Moldovan authorities fear that up to a quarter of the votes cast in the presidential and EU membership referendums on 20 October could be tainted by Russian money, according to the police chief.
In Orhei, a bastion of fugitive pro-Russian politician Ilan Shore, a party atmosphere reigned last weekend. A wine festival was held in the town, and there was folk music and traditional dancing in the central square, AFP reported.
But just before the weekend, police arrested four of the town's municipal officials on suspicion of election interference.
The arrests were part of a series of raids after police uncovered a massive vote-buying scheme in the former Soviet republic neighbouring war-torn Ukraine.
The Moldovan government has repeatedly warned of Russian meddling as pro-EU President Maya Sandu seeks a second term and a positive result in the EU accession referendum.
This week, Washington accused Russia of "actively working to undermine Moldova's elections." The EU itself has imposed new sanctions on several people. | BGNES
