Moldova narrowly votes in favor of EU membership in referendum marred by claims of foreign interference

Moldova held a presidential election and a referendum on EU membership, with the "yes" vote narrowly winning by 50.39% of nearly 1.5 million ballots cast, a slim margin of just over 11,000 votes. The referendum was marred by claims of Russian interference, with President Maia Sandu accusing "criminal groups" working with foreign forces hostile to Moldova's interests of trying to undermine the vote. The Kremlin denied any involvement, calling on Sandu to "prove" election interference. Sandu described the vote as a culmination of her four-year presidency and a crucial step towards Moldova's irreversible path to Europe. The referendum result has left the country with a mandate, but also deep divisions and uncertainty over its direction.