Russia has drawn up a multi-layered plan to interfere in Moldova’s parliamentary elections on 28 September, according to documents seen by Bloomberg, with the reported strategy seeking to derail the country’s pro-EU course by weakening support for President Maia Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and ultimately removing her from power.
Bloomberg reports that the plan, approved “directly” by the Kremlin, is designed to create the impression of a competitive contest while undermining PAS. The documents outline three principal lines of effort: recruiting Moldovan citizens abroad (including those in Russia) to vote at polling stations across the EU and elsewhere; mobilising people to stage disruptive protests; and running a broad disinformation campaign on social networks. A further element envisages using compromising material to pressure state officials with a view to obstructing the electoral process. The strategy extends to the post-election period with scenarios aimed either at discrediting the result or demanding Sandu’s resignation, depending on the outcome.
The documents cited by Bloomberg also refer to recruiting young men from sports clubs and criminal groups to organise violent provocations during voting and in the days after. European officials quoted by the agency said it is “almost certain” Russia intends to execute most elements of the plan, with support to Moldovan opposition parties ranging from advice to funding.
Moldova’s authorities and European institutions have repeatedly warned about heightened interference risks ahead of the ballot. On 10 September, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning intensifying Russian hybrid operations and malign interference targeting Moldova and calling for strengthened resilience measures. The OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an election observation mission led by Jillian Stirk, with a core team in Chișinău and long-term observers across the country. A post-election press conference is scheduled for 29 September.
President Sandu warned that Moscow was preparing “unprecedented” interference through voter bribery, disinformation, cyberattacks and organised protests. She said multiple political projects were being coordinated from a single centre and financed through schemes linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Șor. The Kremlin dismissed the accusations; spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia “does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries”.
The election is widely viewed as pivotal for Moldova’s European trajectory. Parliament voted in April to hold the contest on 28 September, with the outcome likely to determine whether Chișinău sustains momentum towards EU accession. PAS remains the leading force in most recent polling but is at risk of falling short of a majority, raising the prospect of coalition bargaining with parties holding divergent views on foreign policy.
Concerns about external influence operations in Moldova are not new. Last year, authorities said they uncovered a Russia-backed effort involving tens of thousands of citizens aimed at shaping key political outcomes, including a referendum on EU integration. European capitals have since increased political support for Chișinău amid broader regional tensions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Analysts note that Moldova’s large diaspora, the information environment and post-election street dynamics present particular vulnerabilities. The recruitment of out-of-country voters and orchestration of demonstrations—both highlighted in the Bloomberg reporting—mirror interference patterns seen elsewhere in the region. The reported emphasis on “creating the impression of competition” while degrading PAS support is consistent with hybrid tactics that blend legal campaigning with covert influence and disinformation to shape legitimacy narratives around the vote.
Moldovan authorities have urged partners to remain vigilant about proxy financing, covert media networks and the use of religious and civic platforms for political messaging. Civil society organisations and international observers will monitor campaign finance, online amplification patterns and complaints procedures, including any attempts to intimidate election officials—another vector referenced in the reported Kremlin plan.
With all 101 seats in Parliament at stake on 28 September, the conduct of the vote and the immediate aftermath will be closely scrutinised. The reported scenarios for contesting results—either by questioning legitimacy if PAS prevails or by demanding resignations if it does not—underscore the likelihood that pressure points will shift rapidly from polling day to street mobilisation and legal challenges. Authorities in Chișinău and international partners have signalled readiness to respond, while the OSCE/ODIHR mission will issue preliminary findings on 29 September.
Powerful Display of European support for Moldova Joint Mertz-Macron-Tusk Visit on Wednesday
