Romania is Ready to Assist Moldova in Countering Russian Interference in Elections

Romanian President Nicusor Dan declared that Bucharest is ready to provide technical assistance to Moldova to combat Russian hybrid operations in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

His statement comes amid growing warnings from Chisinau about Moscow’s attempts to destabilize the democratic process, Digi24 reported.

Romania Steps In as Moldova Faces Heightened Risks

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Dan underlined that Russia’s interference in Moldova goes beyond the cyber operations and disinformation campaigns already documented by NATO and the EU.

“Once again, I refer to the statements made on July 18 by NATO, the European Union, and the British Government, which indicate that there is Russian interference in Europe. There is a hybrid war by Russia in Europe, with a cyber component and a disinformation component. Therefore, these are facts. For the Republic of Moldova, the facts are even clearer and more intense. Because there, beyond these two components, there was another component, which was vote buying, which is proven in several thousand cases investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Moldova,” Nicuşor Dan pointed out.

The Romanian president stressed that his country is in a stronger position to deal with hybrid threats and could share its expertise in areas such as cybersecurity, but without directly interfering in Moldova’s electoral process.

“It is obvious that we are in a better position than the Republic of Moldova, and at the request of our colleagues we can help them,” Dan added, noting that he had already discussed the issue with Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

Sandu Warns of “Unprecedented Interference”

Earlier the same day, Sandu warned that Moscow is preparing large-scale interference in the September 28 parliamentary elections. She cited plans for coordinated disinformation campaigns, manipulation of public opinion, paid protests, and even sabotage targeting the Moldovan diaspora vote.

According to Sandu, Russia is investing in several political projects inside Moldova, largely financed through the networks of fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, in an attempt to place pro-Kremlin figures in the next parliament.

She also raised concerns over potential cyberattacks against election-related digital infrastructure and other critical systems.

“This should not scare us; it should mobilize us,” Sandu said, adding that Moldovan state institutions are working to coordinate their efforts to protect the country’s sovereignty and European future.

Broader Regional Context

The developments highlight Moldova’s growing vulnerability to Russian influence operations, especially as the country accelerates its EU integration agenda.

Romania’s readiness to step in underscores both the shared risks facing Eastern Europe and the importance of regional solidarity in countering hybrid threats.