How the Kremlin is trying to hijack an EU referendum

Last spring, customs officers in the tiny nation of Moldova struck gold.

- Pjotr Sauer

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.