Author: Andrei Rusu
Co-authors: Andrei Curăraru, Eugen Muravschi
In the context of the parliamentary elections scheduled for 28 September in the Republic of Moldova, the Kremlin has activated an extensive propaganda machinery across YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, with the objective of influencing public opinion and shaping the electoral outcome. The “WatchDog.MD” community has identified a network of 910 accounts across these platforms, which disseminate Russian propaganda narratives, attack the European Union, Moldova’s European integration process, democratic institutions, and pro-European leaders in Chisinau.
The network includes:
- TikTok – 392 accounts;
- YouTube – 51 accounts;
- Instagram – 137 accounts;
- Facebook – 290 accounts și 10 pages;
- Threads – 30 pages.
The identified network includes:
- 512 sock puppet accounts (individuals acting in a coordinated manner under false identities used for deceptive purposes);
- 329 inauthentic accounts (cyborgs, mixing automated and human activity);
- 58 bots;
- 10 Facebook pages.
At the same time, the propaganda network played a role in amplifying the manipulative messages of pro-Russian politicians and parties in Moldova. Thus, among the most cited politicians within the network were:
- Victoria Furtuna – former anti-corruption prosecutor, sanctioned by the EU for attempts to destabilize Moldova;
- George Simion – leader of the extremist AUR party in Romania;
- Eugenia Gutul – governor of Gagauzia, sanctioned by the EU and US for destabilization attempts;
- Ilan Shor – fugitive oligarch based in Moscow, sanctioned internationally for destabilization efforts;
- Calin Georgescu – former Romanian presidential candidate, known for conspiracy theories and Kremlin-linked affiliations;
- Ion Ceban – Mayor of Chisinau, supported by the FSB during the 2019 mayoral election, banned from the Schengen Area as a national security threat to Romania.
A special role within the network is held by the Orthodox Church of Moldova (Metropolis of Moldova), affiliated with the Russian Patriarchate. The propaganda network exploited the Church’s image to disseminate messages opposing European values and the LGBT community. The clerical figure most promoted by the network was the Bishop of Balti and Falesti, Marchel, known for his pro-Kremlin stance and support for pro-Russian politicians.
The propaganda network also made extensive use of artificially generated videos and images. In the case of Victoria Furtuna, the network produced a series of clips featuring avatars intended to convey support for the former anti-corruption prosecutor and the party she leads. The aim of such clips is to create the impression that Furtuna enjoys popular backing among citizens.
The 910 accounts identified so far represent only a segment of a much larger network, potentially numbering in the tens of thousands of entities used for similar operations in other European countries, including Romania. This network poses a direct threat to the informational security of the Republic of Moldova and the integrity of the September 28 electoral process. The “WatchDog.MD” community intends to report the entire network to META, TikTok, and YouTube platforms, which have the responsibility to act swiftly and effectively block digital tools used by sanctioned individuals and organizations engaged in destabilizing Moldova.