With a population of just 2.6 million and one of the smallest economies in Europe, Moldova barely registers by most European Union metrics. Yet the small former Soviet republic wedged between EU member Romania and war-ravaged Ukraine has drawn outsized attention from the continent’s powerful democracies and Vladimir Putin’s Russia. After decades under the Kremlin’s influence, Moldova started a concerted shift toward the EU in 2020. That has touched a nerve with pro-Russian elements looking to pull it back into Moscow’s sphere of influence.
In a move aimed at loosening the Kremlin’s influence over the country, Moldova’s pro-European government held a referendum on EU membership on Oct. 20, opening a path for joining the bloc. Moldovans voted yes by a margin of just 50.4%, amending the country’s Constitution to enshrine the EU accession goal. Moldova said Russia spent about €100 million ($109 million) to try to disrupt the referendum, and a presidential election held at the same time. Moscow denied the allegations of meddling and called on Moldova’s government to present evidence of it happening.