The European Union accused Russia of "unprecedented" meddling in the recent votes in Moldova that were seen as among the most pivotal in the country's post-Soviet history. "The European Union condemns the unprecedented malign interference by Russia into Moldova’s presidential elections and constitutional referendum,

Moldova, the EU and the United States said the Kremlin had waged a "hybrid war" campaign to destabilize the country and keep it in Russia's sphere of influence, including funding pro-Moscow parties, spreading disinformation and pouring millions of dollars into schemes to buy up 300,000 votes. Nearly 1.5 million Moldovans ultimately voted.

Moldovans voted by a razor-thin majority in favor of securing the country’s path toward European Union membership, electoral data showed Monday, after the pro-Western president accused foreign interference and “criminal groups” of trying to undermine the vote in the former Soviet republic.