Moldovan President Warns of Russian Disinformation Targeting Diaspora Ahead of Parliamentary Elections

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has raised serious concerns over Russia’s escalating efforts to influence the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections, claiming that Moscow is deliberately targeting Moldovan citizens living abroad with a coordinated disinformation campaign.

In an interview with the Financial Times on September 14, Sandu said Russia’s hybrid tactics have grown increasingly sophisticated, blending online propaganda, religious influence, and criminal activity to weaken Moldova’s democratic institutions and sway the electoral outcome.

Sandu highlighted the central role of the diaspora in recent national votes, noting that expatriate support was crucial to her re-election in 2024 and to the successful referendum endorsing European Union membership. She reported that Russian Orthodox clergy have been enlisted to disseminate pro-Kremlin messaging, while the “Matryoshka” bot network spreads fake news across social media platforms, creating the appearance of legitimate international reporting.

The president also warned of domestic measures employed by Russian interests, citing efforts to provoke unrest within Moldovan prisons through criminal groups. She estimated that Moscow spent resources equivalent to approximately one percent of Moldova’s GDP to influence the 2024 elections and said the tactics have now evolved to encompass a wide spectrum of institutional pressure.

“Russia is using a very broad range of tools, trying to overwhelm our institutions,” Sandu said, emphasizing that integration with the European Union remains Moldova’s most reliable defense against Kremlin interference. She urged Brussels to expedite accession talks for both Moldova and Ukraine to strengthen the region’s democratic resilience.

Sandu’s remarks coincide with stricter monitoring by Chisinau authorities of online platforms and religious networks accused of spreading Kremlin narratives. The government has recently blocked applications linked to Russian and Belarusian propaganda and is keeping close watch on clerical and media channels amplifying foreign influence.

As Moldova approaches its parliamentary elections on September 28, Sandu’s warnings underscore the ongoing challenges facing the country’s democratic process amid heightened geopolitical pressures and a sophisticated information war targeting its citizens both at home and abroad.