Moldova's president warns of Russian interference threat ahead of parliament election

FILE PHOTO: Moldovan President Maia Sandu speaks during a press conference with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the first Moldova-EU summit in Chisinau, Moldova July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza/File Photo

CHISINAU (Reuters) -Moldovan President Maia Sandu said on Wednesday that electoral corruption and illegal external financing from Russia were the biggest threats to parliamentary elections due in September.

"The Russian Federation wants to control the Republic of Moldova from autumn onwards and is preparing unprecedented interference in the September elections," she told a press briefing in Chisinau.

(Reporting by Alexander Tanas and Tom Balmforth; writing by Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Kevin Liffey)