President Maia Sandu said on Monday Moldovans had won a "first battle in a difficult fight" for their future, a day after a slim majority of 50.46% backed EU accession in a referendum that was clouded by allegations of Russia-backed meddling.

Electoral data shows that Moldovans have voted by a razor-thin majority in favor of securing the country’s path toward European Union membership.

A narrow vote in favor of opening a path to EU membership in the tiny economy of Moldova highlights Russia’s influence that remains strong in the region. The former Soviet republic sought to break the Kremlin’s decade’s-long grip,