As Moldovan President Maia Sandu said in her speech to MEPs in Strasbourg on September 9, “The Kremlin is resorting to unlimited interference” in an attempt to subjugate her country once again. Its goal, she says, is clear: to seize Moldova through elections, use it against Ukraine, and turn it into a springboard for hybrid attacks.This statement is fully consistent with the words of Andriy Yusov, a representative of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, who previously noted that, given historical parallels and the Kremlin's current course, Russia's imperial ambitions pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to other states, in particular Moldova, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.To achieve its goals, Russia is following a proven path, pouring large sums of money into the election campaign, as it did during the 2024 presidential election, with the aim of buying votes through an extensive network of intermediaries. Sandu's team calculated that Russia spent the equivalent of 1 percent of Moldova's GDP on election interference last year.To secure a pro-Moscow parliament, Russia is investing in multiple political projects in Moldova. The current government says these efforts are coordinated from a single center and are largely financed through the schemes of pro-Russian fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, who advocates for closer ties between Moldova and Russia.Shor, the leader of the pro-Russian Shor Party, has established a network of four companies designed to circumvent sanctions. Notably, his company A7 holds a 49% stake in Russia’s Promsvyazbank, which remains under Western sanctions.The Moldovan president warned that Russia could use disinformation campaigns, manipulation of public opinion from abroad, paid protests, and sabotage of diaspora voting to influence the September 28 parliamentary elections. She highlighted tactics including the use of Russian Orthodox priests to spread propaganda and the deployment of the Matryoshka bot network to generate fake content. Sandu also noted that Moscow could attempt to suppress voter turnout among Moldovan citizens living abroad.In response, Moldovan authorities are taking preemptive measures. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, law enforcement agencies have conducted around 2,000 searches for voter bribery since the start of the election period.During the election period, several criminal cases have been opened, including investigations into paid protests, resulting in dozens of detentions.Notably, Evghenia Guțul, head of the autonomous district of Gagauzia, was arrested and sentenced for her involvement in financing the pro-Russian Shor Party. In addition, businessman and former leader of Moldova’s Democratic Party, Vlad Plahotniuc, was arrested in Greece. He faces charges including creating a criminal organization, fraud, corruption, and money laundering. According to the Moldovan prosecutor’s office, Plahotniuc allegedly received more than $40 million through companies controlled by Ilan Shor.Kyiv has expressed readiness to assist Chisinau in preventing destabilization during Moldova’s parliamentary elections, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated on September 17. After all, Moldova’s stability and success have a direct impact on Ukraine’s security, particularly in its southern regions.For Moldova, the European Parliament’s position is now crucial, as the country and Ukraine remain the closest candidates for EU membership. President Maia Sandu emphasized that European integration is essential for Moldova to survive as a democracy. Therefore, the European Union should take measures to counter Moscow’s attempts to delay or obstruct the country’s European integration following the election results.Exclusively for EspresoAbout the author. Serhiy Kuzan, Head of the Ukrainian Center for Security and CooperationThe editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.