Moldova's intelligence agency has stated that Russia is preparing to interfere in the upcoming elections
Russia is already preparing to interfere in the upcoming elections in Moldova by stepping up its disinformation campaigns and attempts to influence public opinion.
According to Alexander Mustiace, head of the Information and Security Service, Moldova is now better prepared to counter external interference than in previous years, but the threats continue to evolve.
“We are much better prepared for the Russian Federation’s next attempts at interference. At the same time, we must not let our guard down, because they are not letting theirs down. They have very large teams of specialists, very well-paid, who target us every day,” Mustiace emphasized.
He noted that this year, the security service has recorded a significant increase in disinformation and propaganda campaigns. Whereas Telegram used to be the main channel for spreading propaganda, TikTok has now become the primary tool for disseminating disinformation. In addition, manipulative campaigns on Facebook have intensified, and temporary websites created to spread false information have begun to appear.
According to the director of the CIB, such campaigns are aimed at undermining citizens’ trust in democratic institutions, particularly the armed forces, the security sector, law enforcement, and the justice system.
Mustață also stated that online and telephone scams may be part of a broader influence strategy. According to him, Russian intelligence services are collecting citizens’ personal data, which can later be used for recruitment or fraudulent schemes.
Separately, the head of Moldova’s intelligence service stated that Moscow is attempting to strengthen its influence in the country’s political sphere. According to him, one of the tools used is establishing control over the political elite through recruitment, promoting certain politicians, or illegally financing individuals acting in Russia’s interests.
This was stated by Alexander Mustiață, director of Moldova’s Information and Security Service (SIB), according to Deschide.
As a reminder, the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned its citizens about heightened checks, interrogations lasting several hours, and instances of coercion to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense when attempting to enter Russian territory.
Moldova intends to use peace negotiations with Russia to reclaim Transnistria.
