Moldova president believes 'Russia has not achieved its objectives' after pro-EU party wins election

(29 Sep 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

++UPDATE TO FIX TRANSLATION++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chisinau, Moldova - 29 September 2025
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Maia Sandu, Moldovan President:
"Yes, I do believe that Russia has not achieved its objectives. It has spent a lot of money in these elections, but the results show that they failed. And it failed because of the common, of the joint efforts of the state institutions, of the media, of the press, of the civil society. So it was really a response by the entire society to these attempts by Russia to interfere. And you have seen investigations by the national, by the local press. You have seen investigations by the international press. We have proof of the money that Russia spent or wanted to spend. And of course, we have proof of attempts to bribe the voters in different regions of the country."
++BLACK FRAMES++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Maia Sandu, Moldovan President:
"Well, of course, it's... The democracy is clean, should be clean. And the elections that we fought for, we fought for clean elections. How would you see the situation when, over the last 20 years, the genuine vote from the Transnistria region is 15 to 20,000, and then suddenly, and you hear from the regime in Tiraspol... That people from the Transnistria region should not participate in the elections on the right bank of Dniester because they don't recognise Transnistria being part of Moldova. And then suddenly, they're all concerned about, you know, hundreds of thousands of people that need to vote. How would you see the situation when none of the political parties, or the political parties which are not supported by Russia are not allowed to go to the Transnistria region and to campaign? How would you ensure a proper democratic process? It is very clear to us that... And we have done our best to provide the conditions for the people from the Transnistrian regions who have been genuinely participating in the election process. For the last, as I said, 15 to 20 years to come and vote, and they have been able to do that. But when Russia organises a massive vote-buying scheme, it's easier for Russia to do it on the left bank of Dniester because the Moldovan police is not allowed to go there. The Moldova Anti-Corruption Centre is not allow to go there. So how do you make sure that this is the decision of the Moldovans and not the decision paid by Russia? It's not an easy question, but let's look at the figures we had in the past. Let's look at the genuine vote."
++BLACK FRAMES++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Maia Sandu, Moldovan President:
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said "Russia has not achieved its objectives" despite spending "a lot of money" in the country's election that saw the pro-Western governing party defeat pro-Russian groups.

Moldovans gave the country's governing party a clear parliamentary majority in a vote widely viewed as a stark choice between East and West.

"Russia has not achieved its objectives," said Sandu. "It has spent a lot of money in these elections, but the results show that they failed."

"We believe in freedom and democracy and that's the choice of the Moldovan people."

Landlocked between war-torn Ukraine and EU and NATO member Romania, Moldova was a Soviet republic until it proclaimed independence in 1991.

In recent years it has taken a clear Westward path, turning the country into a geopolitical battleground between Russia and Europe.
The Russia-friendly Alternativa Bloc came third, followed by the populist Our Party.

The right-wing Democracy at Home party also won enough votes to enter parliament.
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