The tiny European state of Moldova is increasingly being drawn into the maelstrom of NATO’s war against Russia. On Monday, the US-allied government of Maia Sandu claimed victory in a referendum held the day before over whether the country should join the European Union. According to the Central Election Commission, 50.39 percent of voters supported and 49.61 percent opposed EU ascension. Slightly more than half of those eligible to cast a ballot did so.

Pro-EU forces in Moldova claim victory in questionable vote

The International Republican Institute is affiliated with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). See my “front organizations” page regarding NED and Amnesty International.

Related:

06-10-2024 Daniel Runde and Thomas Bryja: Moldova’s Fate Is Tied to Ukraine’s: Now Is the Time for the West to “Go Big” on Moldova

Daniel F. Runde’s Support for Ukraine (CSIS):

Runde has played an active role in mobilizing U.S. and international support for Ukraine.

Since May 2022, Runde has served as Director of the Ukraine Economic Reconstruction Commission at CSIS, a bipartisan and international project with the goal of producing a policy framework for a future Ukraine.

Runde convened the CSIS Doing Business in Ukraine Conference in September 2023 to discuss Ukrainian business and trade opportunities with the U.S. and G-7 allies.

At the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, Runde participated in two panels at Ukraine House Davos discussing views on Ukraine in Washington and the need to galvanize global support for Ukraine

Runde sits on the board of the Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF), a $285 million fund investing in small and medium-sized enterprises active in Ukraine and Moldova. WNISEF was an investor in Horizon Capital “HCGF IV” Fund and Runde met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv for the official signing ceremony on April 28, 2023.

HCGF IV is “the first growth capital and largest fund raised since the onset of the full-fledged invasion.”

Runde currently serves on the board of Spirit of America and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

Center for Strategic and International Studies’ donors

[Updated] Moldova says ‘no’ in vote on joining EU: partial results (see section about front organizations in Moldova)