According to recent information, the pro-Russia Socialist Party has contested the results of the presidential election held in Moldova. The party claims that rule violations, as well as the reduction in the number of polling stations for Moldovans living in Russia, led to the defeat of the Socialist candidate.
This case is particularly significant because Moldova has expressed a strong desire to join the ranks of Western countries. Russia, however, is far from pleased with this and has instead supported the independence of Transnistria, a region formally part of Moldova, aiming to turn it into a Russian vassal state.
For this reason, I expect two things from the European Union, and Western nations in general, regarding this matter. First, they must ensure that the Socialist Party’s claims have no basis— as I assume— and thereafter express strong support for the president-elect, including, if necessary, defending Moldova's independence by force. This support should ideally involve sending peacekeepers to the country, should Moldova’s leadership so desire.
This course of action is necessary to prevent Russia from finding room to pursue its ambitions of reintegrating former Soviet republics under Moscow’s control. It will also ensure that Moldovans do not end up in the same situation as Ukrainians have faced.
I remember a story from the good old days of Soviet Union. Someone had made a burglary to the headquarters of the local agricultural co-operative. "Was something stolen?" "The results of the vote." "So, no damage was done." "But they were the results of the next vote!"
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