dpa
Moscow
The former Soviet republic of Moldova has voted by a wafer-thin majority to enshrine a pro-European Union course into the constitution, after a referendum beset with accusations that Russia tried to manipulate the vote.
With all the votes counted, 50.46% approved the constitutional change, electoral authorities said on Monday.
Sunday’s referendum was being closely watched in Brussels, but hopes have been dashed of a strong majority in favour of the EU, which pledged Euro1.8 billion ($1.9 billion) in economic aid for Moldova this month.
Moldova is a largely agricultural country which is poor by European standards. It is sandwiched between Ukraine and EU member state Romania, which is also part of NATO.
Moldova, which includes the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria, is a candidate for EU membership but has traditionally been torn between the West and Russia.
