In the past three months, the Moldovan Presidency has been targeted by 39 false information, disseminated on the Internet by pro-Kremlin propaganda networks. Messages on Telegram, Facebook publications, Tiktok, Instagram, Web articles … Newsguard company, specializing in the surveillance of disinformation, updated this magnitude operation which attacks the European Pro-Union Maia Sandu president.
Accused of being dependent on “psychotropic drugs”. Or to have diverted 24 million dollars from funds. To have been elected during fake elections. To be in the first place of the most corrupt European leaders… Maia Sandu was named in several of these false claims. Their mode of distribution, which consists in imitating articles and reports by usurping the graphic codes of famous Western media, allows them to be attached to the Russian destabilization operation known as the Matriochka. These stories, imitating the productions of the BBC or Euronews, have generated nearly two million views on Telegram, according to the Newsguard count.
The challenge of the next legislative elections
Russian efforts to tarnish the image of the pro-EU president of this country of 2.5 million inhabitants are explained in particular by the approach of the legislative elections, scheduled for September 28. As Florent Parmentier, secretary general of the Sciences Po Political Research Center (CEVIPOF) and specialist in Moldova, public opinion and the country’s political field, explains. “A part massively supports Maia Sandu’s project to get closer to the EU. Another part, also significant, hesitates or even wishes a rapprochement with Russia. Russian power thinks that Moldavian power is more fragile than it seems. »»
Last year, the “yes” in the referendum for the registration in the constitution of the objective of membership in the European Union had not won by a very short majority (50.35 %). “During the 2022 presidential election, the diasporas had made the difference. On the very territory of Moldova, the president had been beaten because the macroeconomic situation of the country is complicated, ”explains the specialist. The stakes are therefore in size for these next elections. “The objective is therefore not necessarily for Russia to win a majority over the next legislative elections, but to make Maia Sandu in a relative majority position. This would already force him to make an alliance with other parties, which for some could more easily be manipulated by Russia. »»
Especially since Moldova has east of its territory the transnistria, a pro-Russian separatist province. “For a long time, Russia hesitated between two policies: whether the transnistria is independent or that it is part of Moldova, to try to control the entire country. Until now, this is the second option that has imposed itself, ”observes Florent Parmentier.
She “embodies and claims” a rapprochement with the EU
Maia Sandu is also very supported by its European Pro-Union base. Its large majority obtained in previous legislative elections in 2021 allowed him to launch ambitious reform and rapprochement policies with Europe. “She claims and embodies this rapprochement with the EU”, analyzes the Doctor of Political Science. Moldova officially asked to join the European Union in March 2022 and obtained the status of candidate four months later. EU leaders decided to open up the membership negotiations with the country, started in June 2024.
As Newsguard reports, the Moldovan Government, “sincerely concerned” by Russian interference attempts, has decided to prohibit state television channels. For Florent Parmentier, Russian disinformation could also in the future be accentuated by Romanian nationalists. “Maia Sandu has pushed a lot in favor of the election of Nicușor Dan (pro-European president), and it is possible that part of the Romanian nationalists are eager to take revenge, at least symbolic, on the president”.
