Moldovan President Maia Sandu has warned that Russia will seek new methods of influence aimed at destabilizing the situation in various countries.
This was reported by NewsMaker.
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 35th anniversary of the Venice Commission, Sandu noted that during the parliamentary elections, the people of Moldova — “with the support of state institutions, civil society, and a free press” — defended their right to choose. However, she cautioned that this achievement is temporary.
"We know that Russia adapts — it will test new methods in new countries," the Moldovan president warned.
According to her, today democracies — not only in Moldova but throughout Europe — face two main dangers.
"The first is Russia’s war against Europe. Its most visible front is the brutal aggression against Ukraine. In addition, Russia is waging a hybrid war against other European democracies, using drones, cyberattacks, election interference, and illegal financing," Sandu said.
The second threat, in her view, is the digital world itself:
"A world for which our democratic legal system is still completely unprepared. This became evident during our recent elections. Now that I have this experience, with the lessons still fresh in my mind, I can say that defending democracy has never been so difficult — and so important. The peace of the 1990s and 2000s is gone. The threats we faced then — oligarchs, corrupt politicians, weak institutions — were serious, but they seem minor compared to what we face today."
In this context, Sandu placed particular emphasis on Russia’s interference in Moldova’s elections.
"Moscow is quickly forming groups financed by the Kremlin that pretend to represent Moldovan citizens. Their agents are well known — corrupt figures who have escaped accountability, former judges and prosecutors dismissed during reforms. They are supported with vast sums of money circulating freely through the opaque world of cryptocurrencies," she added.
