The electoral period was further marked by external interference, especially from the Russian Federation, amplifying the vulnerabilities of the democratic process. The involvement of fugitive Ilan Shor, currently in Russia, heightened tensions in the public space. The situation was aggravated by incidents such as assaults on journalists, pressure exerted on magistrates, as well as disinformation campaigns regarding the diaspora’s right to vote. The findings are contained in the second report of the Promo-LEX Mission to observe the parliamentary elections, IPN reports.

According to Promo-LEX findings, the authorities responsible for the security sector point to the Russian Federation as the source of interference in the electoral process, which manifests itself through various instruments of interference. These include electoral corruption and illegal financing from external sources, as well as the organization of paid protests.

The Monitoring Mission indicates that the activation of protest actions by the parties coordinated by Ilan Shor, including through the promise of payment for participation in these protests, took place against the backdrop of the sentencing in the case of the Bashkan of Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutul, and the former secretary of the Shor party, Svetlana Popan. This sentence refers to the criminal case regarding the illegal financing of the former party by an organized criminal group.

Promo-LEX emphasizes that the Russian Federation is also involved in the electoral process in Moldova by promoting the narrative of “election fraud through the diaspora”. National authorities have firmly rejected these interferences and condemned disinformation campaigns directed against voting abroad, as well as the entire electoral process.

Report No. 2 of the Parliamentary Election Observation Mission of September 28 includes findings from the period July 22 – August 27.