Moldova’s referendum on whether to change its constitution and commit to joining the EU hangs in the balance, with the No and Yes votes neck and neck.<\/strong><\/p>\n With Yes on 49.6% and No on 50.3% – with 97% of the vote counted – it is a result few were expecting, as several recent surveys said the Yes vote would comfortably win.<\/p>\n The incumbent pro-EU president Maia Sandu earlier denounced the narrow result as the product of foreign interference in Moldovan politics.<\/p>\n She said it was an “unprecedented assault on democracy”, referring to widespread allegations that Russia paid people to vote a certain way, which Moscow denies.<\/p>\n As well as the referendum on changing the constitution, Moldovans also voted in the country’s presidential election on Sunday.<\/p>\n The votes were seen as key tests for the country, which is facing a choice between pushing on with EU membership or keeping close ties to Russia.<\/p>\n Sandu topped the election first round but by a much lower margin than expected – 41% of the vote – and so will now face a difficult second round in early November in which her opponents will likely unite against her.<\/p>\n She accused “criminal groups” of working together with “foreign forces” of using money, lies, and propaganda to sway the vote.<\/p>\n Sandu also said her government had “clear evidence” that 300,000 votes were bought, which she called “a fraud of unprecedented scale”.<\/p>\n The Kremlin has staunchly denied being involved in claims of vote-buying.<\/p>\n