A Russian Non-Profit Interferes in Moldova’s EU Referendum — And Builds an Anti-Western Influence Machine

Visibly awed by Dugin’s erudition, his co-panelists hurried to agree.

Evrazia head Arshinova, who moderated the discussion, gushed that listening to Dugin reminded her of her student days. “I think, based on your ideological platform, we will really be able to accomplish a lot,” she said, lamenting that the West was better positioned to sell itself and that it was time to catch up. “The West … knows how to sell a candy wrapper without the candy. We have the candy, but we don’t have the wrapper.”

Next up was Shor, who began on a respectful and somber note. “You said everything very correctly, it was really very interesting, and you said it very deeply,” he said to Dugin. “But we’ve lost this fight, at least on the battlefield of Moldova.”

Like other countries, he lamented, Moldova had sold itself for Western money. Apologizing for his “simple language,” he said the answer was to package the EAEU as an attractive “product” that could be offered to the public.

'Get to Know Russia'

If the EAEU will be a product, Evrazia is already working on the attractive packaging.

Many of the 400 visitors Arshinova mentioned at the Moscow forum came to the city as part of the organization’s ‘Get to Know Russia’ program — the same initiative for which Vitaly and Mikhail recorded their upbeat videos by the Moscow River.

On Instagram, the Russian hashtag #GettoKnowRussia2024 yields a smattering of well-produced video clips and attractive photos of the happy participants.

Many have no overt political content: “My childhood dream was to be an actress,” wrote a young Moldovan woman named Polina. “Having come to Moscow thanks to [Evrazia], my dream seems to be coming nearer and I’m starting to believe in it! 🥹🥹❤️ Thank you for showing me the real, mighty, strong Russia!”

But the trips clearly have an ideological component. As reported by RFE/RL, participants are asked to deepen their involvement with Evrazia by doing things like enrolling in the organization’s media school or becoming an “ambassador.”

In Moldova, reporters found that several participants had become involved in anti-EU activism.

Among them was Mikhail, the young man with the backwards baseball cap who loved his visit to the Kremlin. In a video produced by the Russian state news agency Sputnik, Mikhail describes himself as the coordinator of a grassroots initiative.

“The goal of our civic platform, ‘For Fair Elections,’ is aimed at informing citizens and promoting the importance of their participation in the electoral process,” he said.

Described that way, the organization’s message does not sound political, but its website reveals a clear anti-European stance: “Will we become hostages of European integration, or will we preserve our national identity, traditions, and values?” it asks. “Moldova should become free of foreign ideologies that are imposed from abroad.”

Reporters found another Moscow trip participant, Artyom, taking part in a small anti-EU and anti-NATO protest in the center of Chisinau.