Sandu exposes how Russia interferes in Moldova’s elections with fakes, bots and priests

According to Moldova’s President, Russia has expanded its interference in Moldova’s elections to target voters living abroad, ahead of the parliamentary vote scheduled for later this month.

Sandu, who relied on the diaspora to win a second term last year and secure a “yes” vote for EU membership, said that Moscow has intensified its online disinformation campaign.

“The Russians are targeting the diaspora,” Moldova’s President said.

Sandu accused Moscow of using Russian Orthodox priests to spread propaganda and deploying the Matryoshka bot network to create fake content disguised as legitimate foreign media.

Sandu, whose pro-European Action and Solidarity Party hopes to retain its majority on September 28, said she fears a repeat of the 2024 campaign, when Russian agents allegedly made false bomb threats against Moldova’s polling stations abroad, including in Germany.

Last year, Moldova’s security services detailed an “unprecedented” Russian attack on the country’s electoral process, accusing Moscow of pouring vast sums of money into the former Soviet republic to buy votes through an extensive network of intermediaries.

Elections in Moldova

Just last month, the Center for Countering Disinformation reported that Russia was stepping up its information campaign in Moldova ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28.

Shortly before that, the center also reported that on the eve of Moldova’s parliamentary elections,the Kremlin had intensified propaganda aimed at discrediting the pro-European authorities, undermining trust in the electoral process, and dividing the diaspora.

According to the Center, the main focus is on the topic of political prisoners and alleged repression against pro-Russian forces.