German government decries attempts to influence Moldova

The German government condemned what it called "ongoing" attempts by Russia to manipulate and influence Moldova on Monday, a day after voters in Moldova went to the polls in a presidential election and referendum on the country's European Union aspirations.

"We see that Russia and also pro-Russian actors are attempting to destabilize Moldova on a large scale," said deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann in Berlin.

She added: "We condemn this ongoing manipulation and attempts to influence a democratic election and ultimately the decision-making process of the Moldovan people."

Hoffmann called for an investigation into the events. She said that Germany will continue supporting Moldova's path toward EU membership.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office in Berlin said Germany has sent civilian experts and police officers to help counter disinformation as part of a joint EU partnership.

According to the election commission in Chisinau, the pro-Western President Maia Sandu won the first round of the presidential election. However, the 52-year-old will have to face a run-off election on November 3 against ex-prosecutor general Alexandru Stoianoglo, a member of the Socialist Party and ally of former pro-Russian president Igor Dodon.

Sandu has alleged that 300,000 votes were bought for millions of dollars by criminal gangs in collusion with a foreign power, but has not provided further details of the allegations.

She has also deplored what she described as an unprecedented attack on the election by anti-democratic forces.