<p>Chisinau: Moldovans go to the polls on Sunday to elect mayors of villages, towns and cities after the president accused Moscow of meddling in the votes in Ukraine's western neighbour and a pro-Russian party was barred from the race.</p> <p>The last national vote before presidential elections in November 2024 comes as the ex-Soviet state tries to advance its bid to join the European Union and leave Russia's orbit.</p><p>Pro-European President Maia Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of plotting to oust her in a coup. This week, she accused Russia of "buying" voters by funneling $5 million to "criminal groups" led by fugitive businessman Ilan Shor in the last two months.</p>.Russia's new nuclear submarine test launches Bulava intercontinental missile.<p>The election to pick 12,000 officials pits dozens of parties against each other, including Sandu's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and the pro-Russian Revival party linked to Shor, who has been convicted in absentia for fraud.</p><p>On Friday, the Chance party, also associated with Shor, was barred from the vote on security grounds.</p>.<p>The election will be an important test of Sandu's course - particularly in smaller towns and villages - since her landslide victory in 2020.</p><p>In the capital Chisinau, mayor Ion Ceban is running for a second term against the PAS party's Lilian Carp. Ceban, who used to hold a pro-Russian position, set up a pro-European party in 2022, though PAS still regards him as a potential Moscow ally.</p>.<p>In a final televised appeal to voters on Friday evening, Sandu called for a high turnout to back her pro-European drive.</p><p>"Thanks to your vote, Moldova has a chance to become a member of the European family. Don't let our villages pass into the hands of thieves," she said.</p><p>Responding to Sandu's comments this week, Russia's foreign ministry called the Moldovan president a "disgrace" and said she was trying to distract attention from her government's failings.</p>.<p>The national security service has accused Shor of helping funnel 1 billion Moldovan lei ($55.60 million) into Moldova to stage anti-government protests during the war in Ukraine and to "buy" voters.</p><p>Shor said he was sending the money to Moldova to help pensioners, finance social infrastructure projects and some politicians. He denied the funds were linked to Russia.</p>.<p>Shor was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison in April for his role in a $1 billion bank corruption scandal. A party bearing his name was banned by the Constitutional Court in June and the Chance Party was set up to circumvent the ruling.</p><p>Polling stations are scheduled to open at 0700 local time (0500 GMT) and close at 2100.</p><p>($1 = 17.9850 Moldovan lei) </p>
<p>Chisinau: Moldovans go to the polls on Sunday to elect mayors of villages, towns and cities after the president accused Moscow of meddling in the votes in Ukraine's western neighbour and a pro-Russian party was barred from the race.</p> <p>The last national vote before presidential elections in November 2024 comes as the ex-Soviet state tries to advance its bid to join the European Union and leave Russia's orbit.</p><p>Pro-European President Maia Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of plotting to oust her in a coup. This week, she accused Russia of "buying" voters by funneling $5 million to "criminal groups" led by fugitive businessman Ilan Shor in the last two months.</p>.Russia's new nuclear submarine test launches Bulava intercontinental missile.<p>The election to pick 12,000 officials pits dozens of parties against each other, including Sandu's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and the pro-Russian Revival party linked to Shor, who has been convicted in absentia for fraud.</p><p>On Friday, the Chance party, also associated with Shor, was barred from the vote on security grounds.</p>.<p>The election will be an important test of Sandu's course - particularly in smaller towns and villages - since her landslide victory in 2020.</p><p>In the capital Chisinau, mayor Ion Ceban is running for a second term against the PAS party's Lilian Carp. Ceban, who used to hold a pro-Russian position, set up a pro-European party in 2022, though PAS still regards him as a potential Moscow ally.</p>.<p>In a final televised appeal to voters on Friday evening, Sandu called for a high turnout to back her pro-European drive.</p><p>"Thanks to your vote, Moldova has a chance to become a member of the European family. Don't let our villages pass into the hands of thieves," she said.</p><p>Responding to Sandu's comments this week, Russia's foreign ministry called the Moldovan president a "disgrace" and said she was trying to distract attention from her government's failings.</p>.<p>The national security service has accused Shor of helping funnel 1 billion Moldovan lei ($55.60 million) into Moldova to stage anti-government protests during the war in Ukraine and to "buy" voters.</p><p>Shor said he was sending the money to Moldova to help pensioners, finance social infrastructure projects and some politicians. He denied the funds were linked to Russia.</p>.<p>Shor was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison in April for his role in a $1 billion bank corruption scandal. A party bearing his name was banned by the Constitutional Court in June and the Chance Party was set up to circumvent the ruling.</p><p>Polling stations are scheduled to open at 0700 local time (0500 GMT) and close at 2100.</p><p>($1 = 17.9850 Moldovan lei) </p>