Citizens of Moldova are heading to the polls on Sunday for a presidential election and a referendum on EU membership. Voting began at 7 a.m. local time and will conclude at 7 p.m. (0400-1600 GMT), with over 1,100 local and 280 foreign observers monitoring the process. The elections are taking place under the shadow of ongoing tensions between the West and Russia, with Moldova having become a battleground for influence since it declared independence. Voters are faced with choices regarding integration with Europe or closer ties with Russia. Before the election, the Moldovan government accused Moscow of attempting to destabilize the country by providing education in Russia to Moldovan citizens and obstructing their rapprochement with the EU. Conversely, Russia has claimed that Moldova has taken "unfriendly" actions against it, including blocking the use of the Russian language, urging Chisinau to remain neutral as stipulated in its Constitution. The Russian-backed "Victory" group opposes the current government. In the referendum, voters will be asked, “Are you for the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union?” A "YES" vote would amend the Constitution to make EU accession a constitutional goal. Twelve parties support the "YES" option, while two back "NO." For the referendum to be valid, voter turnout must exceed 33%. Alongside the referendum, Moldovans are electing a president for a four-year term, amid economic hardships exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine War and challenges with natural gas supplies. Pro-Western President Maja Sandu is seeking re-election and hopes to secure a "YES" vote in the referendum, which would enshrine Moldova"s EU accession as an "irreversible" goal in the Constitution. According to data from the Moldovan Central Election Commission, voting is occurring in 36 regions and at embassies abroad, covering more than 3 million eligible voters, including those overseas. Thirty ballot boxes have also been set up in the Moscow-leaning breakaway region of Transnistria, which has declared unilateral independence from Moldova and hosts around 2,000 Russian soldiers. Moldovan electoral law requires that at least one-third of voters participate for the presidential election to be valid, and a candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes to win outright; otherwise, a second round will be held. A total of 11 candidates are vying for the presidency, including Sandu from the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), former Baltsi Mayor Renato Usatii from Our Party, and former Prime Ministers Vasile Tarlev and Ion Chicu. Independent candidates include former Interior Minister Andrei Nastase and former Foreign Minister Tudor Ulianovschi. Among the candidates are two Gagauz Turks: Irina Vlah, former President of the Gagauz Autonomous Region, and Alexandr Stoianoglo, former Prosecutor General, representing the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova. Since taking office in 2020, Sandu has led Moldova to receive "candidate country" status and initiated EU membership negotiations, following her victory over a pro-Russian candidate. While Nastase supports EU membership, Stoianoglo, Tarlev, and Morar criticize the EU and advocate for closer ties with Russia. Many candidates have criticized Sandu"s administration for the deepening economic crisis, rising inflation, and increased natural gas prices. Surveys indicate that Sandu is expected to receive approximately 29.5% of the vote, while Usatii is projected to secure 13.3%. Stoianoglo is polling at 11.6%, and Tarlev at 6.1%. Given these numbers, it is likely that no candidate will exceed the 50% threshold in the first round, resulting in a second-round runoff. The Moldovan Central Election Commission has announced that no exit polls will be conducted during the election. — Agencies