Promo-LEX highlights irregularities ahead of Gagauzia regional elections

Election monitoring group Promo-LEX has published its second report on the upcoming regional elections in Moldova's Gagauzia autonomy, identifying widespread campaign violations. The findings highlight over 240,000 lei in unreported expenses, suspected voter bribery, and misuse of administrative resources. Observers noted that public officials engaged in campaign events during work hours and public funds were used for political promotion.

Additionally, the report documented digital irregularities, including Russian-financed online advertising and coordinated TikTok accounts boosting specific candidates. Among individual incidents, the report noted a €2,000 donation to a local church by PSRM leader Igor Dodon during the campaign period.

Investigative outlet Rise Moldova further reported on past foreign influence efforts, revealing that local politicians requested political marketing training from Moscow in 2020 to sway Moldovan political outcomes.

Sources: Ziarul de Gardă, Newsmaker, TV8, Moldova1, Rise Moldova