Shaheen, Ricketts, Tillis, Durbin Congratulate Moldova on a Successful Referendum Election

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Chair and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, along with U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the U.S. Senate Ukraine Caucus, issued the following joint statement in response to reports of a successful referendum in Moldova, which constitutionally affirms its EU membership aspirations: 

“Following reports of a successful referendum election, we applaud the people of Moldova for enshrining into their constitution a commitment to a more democratic, European future—a rebuke of Moscow’s attempt at malign influence in the country.  

“As the people of Moldova reaffirm their goal of European Union membership, we are clear-eyed that achieving it will be no small feat. In its thirty-three years of independence, Moldova has repeatedly contended with Russian attempts to retain influence, whether through Moscow’s military presence in Transnistria, inside Moldova’s internationally recognized borders, or through rampant mis- and disinformation campaigns. Moldova has also grappled with significant ripple effects from Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor, Ukraine, including disruptions in its energy supply, significant inflation and an unprecedented influx of refugees – to which the Moldovan people responded with generosity.  

“We also welcome the initial results from the presidential contest and an encouraging preliminary statement from the OSCE’s observation mission which described the elections as ‘well-managed’. We hope that the upcoming run-off elections, to be held on November 3, will also be conducted in the same manner and look forward to working with Moldova’s government as it continues strive toward Western integration.” 

Earlier this year, Shaheen led a Congressional delegation to Moldova with U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT). Shaheen and Murphy hosted a roundtable with civil society groups and free media organizations to discuss the threat that disinformation poses to its democracy and the nation’s efforts to combat Russian campaigns that have threatened to undermine Moldovan elections. The delegation also met with Moldova’s Prime Minister Dorin Recean and President Maia Sandu. Durbin met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Chicago last year. 

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