Acting on a national intelligence tipoff, they intercepted more than 100 passengers arriving from Russia via Armenia, each carrying bundles of cash just shy of €10,000 ($11,000)-the threshold for mandatory declaration. In a single night authorities at Chişinău airport seized more than €900,000.
Moldovan officials swiftly announced that the cash couriers were part of a scheme allegedly led by a Kremlin-linked fugitive oligarch and aimed at financing protesters and buying votes in this month's presidential election and pivotal EU referendum.
The operation offered an early indication of what Moldovan and western officials have described as an unprecedented effort by Russia to undermine the country's bid for EU membership and weaken the authority of its pro-western presidents.
"Russia is pouring millions in dirty money to hijack our democratic processes. This isn't just meddling - it's full-blown interference aimed at destabilising our future," said Olga Roşca, a foreign policy adviser to the pro-western president, Maia Sandu.
The election, set for 20 October, in which Sandu faces re-election, is to be held on the same day as a referendum asking Moldovans whether they support constitutional changes that could eventually enable the country - one of the poorest in Europe - to join the EU.
Esta historia es de la edición October 18, 2024 de The Guardian Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición October 18, 2024 de The Guardian Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
After the fall
He was known for taboobusting, transgressive stories about identity, sexuality and belonging. Then Hanif Kureishi broke his neck. Despite a lifechanging injury, he's still every bit as provocative
Province's blueprint for sharing land with First Nations
An experiment is under way in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province: the government is rewriting its laws to share power with Indigenous nations over a land base bigger than France and Germany combined.
True superstar Nadal calling time on career brings an end to golden era
There are some moments in sport that stand above all others. For Rafael Nadal, that moment came in the early evening at Wimbledon in 2008.
Play chess against Mo Salah? I would love that
The football-mad world No 1 on the players he'd like to face, why he feels he has never played the perfect gameand his retirement plans
Addis adagio Pianist plays a key role in musical adventure
Girma Yifrashewa will never forget the exhilaration of getting his own piano - a surprise gift.
'Coolest job on earth': new team for penguin post office
As a \"tent master\", whose work involves building big tops at music festivals, George Clarke has never run a post office- and certainly never counted penguins for a living.
A children's hospital with its own healing properties
From patient 'cottages' to walls designed for scribbling on, the Kinderspital in Zurich is a child-friendly miracle
Road to recovery Reeling Florida counts the cost of double hurricane strike
More than just clouds were swirling when a tropical disturbance that would become Hurricane Milton formed in the south-western Gulf of Mexico, beginning its inexorable advance towards a strike on Florida's west coast.
Forecasters targeted as conspiracy theories swirl
Meteorologists tracking the advance of Hurricane Milton were targeted by a deluge of conspiracy theories that they were controlling the weather, abuse and even death threats, amid what they say is an unprecedented surge in misinformation as two major hurricanes hit the US.
Tributes paid to ex-Scottish first minister Alex Salmond
Scotland's first minister John Swinney paid tribute to Alex Salmond's \"colossal contribution\" to Scottish and UK politics, as allies mourned his sudden death last Saturday, at the age of 69.
