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.
この記事は The Guardian Weekly の October 18, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は The Guardian Weekly の October 18, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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