Moldovan Leader Refutes Claims About Moscow's Interference In Country's Election Campaign

Moldovan President Igor Dodon has refuted Prime Minister Pavel Filip's claims about Russia's alleged meddling in the republic's 2019 parliamentary election campaign.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th December, 2018) Moldovan President Igor Dodon has refuted Prime Minister Pavel Filip's claims about Russia's alleged meddling in the republic's 2019 parliamentary election campaign.

Earlier in December, the Russian Interior Ministry announced the so-called migration amnesty for Moldovan citizens who overstayed their permitted duration of stay in the country, which will be in place from January 1 to February 24, when the parliamentary election in the country will be held. Filip said, commenting on the step, that the measure agreed on by the presidents of the two countries might be viewed as Moscow's attempt to interfere in the Moldovan election.

"Russia has not meddled in Moldova's internal affairs," Dodon said, as quoted by Russia's Izvestia newspaper.

According to Dodon, the "migration amnesty" constituted nothing but a gesture of goodwill.

"It is not interference in Moldova's internal affairs on behalf of Russia. At least because our government cannot ensure sufficient number of polling stations in Russia," Dodon stated.

Russia has faced numerous unsubstantiated accusations of meddling in the domestic affairs of other countries following the 2016 presidential election in the United States. Similar accusations have also come from France during its own presidential election last year; Spain amid the referendum in Catalonia; and the United Kingdom, which has stated that Moscow had influenced the Brexit referendum.

Russian senior officials have repeatedly stated that Moscow had not meddled in internal affairs of foreign countries.