UK sanctions are the pro -Russian group on the alleged intervention of Moldova’s voices Politics News

The UK is targeting the Russian Evrazia Group, accused of undermining the democracy of Moldova.

The UK says it will impose sanctions on an organization in Russia, which accused it of trying to dry a referendum in Moldova.

By announcing the measures on Wednesday, the UK Office for Foreigners, Commonwealth and Development (FCDO) said that the sanctions targeted a supportive network of Russia from the actors that were seeking to “destabilize democracy in Moldovan and spread the influence of the malicious Russia.”

The Moldovan government accused Russia of trying to undermine its democracy, including during the presidential elections last year, and the pro -Western leader Mia Sando won it, and during a October referendum On whether the country’s constitution should be amended to include support for the European Union membership.

Russia rejected the claims.

The new UK sanctions target Evrazia, freeze its assets and the group’s travel ban, its founder Nelli Paruteco and a member of the Board of Directors Natalia Paraska.

FCDo said that Russian non -profit organizations were used to bribe citizens to vote “no” in a referendum last year on whether the Moldovan constitution should be amended.

British Foreign Secretary David Lami said that measures prove the UK’s commitment to defending democracy.

“When dirty money flows freely, it erodes the public’s confidence, destabilizing the economies and enabling the malicious actors to sabotage the rule of law,” Lami said to the news agency Reuters. “By addressing these threats face to face, we defend the foundations of democratic rule – institutions that citizens can trust and that are held in power.”

London has already accused Moscow of using misleading information, illegal financing and political intervention to weaken Moldova’s democracy. Sando welcomed the sanctions, saying it is a “clear indication that sabotage has consequences” in a post on X.

FCDO said Evrazia is run by Oligarsh Ilan Shore, which is based in Russia and imposed by the United Kingdom in 2022. The European Union imposed sanctions on Evrazia last October.

Moldovan police said that about 130,000 citizens received a total of $ 15 million from Evrazia – with payments ranging from $ 50 a month for “supporters” to more than $ 2,500 per month for “leaders”.

Later on Wednesday, the Prime Minister in Moldova said that the Russian agents spent about 200 million euros (217 million dollars) on the efforts made to buy votes in its presidential elections and the European Union referendum last year.

“The Kremlin agents launched a collective construction campaign, as they spent about 200 million euros-nearly 1 percent of GDP in Moldova-to destabilize our country,” Prime Minister Doreen Ribo told Chesinao.

Moldova has repeatedly accused Moscow of interfering in its affairs to preserve the former Soviet country in its orbit and install it in an attempt to join the European Union by 2030.