Moldovans vote in pivotal election and EU referendum

EPAThree hours before polls closed in Chisinau, turnout stood at more than 50%

Polls have closed in Moldova, where people have been voting in the country's presidential election and in a referendum on whether to enshrine the goal of joining the European Union in the constitution.

Voter turnout stood at more than 51% when polls closed at 21:00 local time (18:00 GMT), making the referendum valid.

Incumbent pro-EU President Maia Sandu is hoping to win a second term.

She faces 10 challengers, some of whom favour close relations with Russia. If no presidential candidate wins more than half of the vote, the two top candidates will go to a run-off in two weeks' time.

After casting her ballot in the Moldovan capital Chisinau earlier on Sunday, Sandu singled out the referendum vote as one that would set up the future of Moldova for "many decades ahead".

She added that people were choosing for themselves how they and their country should live, and warned Moldovans against letting what she called "dirty money" determine their vote – an apparent nod to allegations by the Moldovan authorities of a vote-buying campaign linked to Russia. The Kremlin has staunchly denied these claims.

One of Sandu's opponents, Aleksandr Stoianoglo – who is supported by the pro-Russian Party of Socialists – said he had not voted in the referendum as he did not support the idea of changing the constitution – although he added he was a supporter of his country's "European aspirations".

Young people queuing at polling stations said they were voting because they wanted to choose a European future for their country – for the sake of the economy and for more opportunities.

Some said they were fed up of being "pulled" towards Moscow, decades after the Soviet Union collapsed and Moldova became independent.

"We have to choose a European future for our country, for our children, our future – for geopolitics, for peace, that’s the most important," a voter called Oksana told the BBC. "Because we are between Europe and Russian influence, and we have to choose what we want."

At a polling station for residents of the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria – which is economically, politically and militarily supported by Russia – the BBC stumbled upon evidence of vote-buying.

A BBC producer heard a woman who had just dropped her ballot in the transparent box ask an election monitor where she would get paid.

Outside, we asked directly whether she had been given cash to vote and she admitted it without qualms. She was angry that a man who had sent her to the polling station was no longer answering her calls. “He tricked me!” she said.

She would not reply when asked who she had voted for.

In September, Ilan Shor – the fugitive Moldovan businessman accused of funnelling large amounts of cash into the country from Russia – offered money to convince “as many people as possible” to vote No or to abstain in the EU referendum.

This week, Shor then made a video statement telling people to vote for "anyone but Sandu" in the presidential election.