The parliamentary election in the Republic of Moldova on September 28 is not only crucial for the country itself, it will also be watched closely in capitals across Europe and in Moscow.
Sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, which is a member of both the EU and NATO, Moldova has gained major geopolitical significance since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The current government in Chisinau is unequivocally pro-European.
Pro-Russian opposition candidates blame the government and the EU for the country's problems.
But what about the people? Amid economic hardship, corruption, massive emigration in recent decades, and a war in neighboring Ukraine, Moldovans seem to believe that everything will be determined by one question: Europe or Russia?