Moldova: Ground zero for Russian election propaganda

Russia has allegedly invested over 200 million euros in disinformation campaigns targeting the Republic of Moldova, with the aim of influencing this autumn's parliamentary elections.

Authorities in Chișinău warn that Russian propaganda networks are conducting systematic actions to undermine citizens' trust in state institutions and provoke divisions within society, using false materials, clone websites, and messages translated into multiple languages to reach international media as well.

"This is malicious information deliberately spread in Moldova's villages and towns with a single goal: to divide Moldovan society (...). Thus, the Russian Federation, according to documentation by our institutions, has already invested 200 million euros in propaganda and information operations, which is a percentage of the Republic of Moldova's GDP," warns Government spokesperson Daniel Vodă.

In a press conference, he stated that the Russian propaganda networks Pravda and Matryoshka are responsible for spreading thousands of manipulative materials intended to undermine public trust in democratic institutions and influence election results.

"The Matryoshka campaign isn't just about votes. It's about image. Whoever controls Moldova's image abroad also controls its position in Europe. It is a test for the press, for institutions, for every citizen," adds Andrei Curăraru, an expert at the WatchDog.md platform.

The identified networks operate in multiple languages and use a variety of techniques: clone websites, fake accounts, fake videos, and messages that mimic credible sources.

The publication The Insider notes that Matryoshka launched its first campaign explicitly targeting the Republic of Moldova in April 2025, distributing videos on platforms X and Bluesky accusing Maia Sandu of propaganda, corruption, and repression against the opposition.

One of these videos, presented as an investigation by the French service VIGINUM – an institution that denied its authenticity – claims that the Republic of Moldova is spending one million dollars daily to promote the president on social media. Other materials include accusations related to the detention of the former governor of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, and use of the image of foreign teachers or journalists without their consent.

The campaign appeals to classic Kremlin propaganda themes: it is insinuated that Maia Sandu is part of the LGBT community, that she promotes "non-traditional values," and that she intends to subordinate the Moldovan Orthodox Church to the Romanian Patriarchate, as part of a supposed plan for union with Romania.

Besides Matryoshka, the Pravda network – consisting of over 190 websites and 140 subdomains – automatically redistributes content adapted for various regions. Data from the Disinformation Observatory shows that the Republic of Moldova is the most intensely targeted country in the region, exceeding the average level of propaganda recorded in Western Europe by over 50 times.