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.

The country’s aspiration to join the European Union will now be enshrined in the constitution, but the referendum was incredibly close.