<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/12/moldova-fears-kremlin-fixing-eu-referendum-russia>
"Last spring, customs officers in the tiny nation of Moldova struck gold.
Acting on a national intelligence tip-off from, they intercepted more than 100
passengers arriving from Russia via Armenia, each carrying bundles of cash just
shy of €10,000 – the threshold for mandatory declaration. In a single night
authorities at Chișinău airport seized more than €900,000.
Moldovan officials swiftly announced that the cash couriers were part of a
scheme allegedly led by a Kremlin-linked fugitive oligarch and aimed at
financing protesters and buying votes in this month’s presidential election and
pivotal EU referendum.
The operation offered an early indication of what Moldovan and western
officials have described in interviews with the Observer as an unprecedented
effort by Russia to undermine the country’s bid for EU membership and weaken
the authority of its pro-western president through a series of destabilising
campaigns.
“Russia is pouring millions in dirty money to hijack our democratic processes.
This isn’t just meddling – it’s full-blown interference aimed at destabilising
our future. And it is alarming,” said Olga Roşca, a foreign policy adviser to
the pro-western president, Maia Sandu."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
