Luka Melnichenko is the oldest man in his village.
The 90-year-old man quietly surveys the village scene from a bench in front of his home.
After about 30 minutes a bicycle passes by. Today, about 750 people live in his home Kyoselia Rusa.
It’s a different world from when Moldova was part of the Soviet Union, a time he remembers fondly.
“It was good, everyone here was working. No one left to go abroad. Not like today,” says Mr. Melnichenko.
This weekend, Moldovans will vote in a referendum on joining the EU, with preliminary polls suggesting around 63% are in favor.
But not Mr. Melnichenko.
As for Europe and Russia, he is clear where his loyalties lie: “It will be better with Russia,” he declares.
“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin, he’s the best guy.”
In the pro-Russian autonomous region of Gagauzia, where Mr. Melnichenko lives, many feel closer to Moscow than to the West.
“Europe will not be good for us because there is nothing good in Europe,” says his daughter Tatiana.
Ivan and Evgenia
But up the road we meet Ivan who is pro-European.
“Europe, Europe, Europe,” he chanted.
Although he is in the minority in his village, he hopes that a yes vote will lead to more jobs.
Pre-election event for President Sandu
But his wife Evgenia has concerns.
She says Russian propaganda and disinformation has increased sharply ahead of this weekend’s referendum and presidential election.
“I think 70 percent of the people are zombies,” she says, claiming residents are being brainwashed and encouraged by Kremlin supporters to vote against or not vote at all.
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One of the poorest countries in Europe, Moldova applied to join the EU after that Russia invaded Ukrainebut Moscow has no desire to give up its influence in the former Soviet state, strategically located next to Ukraine and the Black Sea.
Earlier this month, Moldovan police seized money and documents linked to Russian-backed groups allegedly trying to interfere in the vote.
They found that more than 130,000 people were bribed to vote against on Sunday.
On Thursday, they announced that they had uncovered a program in which hundreds of Moldovan citizens were brought to Russia to receive training in organizing riots and civil unrest.
A tent pitched in Chisinau to inform about the upcoming referendum. Photo: Reuters
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While Moscow has been accused of behind-the-scenes meddling, pro-EU President Maia Sandu has taken to the streets, trying to drum up support.
She believes enshrining the desire to join the EU in the constitution will help prevent pro-Russian forces from thwarting that ambition in the future.
Pro-Europeans see Moldova as the frontline of the clash between Western democracy and Russian authoritarianism and believe Sunday’s referendum could be one of the most historic decisions taken by the country since it gained independence from the Soviet Union.
They say a yes vote would signal a decision to move even further away from the Kremlin; It does not mean a step back towards Moscow.
