Author: Andrei Rusu
Co-authors: Eugen Muravschi, Andrei Curăraru
In August 2024, fugitive oligarchs Ilan Șor and Veaceslav Platon, with support from the Kremlin, ramped up their online disinformation campaigns targeting Moldova’s European path. The estimated cost of these campaigns, mainly conducted through advertisements on Facebook and Google, was €33,300 between 1-30 August. They aimed to manipulate public opinion ahead of the presidential elections and the EU accession referendum, scheduled for October 20, 2024.
Main manipulative narratives:
- EU destroys national identity: The authors claim that the accession to the EU will erode Moldova’s cultural heritage, contrasting with Russia, which allegedly protects national identity.
- EU drives Moldova into debt: The narrative suggests that financial aid from the EU represents loans that will burden future generations.
- Energy crisis caused by EU: The narrative accuses the EU of Moldova’s high energy prices, promoting Russia as a cheaper energy source.
- Russia, as Moldova’s strategic partner: The narrative promotes the idea that Moldova’s prosperity and security depend on close ties with Russia, minimizing the threats posed by Moscow.
- EU membership is pointless: The campaigns aim to convince the public that Moldova will never be accepted into the EU and that the referendum is merely a PR manoeuvre by President Maia Sandu.
These campaigns seek to undermine Moldova’s pro-European trajectory, destabilize the political climate, and erode trust in State institutions. The insufficient actions of Facebook and Google in countering these manipulative advertisements allow the continued influence on Moldova’s public discourse. In collaboration with civil society, Moldova’s authorities must intensify efforts to combat disinformation, actively informing the public and urging tech platforms to prevent electoral interference.