Moldova vote winner promises ‘balanced’ ties with West, Russia

Moldova’s pro-European election winner Maia Sandu on Monday vowed balanced ties with the West and Russia as Moscow-backed incumbent Igor Dodon conceded defeat and asked his supporters to refrain from violence. Sandu’s election is seen by analysts as a major blow to the Kremlin, which had pinned hopes on Dodon winning a new term. Russia had wanted polarised Moldova to remain in its sphere of influence at a time when several Kremlin-aligned…