Russia, Moldova Presidential Election Interference Allegations Spread..."Bundles of Cash Seized"

20 Billion Won Seized at Airport in One Day
Russia Suspected of Cash Distribution for Money Politics

On the 20th (local time), Moldovan citizens cast their votes in the Moldovan presidential election and the referendum on joining the European Union (EU) held that day.
[Image source=EPA·Yonhap News]

As the presidential election is underway in Moldova, a neighboring country of Ukraine, suspicions of Russian interference in the election are spreading. Contrary to earlier polls, the pro-Western candidate and incumbent President Maia Sandu's approval rating did not exceed the majority, and the referendum on EU membership saw an overwhelming majority voting against it. The Moldovan government announced that it confiscated large bundles of cash from Russian tourists attempting to enter the country, accusing Russia of orchestrating systematic vote-buying activities. If the suspicions of Russian election interference are proven true, political repercussions such as election disputes are inevitable.

Pro-Russian Candidate Gains Ground Amid Russian Election Interference Suspicions... Runoff Election Expected

On the 20th (local time), Maia Sandu, the current president of Moldova and a pro-Western presidential candidate, is briefing on the voting situation. [Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News]

On the 20th (local time), the Central Election Commission of Moldova announced the preliminary results of the simultaneous presidential election and the EU membership referendum. Prior to the vote, polls predicted that President Sandu would secure a majority and begin her second term, but with 95% of the votes counted, the pro-Western candidate Sandu's support stood at only 40.34%. Meanwhile, the pro-Russian candidate, former Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo, recorded 27.29%. Since neither candidate secured a majority, a runoff election between the two candidates is scheduled for the 3rd of next month.

Regarding the EU membership referendum, with 95% of votes counted, 51.52% voted against and 48.48% voted in favor, with the opposition votes outnumbering the support. Just before the presidential election, polls showed 63% support for EU membership, but the actual voting results showed more opposition. The stark contrast between the polls and the results has raised suspicions of strong Russian interference in the election. Moldova, located between Ukraine and Romania, is a small country with a population of 260,000. It was part of the former Soviet Union but has alternated between pro-Western and pro-Russian governments since the Soviet Union's dissolution.

President Sandu, at a press conference held immediately after the interim results of the EU membership referendum were announced, stated, "A criminal group cooperating with foreign forces is mobilizing tens of millions of euros to conduct propaganda with lies, trapping Moldova in uncertainty and instability." She emphasized, "We have clear evidence of an unprecedented scale of fraud designed to undermine Moldova's democracy, and we will respond firmly after observing the final results."

Confiscation of Bundles of Cash from Travelers from Russia... "No One Came to Retrieve the Money"

On the 20th (local time), pro-Russian candidate Alexandr Stoyanoglo participated in the Moldovan presidential election and cast his vote. [Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News]

President Sandu and the Moldovan government believe that Russia deeply interfered in this presidential election and the EU membership referendum. A large number of Russian tourists entered the country around the election period, many carrying large sums of cash of unknown origin, and there is evidence that funds flowed to voters.

According to the BBC, since May, Moldovan police and prosecutors have confiscated all cash from Russian travelers attempting to enter Moldova's capital, Chi?in?u Airport, carrying large bundles of cash. Approximately $1.5 million (about 2 billion KRW) worth of funds were confiscated daily, but no Russian tourists came to claim the money.

Additionally, Moldovan prosecutors revealed that until early this month, $15 million (about 2.05 billion KRW) from Russia's Promsvyazbank (PSB) flowed into the accounts of 130,000 Moldovan voters. The Moldovan government strongly condemned the Russian government for using bank funds to engage in vote-buying activities. If the vote-buying suspicions are confirmed, disputes over the Moldovan presidential election and the EU membership referendum are expected to continue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.