Pro-EU leader claims Moldova victory despite alleged Russian meddling

Moldova’s pro-EU President Maia Sandu has claimed a second term on Sunday after a tense election run-off seen as a choice between Europe and Russia.

With most preliminary results counted, Sandu led with almost 55% of the vote, and in a late-night speech she promised to be president for all Moldovans.

Her rival Alexandr Stoianoglo, who was backed by the pro-Russian Party of Socialists, had promised a closer relationship with Moscow.

During the vote, the president’s national security adviser said there had been “massive interference” from Russia in Moldova’s electoral process that had “high potential to distort the outcome”.

Russia had already denied meddling in the vote, which came a week after another key Eastern European election in Georgia, whose president said it had been a “Russian special operation”.