Moldova's election was vital for keeping Russia in check

Russian military aircraft have strayed into EU airspace this past week, testing reactions in nations that used to be Soviet affiliates.

- NICK HARVEY

But further south, an even graver and more immediate Russian intervention has just been identified and blocked. The Republic of Moldova, a small Eastern European nation nestled between Romania and Ukraine, has long found itself at the crossroads of competing geopolitical interests. The country's parliamentary elections have, over the past decade, drawn not only domestic attention but also that of the Russian Federation. Russia's influence campaign in Moldova's parliamentary elections is part of a broader strategy employed throughout the region to shape political outcomes, destabilise pro-European movements and maintain a sphere of influence in the post-Soviet space.

We should make no mistake: if the Kremlin had succeeded in tiny Moldova, its next target would have been EU member Romania next door, where Russian meddling led to a court-ordered annulment of the 2024 presidential election and where a “RomExit” from the EU remains a hot topic.

Moldova's historical and cultural ties to both Romania and Russia make it a unique battleground for influence. Following its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Moldova has struggled to define its foreign policy orientation, oscillating between pro-European integration and maintaining close relations with Moscow. The country's political landscape is deeply fragmented, with parties advocating divergent paths - some seeking closer ties with the European Union, others favouring alignment with Russia.