Moldova had a choice of two paths – it opted to defy Russia

<p>Voters in the tiny former Soviet republic want to be in the EU club. In standing up to Putin, they may have reminded Europe why its democracy is precious</p><p>• <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/22/this-is-europe-sign-up-guardian-email-updates">Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up here</a></p><p>The “poorest country in Europe” is the pitying qualifier that often slides in to western media reporting about Moldova.</p><p>The former Soviet republic<em> </em>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.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/sep/28/you-have-to-live-ukrainians-on-frontline-practice-normality-despite-russian-bombings">‘You have to live’: normality on the frontline</a></strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/sep/28/you-have-to-live-ukrainians-on-frontline-practice-normality-despite-russian-bombings"> </a><strong><br></strong>In once-occupied Sloviansk, war has become so routine that nobody pays attention to air raid sirens.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/27/estonia-city-mayoral-election-moscow-threat">‘A big chance for the populists’</a><br></strong>Estonian city alert to the threat of Moscow in its mayoral election.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/25/is-trump-right-that-russian-economy-is-on-brink-of-collapse">Is Russia’s economy on the brink of collapse?</a><br></strong>While VAT