McCain Institute, The German Marshall Fund, and European Council on Foreign Relations Host Pre-Election Delegation to Moldova

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 12, 2025) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU), The German Marshall Fund, and European Council on Foreign Relations, organized a pre-election mission to Moldova on September 1-4, 2025. The Moldovan Platform for Security and Defense Initiative hosted the mission.

The delegation included experts on malign foreign influence, elections, and democracy as well as journalists from Europe and the United States. The purpose of the mission was to understand the pre-election environment in Moldova in order to inform policy makers and publics back home.

The delegation met with government leaders, including President Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Dorin Recean, independent journalists, representatives from the major political blocs competing in the elections, international and local civil society organizations, business leaders, diplomats, security experts, and election observers and officials.

The overwhelming concern expressed to the delegation was Russia’s intensified hybrid warfare to undermine the elections and the country’s need for support to defend against the attack. By investing hundreds of millions of dollars through crypto and other illegal financial schemes, the Kremlin has infiltrated major political contenders, the Church, the information space, and voters. The Moldovan government and civic actors have struggled to fight back in this asymmetrical fight.

“At a time when Moldova faces a choice between a free, European state versus a Russian satellite, Western partners should be increasing their support to the nation,” says McCain Institute’s Senior Director for Global Democracy Laura Thornton. “Instead, we see severe cuts in United States foreign aid, dramatically hurting efforts to fend off Russia’s war effort.”

“Russia’s success in Moldova’s elections does not only impact Moldova, but has far-reaching consequences for Ukraine, Europe, and global security,” says The German Marshall Fund’s Regional Director Clara Volintiru. “If Russia effectively controls Moldova, it will use the country to launch its hybrid war tactics throughout Europe and elsewhere.”

“The outcome of Moldova’s parliamentary elections will, without exaggeration, determine the country’s future,” says Leo Litra, visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. “Should Russian malign influence prevail, it could irreversibly derail Moldova’s path toward EU accession.”

The delegation urges enhanced European and U.S. cooperation and aid to support free and fair elections and combat Russia’s attempts to undermine the process.