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Georgia prosecutors drop all 15 counts of money laundering against 3 'Cop City' activists

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Georgia prosecutors drop all 15 counts of money laundering against 3 'Cop City' activists
News

News

Georgia prosecutors drop all 15 counts of money laundering against 3 'Cop City' activists

2024-09-18 06:19 Last Updated At:06:31

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia prosecutors on Tuesday dropped all 15 counts of money laundering that were levied against three Atlanta organizers accused of misusing a bail fund to aid violent protests against the city’s proposed police and fire training center.

Atlanta Solidarity Fund leaders Marlon Kautz, Adele MacLean and Savannah Patterson still face racketeering charges, along with 58 others who were indicted last year following a yearslong investigation into the “Stop Cop City” movement. Prosecutors have portrayed the decentralized movement as being led by “militant anarchists” hell-bent on radicalizing supporters and halting the construction of the facility by any means necessary, including arson.

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Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of an under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as "Cop City," protest at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of an under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as "Cop City," protest at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as "Cop City" disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as "Cop City" disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of an under-construction law enforcement training center that critics call "Cop City," protest at City Hall in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of an under-construction law enforcement training center that critics call "Cop City," protest at City Hall in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

At the center of the case is the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, which has provided bail money and helped find attorneys for arrested protesters. Prosecutors said the three defendants funneled money that was supposed to be for charitable causes and instead used it to reimburse protesters who spent months camping in the South River Forest, near the site of the facility in DeKalb County, just outside Atlanta.

Transactions that prompted the 15 counts of money laundering included $93.04 for “camping supplies” and $12.52 for “forest kitchen materials,” according to the indictment.

But just as a motions hearing was about to start Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General John Fowler told Fulton County Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams that he would be filing paperwork to dismiss the 15 counts. A spokesperson for Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr did not say why the money laundering charges were dropped but emphasized that the racketeering charges remain.

Kristen Novay, the attorney for Patterson, applauded the decision.

“The entire indictment is defective, but with those particular counts, I think it is a wise move for a seasoned prosecutor to say, ‘This isn’t worth it,'” Novay told The Associated Press. “Sometimes the hardest call as a prosecutor is to not go for something.”

Demonstrators and civil rights organizations have condemned the racketeering indictment and accused Carr, a Republican, of levying heavy-handed charges to try to silence a movement that has galvanized environmentalists and anti-police protesters across the country. Opponents say the 85-acre, $110-million facility will worsen police militarization and harm the environment in a poor, majority-Black neighborhood.

Despite various attacks against the site and contractors’ equipment over the past couple of years, construction on the training center has continued, and officials say they are planning to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in December. Supporters say the city must replace outdated facilities and that it is key to better train officers to avoid improper use of force.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of signed petitions to let voters weigh in on the project have spent the past 12 months sitting untouched in boxes as officials await a court ruling on whether nonresidents were wrongly allowed to collect signatures. City officials are hoping the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will kill the petition drive either because it is illegal under state law or because organizers missed their original deadline. The court, which heard arguments in December, has yet to issue its ruling.

Outrage over the stalled referendum continued Monday, when dozens of protesters testified in front of the Atlanta City Council and then hurled hundreds of pingpong balls throughout the chamber as they chanted, “You have dropped the ball.”

Efforts to prosecute those responsible for numerous violent “Stop Cop City” protests have hit multiple stumbling blocks. Last year, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston, a Democrat, announced she would withdraw from criminal cases tied to the protests, citing disagreements with Carr. And in July, Judge Esmond Adams castigated prosecutors for committing “gross negligence” for mishandling confidential email conversations that Kautz, MacLean and Patterson had with their attorneys, though Esmond Adams denied defense attorneys' motion to dismiss the case on those grounds.

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of an under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as "Cop City," protest at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of an under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as "Cop City," protest at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as "Cop City" disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as "Cop City" disrupt the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Ping pong balls litter the floor after opponents of the under-construction law enforcement training center known to some as Cop City disrupted the City Council meeting at City Hall in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of an under-construction law enforcement training center that critics call "Cop City," protest at City Hall in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Opponents of an under-construction law enforcement training center that critics call "Cop City," protest at City Hall in Atlanta, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldovans cast votes in a decisive presidential runoff Sunday that pits pro-Western incumbent Maia Sandu against a Russia-friendly opponent, as ongoing claims of voter fraud, electoral interference, and intimidation threaten democracy in the European Union candidate country.

In the first round held Oct. 20, Sandu obtained 42% of the ballot but failed to win an outright majority. She faces Alexandr Stoianoglo, a former prosecutor general, who outperformed polls in the first round with almost 26% of the vote.

Polling stations will close at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT). By 6 p.m., more than 1.5 million people — about 50% of eligible voters — had cast ballots, according to the Central Electoral Commission.

A poll released by research company iData indicates a tight race that leans toward a narrow Sandu victory, an outcome that might rely on Moldova’s large diaspora. The presidential role carries significant powers in areas such as foreign policy and national security and has a four-year term.

Moldova's diaspora played a key role in a nationwide referendum also held on Oct. 20, when a narrow majority of 50.35% voted to secure Moldova's path toward EU membership. But the results of the ballots including Sunday's vote have been overshadowed by allegations of a major vote-buying scheme and voter intimidation.

Instead of winning the overwhelming support that Sandu had hoped, the results in both races exposed Moldova’s judiciary as unable to adequately protect the democratic process.

On Sunday, Moldovan police said they have “reasonable evidence” of organized transportation of voters — illegal under the country's electoral code — to polling stations from within the country and from overseas, and are “investigating and registering evidence in connection with air transport activities from Russia to Belarus, Azerbaijan and Turkey.”

“Such measures are taken to protect the integrity of the electoral process and to ensure that every citizen’s vote is cast freely without undue pressure or influence,” police said.

Moldova’s foreign ministry said on Sunday afternoon that polling stations in Frankfurt, Germany and Liverpool and Northampton in the U.K. had been targeted by false bomb threats, which “intended only to stop the voting process.”

Stanislav Secrieru, the president’s national security adviser, wrote on X: “We are seeing massive interference by Russia in our electoral process,” which he warned had a “high potential to distort the outcome” of the vote.

Secrieru later added that the national voter record systems were being targeted by “ongoing coordinated cyberattacks” to disrupt links between domestic polling stations and those abroad, and that cybersecurity teams were “working to counter these threats and ensure system continuity."

Moldova’s Prime Minister Dorin Recean said that people throughout the country had received “anonymous death threats via phone calls” in what he called “an extreme attack” to scare voters in the former Soviet republic, which has a population of about 2.5 million people.

After casting her ballot in Chisinau, Sandu said “today, more than ever, we must be united, keep our peace, keep our vote, keep our independence".

“Thieves want to buy our vote, thieves want to buy our country, but the power of the people is infinitely greater,” she told reporters.

Outside a polling station in Romania’s capital, Bucharest, 20-year-old medical student Silviana Zestrea said the runoff would be a “definitive step” toward Moldova’s future.

“People need to understand that we have to choose a true candidate that will fulfill our expectations,” she said. “Because I think even if we are a diaspora now, none of us actually wanted to leave.”

In the wake of the two October votes, Moldovan law enforcement said that a vote-buying scheme was orchestrated by Ilan Shor, an exiled oligarch who lives in Russia and was convicted in absentia last year of fraud and money laundering. Shor denies any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors say $39 million was paid to more than 130,000 recipients through an internationally sanctioned Russian bank to voters between September and October. Anti-corruption authorities have conducted hundreds of searches and seized over $2.7 million (2.5 million euros) in cash as they attempt to crack down.

In one case in Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova where only 5% voted in favor of the EU, a physician was detained after allegedly coercing 25 residents of a home for older adults to vote for a candidate they did not choose. Police said they obtained “conclusive evidence,” including financial transfers from the same Russian bank.

On Saturday at a church in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, Father Vasilii told The Associated Press that he's urged people to go and vote because it's a “civic obligation” and that they do not name any candidates.

“We use the goods the country offers us — light, gas,” he said. “Whether we like what the government does or not, we must go and vote. ... The church always prays for peace.”

On Thursday, prosecutors raided a political party headquarters and said 12 people were suspected of paying voters to select a candidate in the presidential race. A criminal case was also opened in which 40 state agency employees were suspected of taking electoral bribes.

Cristian Cantir, a Moldovan associate professor of international relations at Oakland University, told AP that whatever the outcome of the second round, it “will not deflate” geopolitical tensions. “On the contrary, I expect geopolitical polarization to be amplified by the campaign for the 2025 legislative elections.”

Moldovan law enforcement needs more resources and better-trained staff working at a faster pace to tackle voter fraud, he added, to “create an environment in which anyone tempted to either buy or sell votes knows there will be clear and fast consequences."

Savlina Adasan, a 21-year-old economics student in Bucharest, said she voted for Sandu and cited concerns about corruption and voters uninformed about the two candidates.

“We want a European future for our country,” she said, adding that it offers “many opportunities, development for our country … and I feel like if the other candidate wins, then it means that we are going ten steps back as a country.”

A pro-Western government has been in power in Moldova since 2021, and a parliamentary election will be held in 2025. Moldova watchers warn that next year’s vote could be Moscow’s main target.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moldova applied to join the EU. It was granted candidate status in June of that year, and in summer 2024, Brussels agreed to start membership negotiations. The sharp Westward shift irked Moscow and significantly soured relations with Chisinau.

Since then, Moldovan authorities have repeatedly accused Russia of waging a vast “hybrid war,” from sprawling disinformation campaigns to protests by pro-Russia parties to vote-buying schemes that undermine countrywide elections. Russia has denied it is meddling.

McGrath reported from Bucharest, Romania. Associated Press writer Nicolae Dumitrache in Comrat, Moldova, contributed to this report.

Alexandr Stoianoglo, presidential candidate of the Socialists' Party of Moldova (PSRM), leaves a voting station after casting his vote, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, during a presidential election runoff. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alexandr Stoianoglo, presidential candidate of the Socialists' Party of Moldova (PSRM), leaves a voting station after casting his vote, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, during a presidential election runoff. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alexandr Stoianoglo, from left, presidential candidate of the Socialists' Party of Moldova (PSRM), watches his daughters Cristina and Corina cast their votes during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alexandr Stoianoglo, from left, presidential candidate of the Socialists' Party of Moldova (PSRM), watches his daughters Cristina and Corina cast their votes during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A woman prepares to cast her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A woman prepares to cast her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu speaks to the media after casting her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu speaks to the media after casting her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu prepares to cast her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu prepares to cast her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu smiles after casting her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu smiles after casting her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu speaks to the media after casting her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu speaks to the media after casting her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu arrives to cast her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu arrives to cast her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu prepares to cast her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Moldova's President Maia Sandu prepares to cast her vote during a presidential election runoff, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alexandr Stoianoglo, presidential candidate of the Socialists' Party of Moldova (PSRM) gestures after casting his vote, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, during a presidential election runoff. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alexandr Stoianoglo, presidential candidate of the Socialists' Party of Moldova (PSRM) gestures after casting his vote, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, during a presidential election runoff. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alexandr Stoianoglo, presidential candidate of the Socialists' Party of Moldova (PSRM) and his wife Tvetana Curdova prepare to cast their votes, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, during a presidential election runoff. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Alexandr Stoianoglo, presidential candidate of the Socialists' Party of Moldova (PSRM) and his wife Tvetana Curdova prepare to cast their votes, in Chisinau, Moldova, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, during a presidential election runoff. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A man backdropped by a statue of Lenin, checks his phone in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A man backdropped by a statue of Lenin, checks his phone in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A woman pushes a baby stroller backdropped by moldovan and gagauz flags in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A woman pushes a baby stroller backdropped by moldovan and gagauz flags in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Women attend a religious service inside the Saint John the Baptist cathedral in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Women attend a religious service inside the Saint John the Baptist cathedral in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A view of the statue of Lenin next to Moldovan and Gagauz flags, in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A view of the statue of Lenin next to Moldovan and Gagauz flags, in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Security guards talk near the entrance of GagauziyaLand amusement park, in the village of Congraz, Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Security guards talk near the entrance of GagauziyaLand amusement park, in the village of Congraz, Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Women attend a religious service inside the Saint John the Baptist cathedral in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Women attend a religious service inside the Saint John the Baptist cathedral in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A cleric carries loafs of bread offered in memory of the departed at the end of a religious service inside the Saint John the Baptist cathedral in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A cleric carries loafs of bread offered in memory of the departed at the end of a religious service inside the Saint John the Baptist cathedral in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A man cycles backdropped by Moldovan and Gagauz flags in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A man cycles backdropped by Moldovan and Gagauz flags in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Father Vasilii speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the Saint John the Baptist cathedral in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Father Vasilii speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the Saint John the Baptist cathedral in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia, an autonomous part of Moldova, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, ahead of a presidential election runoff taking place on Nov. 3. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A boy plays next to a statue of Lenin, with the words "Board of Honor" written in Cyrillic in Romanian and Russian in Chisinau, Moldova, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

A boy plays next to a statue of Lenin, with the words "Board of Honor" written in Cyrillic in Romanian and Russian in Chisinau, Moldova, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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