Moldova's pro-EU leader faces a close runoff election as Russia is accused of interference

Moldovans are voting in the second runoff of a presidential election seen as a choice between a European future or a return to Russian influence.

Pro-European President Maia Sandu faces Alexandr Stoianoglo, a man she fired as chief prosecutor, who has promised to balance foreign policy between the West and Russia and who is backed by the pro-Russian Socialist Party.

Authorities in Sandu and Moldova have warned that a fugitive oligarch now based in Russia is trying to buy the election for Moscow.

The Kremlin has denied interfering in the vote, just as it did last weekend in Georgia's disputed elections, whose president called the vote a “Russian special operation.”

“We firmly reject all allegations that we are interfering in this matter in any way. “We don’t do that,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Sandu won the first round of voting two weeks ago with 42.4%, well ahead of Alexandr Stoianoglo with 26% but below the 50% she needed to win overall. His number of votes is expected to increase due to the votes of candidates who did not make it to the runoff.

After the vote, Sandu warned Moldovans that “thieves” wanted to buy their vote and their land and called on them to preserve their country's independence.

Stoianoglo, who promises to be an “apolitical president” for all, told reporters he voted for “a Moldova that should develop in harmony with the West and the East.”

But commentators and politicians have warned that a Stoianoglu victory could radically change the political landscape in the Danube and Black Sea regions, not because he is some kind of “Trojan horse” but because Russia has thrown its weight behind.

As of 4:00 p.m. (1400 GMT), 43% of Moldovans had cast their votes and large queues were reported in Moscow and Belarus, as well as at polling stations in Romania, France and Italy.

Moldova's former defense minister Anatol Salaru said the election will decide whether Moldova “continues the process of European integration or returns close to Russia.”

Moldova is a former Soviet republic flanked by Ukraine and Romania and is one of the poorest countries in Europe. The population is 2.5 million. There is also a large expatriate population of 1.2 million whose votes could be crucial for Maia Sandu in the runoff.

Moldova has started talks about joining the European Union, and on the same day of the first round, Moldovans narrowly voted in favor of amending the constitution that includes a commitment to join the EU.

The narrow margin came as a surprise, although Maia Sandu said there was clear evidence of attempts to buy 300,000 votes.

The BBC spoke to one voter who said she and others sold their votes for up to 1,000 rubles (£8).

Of the 1,988 polling stations open in Moldova until 9 p.m. Sunday (7 p.m. GEZ), 30 were opened to voters from the predominantly Russian-speaking breakaway region of Transnistria, which borders Ukraine and is home to a Russian military base with 1,500 troops and one huge weapons depot.

Voters must cross the Dniester River to enter Moldova-controlled territory, and local media showed images of cars streaming across a bridge to vote in the eastern town of Rezina.

Whatever Russia's behind-the-scenes role, police said fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor transferred $39 million (£30 million) from Moscow to bank accounts in Moldova over two months in September and October, benefiting at least 138,000 voters.

Shor denies wrongdoing but promised cash to people willing to support his call for a “decisive no” to the EU. He faces a long prison sentence in Moldova for money laundering and embezzlement.

Stoianoglo denies ties to Ilan Shor but enjoys the support of the pro-Russian opposition Socialists Party led by former President Igor Dodon.

A populist ex-mayor who came third refused to support him or Maia Sandu, criticizing both equally.

“Do what you think is right. You have to decide for yourself,” Renato Usatii told his supporters, blasting the race.