Moldova's pro-EU party wins vote among claims of Russian interference

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The pro-European party of Moldovan President Maia Sandu has claimed victory and a new majority in parliament in elections seen as critical for her country's future path to the EU.

Sandu had warned of "massive Russian interference" after voting, saying the future of her country, flanked by Ukraine and Romania, was at stake.

Igor Grosu, the leader of Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), said it had been "an extraordinarily difficult battle" and that Russia had thrown "everything it had" at the election.

PAS secured 50% of the vote, with 99.9% of the 1.6m votes counted, far ahead of the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc on under 25%.