-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Ivan Khomenko")
Ukraine has strongly condemned Russia’s interference in Romania’s presidential elections, calling it another manifestation of Russia’s hybrid aggression against Europe.
According to a statement from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian actions in Romania are an attempt to undermine the Romanian people’s constitutional right to free elections. The Ministry characterized the interference as part of a broader campaign targeting European democracies, noting similar efforts in Georgia, Moldova, and other nations in recent months.
The statement emphasized that these actions reveal the Kremlin’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine, threatening the sovereignty of EU and NATO member states. Ukraine urged for a collective and decisive response to such threats, including robust support for Ukraine to ensure European stability.
“Romania is a vital neighbor and reliable partner of Ukraine,” the statement read. “Our solidarity with the Romanian people remains steadfast. We sincerely hope the electoral process will proceed without further foreign interference, allowing citizens to exercise their democratic rights freely.”
The statement follows the annulment of the results from the first round of Romania’s presidential election, held on November 24. The Constitutional Court of Romania overturned the results on December 6 after examining declassified evidence alleging external manipulation of the campaign of Călin Georgescu, a candidate linked to a pro-Russian platform.
Georgescu’s campaign had drawn scrutiny for its rhetoric, including claims framing Russia’s war in Ukraine as a conspiracy by US arms manufacturers. The annulment decision came after Romania’s Supreme Defense Council acknowledged foreign influence in the election process.
The second round of voting was initially set to feature Georgescu and Elena Lasconi, a candidate from the opposition Save Romania Union. However, the decision to nullify the first-round results has necessitated a review by the Central Electoral Bureau, including a recount of all ballots.
Earlier, Romanian authorities have reported unusual activity on social media platforms linked to the elections. Researchers highlighted coordinated disinformation campaigns, allegedly originating from fake accounts, to influence public opinion. These findings prompted a summons for the CEO of TikTok to appear before the European Parliament to address concerns about the platform’s role in the electoral process.
