France, Aug. 8 -- As Moldova heads towards parliamentary elections in September, concerns are mounting over an alleged Kremlin-backed campaign to alter the country's pro-European direction.

Moldova's pro-European leader, President Maia Sandu, has warned that Moscow is orchestrating an "unprecedented" campaign to sway the outcome in its favour.

"The Russian Federation wants to control Moldova from the autumn," she declared at a press conference on 30 July. "They are preparing massive interference to get their people into the next parliament."

Sandu, who has been a vocal critic of the Kremlin, particularly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, outlined a broad playbook of alleged interference tactics: vote-buying funded through cry...