Moldova narrowly votes for closer European Union ties in knife-edge referendum
Moldova has narrowly voted for closer ties to the European Union, electoral authorities say.
The yes campaign won the referendum with a slim majority of 50.39% - just a few thousand votes.
Voters were asked whether to enshrine the goal of EU membership in the country's constitution.
Moldova's pro-EU president accused groups "working together with foreign forces" of trying to buy 300,000 votes.
An EU spokesman said on Monday there had been "unprecedented intimidation and foreign interference by Russia and its proxies".
Moldovan police said they had seized money and documents allegedly linked to Russian-backed groups.
The Kremlin, which denies the claims, criticised the vote and said the "opposition was deprived of the opportunity of engaging in the electoral process".
Moscow is not keen to give up influence in the former Soviet state, a country of about three million strategically positioned next to Ukraine and the Black Sea.
Moldovans also voted simultaneously in a presidential election.
President Maia Sandu collected more votes than rival Alexandr Stoianoglo - 42% to 26% - but was short of an overall majority.
It sets up a run-off next month between Ms Sandu and Mr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor-general backed by the pro-Russian Party of Socialists.
Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe, applied to join the EU after Russia invaded Ukraine.
President Sandhu has said she hopes to become a member by 2030 and the long process of accession talks began in June.
