Destruction of the European Future: Russia Plans Political Revenge In Moldova

Pro-Russian opposition representatives in Moldova met in Moscow on Sunday, April 21, to announce the beginning of forming a new anti-European political bloc aimed at derailing the country's accession process to the European Union. This bloc, named "Victory," is linked to the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor and aims to challenge Moldova's President Maia Sandu and her pro-European government in future elections, according to Bloomberg.

It's worth noting that Moldova faces three crucial votes in just over a year. On October 20, presidential elections will take place, where the incumbent head of state Maia Sandu will compete against a pro-Russian candidate and former president of the country, Igor Dodon, for a second term. On the same day, a constitutional referendum on EU accession will be held, and parliamentary elections will take place in the summer of 2025.

It's evident that ahead of these elections, pro-Russian forces are coordinating to seize power and disrupt Eurointegration processes in Moldova.

"The task is to win the presidential elections and the referendum on Moldova's EU accession," said oligarch Ilan Shor.

Shor's rhetoric and that of his supporters are typical of anti-European and pro-Russian politicians. They particularly scare Moldovan citizens by claiming that the EU wants to "turn Moldova into a testing ground for weapons," a "waste dump," "resettle illegal migrants to Moldova," and so on. These arguments are primarily aimed at the uneducated, less literate, and economically disadvantaged.

It's worth noting that Ilan Shor has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in Moldova for organizing a scheme that stole $1 billion from the country's banking system. He currently resides in Israel and regularly visits Moscow, despite Moldova's Interpol request for his extradition.

The Moldovan authorities have stated that the political grouping around Shor is the main instrument Moscow is using to destabilize the country.

"The whole country saw the traitors of the country in Moscow. They were created in Moscow, near the Kremlin, so it's clear who they work for and serve," said Andrei Spinu, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development and a member of the ruling PAS party.

According to the latest public opinion poll in Moldova, two parties associated with Shor have a combined support of 11.7%. Two more parties from the orbit of the pro-Russian oligarch were not included in the poll as they are still too small, and the fifth Shor-affiliated party was declared unconstitutional in Moldova.

However, it's noted that two pro-Russian forces could join Shor's anti-European coalition: the Socialist Party of former President Igor Dodon, which received 22.6% support in the latest poll, and the Communist Party, attributed with 6.8% support. Such a hypothetical coalition could realistically vie for power in Moldova and pose a threat to the country's European future.