Moldova's pro-EU leader in tight run-off as Russia denies meddling

Moldovans are going to the polls successful the 2nd circular run-off of a statesmanlike predetermination seen arsenic a prime betwixt a European aboriginal oregon a instrumentality to Russian influence.

Pro-European President Maia Sandu faces Alexandr Stoianoglo, a antheral she fired arsenic main prosecutor, who has promised to equilibrium overseas argumentation betwixt the West and Russia and has the backing of the pro-Russian Party of Socialists.

Sandu and Moldova's authorities person warned that a fugitive oligarch present based successful Russia is trying to bargain the predetermination for Moscow.

The Kremlin has denied interfering successful the vote, overmuch arsenic it did during past weekend's disputed elections successful Georgia, whose president described the ballot arsenic a "Russian peculiar operation".

"We resolutely cull immoderate accusations that we are someway interfering successful this. We are not doing this," said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

Sandu won the archetypal circular of the ballot 2 weeks agone with 42.4%, good up of Alexandr Stoianoglo connected 26%, but abbreviated of the 50% she needed to triumph outright. His ballot is apt to summation due to the fact that of the votes of candidates who failed to scope the run-off.

Stoianoglo has told Moldovans helium would beryllium an "apolitical president" for everyone, with a extremity of security, bid and prosperity, and a "truly European model".

But commentators and politicians person warned that a Stoianoglu triumph could radically alteration the governmental scenery successful the Danube and Black Sea region, not due to the fact that helium is immoderate benignant of "Trojan horse", but alternatively due to the fact that Russia has thrown its value down him.

Former Moldovan Defence Minister Anatol Salaru said the predetermination would determine whether Moldova would "continue the process of European integration oregon instrumentality to the Russia fold".

A erstwhile Soviet republic flanked by Ukraine and Romania and 1 of Europe's poorest countries, Moldova has a colonisation of 2.5 million. It besides has a ample expat colonisation of 1.2 million, whose votes could beryllium cardinal to Maia Sandu successful the run-off.

Moldova has opened talks connected joining the European Union, and connected the aforesaid time of the archetypal circular Moldovans voted by a whisker to backmost a alteration to the constitution embracing the committedness to articulation the EU.

The tiny borderline successful favour came arsenic a surprise, though Maia Sandu said determination was wide grounds of attempts to bargain 300,000 votes.

The BBC spoke to 1 elector who said she and others had sold their votes for up to 1,000 roubles (£8).

Whatever Russia's relation down the scenes, constabulary said fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor had moved $39m (£30m) implicit 2 months from Moscow into Moldovan slope accounts successful September and October, benefiting astatine slightest 138,000 voters.

Shor denies wrongdoing but did committedness currency handouts to radical prepared to backmost his telephone for a "firm No" to the EU. He faces a lengthy jailhouse condemnation successful Moldova for wealth laundering and embezzlement.

Stoianoglo denies links to Ilan Shor but helium does person the backing of the absorption pro-Russian Party of Socialists, led by ex-president Igor Dodon.

A populist ex-mayor who came 3rd has refused to backmost either him oregon Maia Sandu, criticising some successful adjacent measure.

"Do what you spot fit. You indispensable determine connected your own," Renato Usatii told his supporters, blowing the contention wide open.