Russia and Europe tussle for Moldova, as just over 50% vote 'yes' on future EU membership

Moldova's governmental destiny was hanging successful the equilibrium connected Monday aft cardinal votes connected whether to clasp a aboriginal with Europe, oregon to stay wrong Russia's orbit.

Two votes were held successful the erstwhile Soviet republic implicit the weekend: 1 was a statesmanlike predetermination that volition present spot incumbent and pro-Europe President Maia Sandu look a 2nd circular of voting against her euroskeptic rival, Alexandr Stoianoglo, after neither campaigner gained a bulk of the vote.

Voters besides headed to the polls implicit a referendum connected whether the state should marque its pursuit of rank of the European Union (EU) a nationalist goal, enshrined successful the country's constitution.

A slim bulk of 50.16% of respondents answered "yes," according to a provisional number of 98.56% of votes, Moldova's Central Election Commission said successful a video briefing, according to a CNBC translation.

The referendum is the culmination of years of part and uncertainty implicit whether Moldova should state its destiny with its Western neighbors, oregon with Moscow.

Sandwiched betwixt Ukraine to the eastbound and Romania to the west, the chiefly agrarian-orientated federation is often labeled arsenic 1 of Europe's poorest countries. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union successful 1991, it has seesawed betwixt pro-Russia and pro-Europe governments, specified arsenic President Sandu's existent administration.

Formal talks connected joining the bloc already began successful June, but the — non-legally binding — referendum of Sunday was seen arsenic cementing Moldova's pro-EU trajectory.

The marginal triumph for the "yes" campy supporting the pro-EU absorption of the state could beryllium taken arsenic a motion of indecision and part among the electorate, but Moldova's enactment accused Russia of conducting a run to "buy" votes to sway the results of the statesmanlike predetermination successful favour of her pro-Russia rival, and the EU referendum, arsenic it vies to support power implicit what it sees arsenic its "back yard."

"Criminal groups, moving with overseas forces hostile to our nationalist interests, person attacked our state with tens of millions of euros, lies, and propaganda, utilizing the astir disgraceful means to support our federation trapped successful uncertainty and instability," incumbent President Maia Sandu said successful a connection posted connected societal media level X.

"We person wide grounds that these transgression groups aimed to bargain 300,000 votes – a fraud of unprecedented scale. Their nonsubjective was to undermine a antiauthoritarian process. Their volition is to dispersed fearfulness and panic successful the society," she added.