Moldova. Russian agents from the inside. The journalist exposed “activists” and the vote buying system

“For three months, I documented from the inside, using a hidden camera, how money circulates and how people working for Ilan Sora are recruited and lured into service for Moscow,” wrote Nistor, a reporter for the Ziarul de Garda daily.

The stake, as he writes, is to change the country's pro-European course to pro-Russian by thwarting the referendum on October 20 and by voting for the candidate supported by Sora. Revealing which of the rival candidates of the current president, Maia Sandu, supports the prosecuted w Moldova oligarch and politician, and therefore also Moscow, would take place just one day before the elections.

Read also: Millions of dollars from Russia to bribe voters. Police: criminals use bots on Telegram

In her publication, the reporter describes how the recruitment network works and how money illegally enters the country for “activists” to buy votes and finance anti-government movements.

Convicted in absentia and prosecuted for enormous embezzlement of state money, Sor is currently in Moscow, from where he directs the activities of the party and other pro-Russian structures in Moldova. According to the authorities, media and experts, Sor is trying to take power in Moldova, or at least to create chaos there and prevent the country from integrating with the EU.

The journalist took part in protests, court hearings, and election meetings organized by Sora's people, and distributed their leaflets containing false information about the EU and the pro-Russian Eurasian Union. Finally, an account was opened in a Russian bank under a false name, to which she received money. The funds were then transferred to the company less the intermediaries' margin. According to analysts, money from a Russian bank that is illegal in Moldova goes to Moldovans, among others. through cryptocurrency systems.

When she registered as an activist, she was assigned a link that she could use to “recruit” other people. For each recruited person you receive a commission. The journalist's investigation confirmed the information about the activities of pro-Russian forces in Moldova, which the authorities and media have been talking about for a long time, providing numerous details about how these activities are organized.

At the beginning of October, the police announced that only in September Russia illegally sent over $15 million to Moldova. to buy voters. The money came to the country through intermediaries, from bank accounts in Russia, and the activities were coordinated via bots on Telegram. This case is under investigation.

On October 20, Moldova will hold presidential elections in which the president Maia Sanduwhich supports Moldova's European integration, will run for re-election against ten other candidates. Sandu is the favorite in this election with poll support of 27%. The next candidates – according to support – are moderately pro-Russian Renato Usatii and former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo, who in polls they got about 12 percent each. votes.

In parallel with the elections, a referendum initiated by Sandu will be held, in which Moldovans will answer the question whether accession to the EU should be included in the constitution as a strategic goal of the state.

According to the authorities in Chisinau, before the elections, Russian hybrid activities aimed at torpedoing the policy of the pro-Western government have become even more intense than before. These include information campaigns and illegal transfers of money to the country for pro-Russian activists, politicians and for “buying votes” of voters.