Moldova: We know all Russia's tricks

European integration did not divide society but rather demonstrated how important it is to have everyone involved in the process.

The Kremlin’s hands and rubles, which were sown throughout the country, did not reach people with voting rights abroad, and the referendum brought a positive result only thanks to the overseas vote.

The pro-European choice for the presidential office is neither obvious nor straightforward. The Russians have been quite successful at playing on people's desire for low prices and inflation, shifting responsibility onto others, and offering simple solutions through satellites, whose access to Moscow's money is no secret.

I would say we were in a similar situation around 2010-2012, when the communists were preparing a referendum on whether to join the Customs Union or the EU. Back then, society wanted to live like in Europe but didn’t want to quarrel with the Russians.

"For elections to be fair and free, it requires long and persistent effort, as we are well aware of all the tricks when it comes to interference from our neighbors."

If it weren’t for the Revolution of Dignity and then the Great War for Independence, we too would likely have a 50/50 split on the EU, not to mention NATO, for which over 80% of Ukrainians now support membership.

This process also shows that when a state is weak, it's easier to take control not by force, but through interference in the political process. And it’s also cheaper.

Source

About the author. Olha Aivazovska, Chair of the Board of the Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors (GNDEM).

The editors don't always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.