CHISINAU, Nov 3, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Moldovans were voting on Sunday in a
tense presidential election runoff that could decide whether the ex-Soviet
country continues on a pro-European path or tilts back toward Russia's
influence.

The election in the small nation sandwiched between war-torn Ukraine and the
EU is taking place amid fears of Russian interference, and just two weeks
after a referendum on joining the European Union passed by a razor-thin
margin.

Pro-EU incumbent Maia Sandu scored 42.5 percent of the vote in the first
round of the presidential election two weeks ago. Alexandr Stoianoglo,
supported by the pro-Russian Socialists and who was fired as prosecutor
general by Sandu last year, received 26 percent.

But Stoianoglo has since gained the support of other defeated candidates and
analysts are predicting a close battle, similar to Georgia's vote last
weekend, when the ruling party won a contested parliamentary election.

In both ex-Soviet republics, Russia has been accused of seeking to sway
voters, allegations it has denied.

- 'No Kremlin relations' -

Sandu, a 52-year-old fervent pro-Western former World Bank economist, blamed
"foreign interference" for the narrow EU vote result, when 50.35 percent
backed membership. Police said they had uncovered a Russian vote-buying
scheme that could have affected up to a quarter of the ballots.

On Sunday, police said in a statement that "there are reasonable clues of
organised transportation of voters both abroad and domestically".

"Today more than ever we have to be united, to keep the peace, to protect our
vote, to protect our independence," Sandu said after casting her ballot.

"The thieves want to buy our vote, the thieves want to buy our country, but
the power of the people is infinitely greater than any of their foul play,"
she added.

Ahead of the vote, Sandu's camp intensified campaigning on social media and
in door-to-door visits in villages to try to counter any vote buying.

In messages sent to mobiles and even broadcast on supermarket loudspeakers,
police have told people to refuse if they are offered money for their votes.

Police have reported a "massive phenomenon" of people receiving calls,
emails, even death threats, to influence ballots.

Prime Minister Dorin Recean has called it an "extreme attack... to create
panic and fear so that people will be afraid to go out and vote".

Sandu applied for Moldova, which has a population of 2.6 million, to join the
EU after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Accession negotiations formally
opened in June.

While Stoianoglo, 57, says he also favours joining the EU, he boycotted the
referendum, describing it as a "parody", and promised voters a "balanced
foreign policy" that would repair links with Moscow.

If he wins, Moldova could formally maintain its EU ambitions, but he may take
decisions that thwart them, analysts say.

When voting on Sunday, he said he wanted to create "a Moldova that does not
beg, but develops harmonious relations with both East and West".

"I have no relations with the Kremlin, nor with representatives of other
states, nor with special services," said Stoianoglo, who usually gives
speeches that mix Russian with Romanian, the official language.

"I have never participated in vote buying, the party that supports me in this
election does not participate in vote buying," he said.

- Deeply polarised -

Moldova is already deeply polarised. A large diaspora and the capital mostly
favour joining the EU, while rural areas and the pro-Russian separatist
regions of Transnistria and Gagauzia are against.

"We trust Maia Sandu to take us down the right path... (but) here there is
still a Soviet flavour. And this Soviet flavour runs deep to the bone," a 56-
year-old pensioner who only gave her name as Acsenia said.

Others, like Zinovia Zaharovna, 75, said they reject joining the EU, wanting
Moldova "to be an independent country".

"Many people fear war and see a candidate who would have a good relationship
with Moscow as a guarantee that we will not be attacked as well," Andrei
Curararu, an analyst at the Chisinau-based WatchDog think tank, told AFP.

The vote is being closely watched internationally for signs of Russian
interference.

For Curararu, "the pressure is unprecedented" with more than $100 million
estimated to have been spent on "destabilisation activities".

"Moldova is paying a high cost" for aiming to move away from Russia, he said.

Polling stations opened on Sunday at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) and will close at
9:00 pm, with the first partial results expected an hour later.