US State department releases statement by the Governments of the United States of America, Canada, and the United Kingdom on Russia’s subversive activity and electoral interference targeting Moldova.
President Maia Sandu and Moldova’s security institutions have warned that the Kremlin is seeking to undermine Moldovan democratic institutions in the lead-up to the October presidential elections and a referendum on Moldova’s EU membership.
We share President Sandu’s strong concerns about the Kremlin’s use of criminal groups to finance political activities and undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions.
We commend Moldova’s leaders for continuing to capably manage these threats, build resilience, and maintain peace and security, while driving forward democratic reforms and reviving the country’s economy.
That is why today, in defense of our shared democratic values, we are taking this step to warn our democratic partners and Allies that Russian actors are carrying out a plot to influence the outcomes of Moldova’s fall 2024 presidential election.
They intend to incite protests in Moldova should a pro-Russia candidate not win. They seek to foment negative public perceptions of Western governments and Moldova’s incumbent leadership, while degrading public confidence in Moldova’s ability to secure itself and maintain rule of law.
Russia is currently supporting candidates for Moldova’s presidency and is exacerbating societal tensions. These Russian actors are actively using disinformation and propaganda online, on the air, and on the streets to further their objectives. They are agitating criticism of the incumbent Moldovan president’s government and political party, in order to incite protests.
Part of these operations would include spreading lies about the incumbent president’s character and intentions, and about supposed electoral irregularities.
If Russia’s election meddling proves unsuccessful in Moldova, there is reason to believe Moscow will work to incite protests.
Russia’s political interference in Moldova in the lead-up to the October election goes back years.
For example, personnel of state-funded media outlet RT have been involved in providing direct support to fugitive Moldovan Ilan Shor for several years with Russian government assent.
All three of our governments have sanctioned Shor for his destabilizing electoral activities.
