Russian Foreign Ministry says Moldova's election is the most undemocratic

5/11/2024 6:13

        Russia's Foreign Ministry said on
        Monday that Moldova's presidential election, won by pro-European
        incumbent Maia Sandu, was the "most undemocratic" in the
        country's post-Soviet history.
        
        Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakarova, in a commentary on her
        ministry's website, also said the outcome, with Sandu securing
        victory largely because of support from Moldovans living abroad,
        exposed a "deep split" in Moldovan society.
        
        "It would be no exaggeration to say that this was the most
        undemocratic election campaign in all the years of Moldovan
        independence," Zakharova said.
        
        "The distinguishing features were the authorities'
        unprecedented repression of the opposition and independent
        media, above all Russian-language media, and overt interference
        by the West in the electoral process."
        
        Zakharova said the polarisation exposed by the outcome was
        "provoked by the short-sighted policy of the country's leaders
        and blatant interference from the West".
        
        Sandu has long denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and
        accused Russia of plotting to topple her administration. After
        the election's first round last month, she complained of a
        campaign to bribe voters to vote against her and a referendum on
        European Union membership, which passed with a small majority.