Kremlin claims preliminary results of election, referendum in Moldova show ‘anomalies’

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Kremlin on Monday claimed that the preliminary results in Moldova’s presidential election and referendum on the EU accession are showing “anomalies.”

On Sunday, Moldovan citizens headed to the polls for a presidential election in which incumbent President Maia Sandu, seen as pro-Western, is seeking a second term in office, as well as for a referendum on adding the country’s goal of joining the EU to its constitution.

According to the latest data from Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission, Sandu has received 42.31% of the vote, while her closest competitor Alexandr Stoianoglo received 26.07%, paving the way for a runoff for the country’s presidency on Nov. 3.

Meanwhile, initial results from the referendum late Sunday showed that 55% of the votes were against the proposal, while nearly 45% were in favor.

However, the results have since shifted with 50.42% having voted for the constitutional amendment, based on 99.5% of ballots counted.

“The indicators that we see today, that we are monitoring, the dynamics of their changes, of course, raise many questions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.

What Moscow sees with regard to the election and referendum are growing votes in favor of Sandu and EU accession, which are “difficult to explain,” Peskov said, claiming that observers who understand such election processes can record such “anomalies.”

Peskov also commented on accusations by Sandu regarding the election process in the country being undermined by what she described as “criminal groups,” saying that she needs to provide evidence for her claims.

“These are quite serious accusations of these ‘criminal groups,’ and some evidence must be presented to the public. If she says that she did not receive votes because of some ‘criminal groups,’ she must present evidence,” Peskov said.

Early Monday, Sandu said on X that “criminal groups,” which she said are working with “foreign forces hostile to our national interests,” have tried to keep the country "trapped in uncertainty and instability."

“We have clear evidence that these criminal groups aimed to buy 300,000 votes – a fraud of unprecedented scale. Their objective was to undermine a democratic process. Their intention is to spread fear and panic in the society,” Sandu added.