In August, stickers with the slogan “Russia is not my enemy” appeared in store windows, lampposts and road signs in cities in Romania, France and Italy, in one of the aggressor’s latest attempts to change public opinion, writes Politico.
The information war has also intensified in Moldova. The country is located between Ukraine and the European Union, and parliamentary elections are expected there in late September. Like the 2024 referendum on EU accession, they will also be a test for democracy. This time, Russia is trying to interfere in democratic processes and undermine citizens’ trust in the EU with the help of pro-Kremlin alliances led by oligarchs Ilan Shor and Irina Vlah.
The stakes are high, and the upcoming vote will clearly determine whether Moldova continues on its path towards Europe.
So far, the Moldovan think tank Watchdog Moldova has identified no fewer than 910 social media accounts linked to the spread of Russian propaganda. YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Threads are flooded with content that defames the EU and threatens Moldova’s integration process. In addition, some Moldovans actually support Russia.
Moldova’s pro-European President Maia Sandu warned this morning that
Russia is organizing a campaign of unprecedented scale.
Her center-right party is currently leading the polls with 39% of voters, followed by the pro-Russian Socialist Party, which is supported by 15% of eligible voters. A significant number, around 30%, of voters have not yet decided who to vote for, but it is they who will determine: Moldova will become part of Europe or fall into the clutches of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Maintaining a European direction would mean economic growth. Free trade and the free movement of goods, services and people would mean more job opportunities, which could encourage Moldovans who have left in search of a better life to return. It is estimated that around 1.5 million people have left in the last 30 years. EU membership would also provide a better opportunity to combat corruption. Moldova needs to end the established patterns of the oligarchs, and the current government is trying to do just that. Shor and his ilk are notorious for large-scale abuse of power, including embezzling funds from the country’s largest banks.
A destabilized Moldova would bring chaos to a wider region. One reason would be a new wave of refugees, as Moldova has taken in large numbers of Ukrainians since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This would be a major blow to Europe, already reeling from mass migration. The EU’s border security also benefits from close ties with Moldova – its borders are a tempting place for smugglers.
A victory for pro-European forces would allow them to better combat disinformation spread by the Kremlin. Moldova has been trying to transform its cyber defense systems for several years with the help of the EU, and is particularly supported by neighboring Romania, which is a member of the bloc. Denmark also strongly supports Moldova’s accession to the EU.
Now everything is in the hands of Moldovan citizens, and the stakes are high indeed.
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