Russia steps up propaganda and disinformation in Moldova ahead of September 28 parliamentary elections

In early September, while speaking at the European Parliament, Maia Sandu accused Russia of waging a hybrid war against Moldova, including through disinformation. “The Kremlin’s goal is clear: to capture Moldova through the ballot box, to use us against Ukraine, and to turn us into a launchpad for hybrid attacks on the European Union,” Sandu said.

The Insider has extensively covered the campaigns of the pro-Kremlin Matryoshka bot network, which aims to undermine Sandu’s approval rating. At various times, the bots have accused her of corruption, repression of opponents, and electoral manipulation. They have also tried to create a rift with European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas by alleging Sandu was intent on usurping Kallas’s post. The network even circulated an AI-generated music video mocking Sandu. Other short clips containing false information about the politician were passed off on X and Bluesky as content from global media outlets or Western universities.

In addition to these platforms, the Kremlin uses the following means in order to influence Moldovan voters:

· Telegram: in the spring of 2025, a network of channels was uncovered, named after administrative districts of Moldova and simultaneously spreading AI-generated messages. Local news and neutral greetings (such as “Good morning” or “Happy holidays”) were interspersed with anti-government posts. Some ridiculed Maia Sandu’s anti-corruption policy as political theater, while others promoted the Kremlin’s foreign policy, portraying Western countries as exploiters seeking to take away part of Moldova’s sovereignty. The TgStat service made it possible to establish that the channels were being administered from Russia.

· TikTok is used to engage young audiences with videos featuring simple slogans such as “Why is Moldova poor? Because for 30 years we’ve been choosing between ‘Europeans’ and ‘Socialists.’ Enough!”

· Facebook: in the fall of 2024, Meta reported blocking a network of fake communities and accounts targeting Russian-speaking residents of Moldova. These accounts published criticism of Sandu and other pro-European politicians while also supporting pro-Russian parties in Moldova.

The Kirill Parubets analytical center has highlighted several key themes in the Kremlin’s disinformation campaigns that are underway ahead of the parliamentary elections:

· Moldova’s European integration is equated with the loss of neutrality and the imposition of “non-traditional values.”

· Moldova is persecuting the Gagauz and other national minorities.

· Moldova is being “drawn” into NATO and prepared for a war with Russia.

· The Moldovan economy is in decline, and the PAS cannot ensure a decent standard of living.

Additional themes of Russian propaganda include discrediting Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees, spreading false information about the Moldovan government, fueling separatist sentiments, and promoting the idea of “spiritual closeness to Russia.”