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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Katherine Butler, associate editor, Europe

The Moldova mandate: former Soviet republic opted to defy Russia. Here’s why

Moldovan President Sandu after the announcement of elections results.
Moldovan President Sandu after the announcement of elections results. Photograph: Vladislav Culiomza/Reuters

The “poorest country in Europe” is the pitying qualifier that often slides in to western media reporting about Moldova.

The former Soviet republic is objectively one of the poorest countries in Europe, and it has a population of just 2.4 million people. But its voters demonstrated a remarkable strength last Sunday – standing up to Russian intimidation in an election that was pivotal, for Moldova and for the rest of Europe.

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