moldova reveals vote buying system controlled from Russia

This system, aimed at “disrupting the electoral process”, consists of paying people to vote against the pro-Western president during the presidential election, as well as against the country’s membership in the EU.

The price of a vote for a pro-Kremlin candidate in Moldova? Between 46 and 93 euros per month. According to Moldovan police, citizens of this country bordering Ukraine received a total of more than $15 million (13.6 million euros) to vote against pro-Western President Maia Sandu in the election presidential election on October 20, as well as against membership of the EU, which is the subject of a referendum on the same day.

At a press conference, the police chief, Viorel Cernauteanu, pointed out a system of a magnitude “unprecedented”, with more than 100,000 people involved. An operation aimed at “disrupt the electoral process”, remotely controlled from Moscow. The network, “some of whose members are located in Russia”, works according to “a well-organized hierarchical structure”, detailed the police in a press release.

According to documents discovered by investigators, the operation bears the signature of a fugitive oligarch, convicted last year in absentia for fraud and who announced in April, from Moscow, the creation of a coalition of pro-Russian parties in Moldova. “The criminal organization led by Ilan Shor recruited people willing to vote in exchange for money” for a candidate nominated the day before via the social network Telegram, revealed the Moldovan police.

All payments made are “legal”, reacted Ilan Shor on Telegram, accusing Moldova of becoming “a police state” and calling on his troops to “continue the fight”.

Candidate for re-election, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, pro-European, is the favorite of the vote. The leader regularly accuses Russia of carrying out a “hybrid warfare” in this former Soviet Republic which is a candidate for the EU. A concern relayed by the Council of Europe and its Western allies.

In June, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada warned of a “conspiracy” Russian aimed at influencing the presidential election and “provoke demonstrations if a pro-Russian candidate did not win. According to Moldovan think tank WatchDog, Russia has spent more than $100 million this year in the run-up to the polls.