As war rages in neighbouring Ukraine, Moldova readies for two crucial votes

Moldovans will head to the polls on Sunday for a presidential election and referendum on EU ascension.

On Sunday, Moldovans will have the opportunity to cast two votes.

One is to elect a new president. The other is a referendum on whether their country should include the goal of European Union accession in its constitution.

A landlocked nation home to the pro-Kremlin breakaway region of Transnistria, Moldova is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania as Russia’s war rages on – and is often home to divisions between pro-West and pro-Moscow factions.

Here’s all you need to know:

Moldova is a small nation with a population of about three million. About 500,000 people live in Transnistria.