Russia is trying to create chaos and fear in Chisinau ahead of the elections in Moldova.

On October 20, 2024, presidential elections and a referendum on membership in the European Union will be held in Moldova, and, according to experts, Russia is attempting to undermine the country’s pro-European course by carrying out an aggressive disinformation campaign.

According to Voice of America, Meta, which includes Facebook and Instagram, has just removed a number of fake accounts that were planning to undermine pro-Western forces in Moldova. These accounts associated with Russia actively spread false information, in particular, they criticized the current President Maia Sandu, who is running for a second mandate.

Moldovan authorities also took action by blocking dozens of Telegram channels and chatbots involved in attempts to bribe voters to vote “no” in the referendum. In total, 15 channels and 95 chatbots related to oligarch Ilan Shor, convicted of corruption, who disappeared in Moscow after stealing a billion dollars from Moldovan banks, were closed.

Meta said fake accounts created to spread pro-Russian propaganda were discovered as part of a complex network spanning Transnistria and the occupied territories of Ukraine. Researchers from Meta noted that those responsible for these activities tried to hide their identities, but as a result of the investigation, links were established with Russian and Moldovan citizens.

The Moldovan government estimates that Russia spent millions of euros on manipulation. The head of the national police, Viorel Cernautanu, accused Shor and Moscow of creating a “mafia” scheme to bribe voters, which could influence the vote of 130 thousand Moldovans.