Russia For Min-We're Monitoring Moldova Situation Ahead Of Local Elections

The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that, '"We are monitoring the situation in Moldova ahead of local elections", while also claiming that Chisinau has denied accreditation to six Russian election observers as part of the OSCE/ODIHR monitoring mission, adding that "We view this decision as violation of international obligations and evidence of an anti-Russian policy."

• While Moldova is a frontier market and only a peripheral player in the European economy, its geostrategic position between NATO member Romania and war-torn Ukraine while hosting a breakaway republic loyal to Moscow gives it an outsized importance in terms of regional politics.
• Moldova holds its local elections on 5 Nov, and this vote is seen as a key signal of the success (or lack thereof) in President Maia Sandu's effort to pull Moldova in a more pro-European direction. In October, thecountry's Constitutional Court barred the pro-Russia Shor party of exiled billionaire Ilan Shor from running candidates. Sandu has also accused Russia of funneling USD5mn to "criminal groups" in Moldova, referring to pro-Russia parties, in an effort to "buy" votes.
• A strong performance by the Party of Action and Solidarity founded by Sandu would send a strong signal to Brussels that Moldova is shifting in a more pro-European direction amid its EU accession process. However, should the pro-Moscow Bloc of Communists and Socialists score strong results in rural areas and smaller cities it could highlight risks to political stability following the allegedWagner group-run coup attempt against Sandu's administration in Feburary.