Lessons Learned from Moldova’s Elections

Moldova’s recent presidential election and EU referendum have both underscored the country’s vulnerability to foreign information manipulation and interference.

Although Moldova’s pro-European president Maia Sandu won a second term and referendum on EU accession was successful, speakers at an event hosted by IWPR and the Independent Countering Disinformation Centre (ICDC) in Chisinau this week stressed that the impact of malign influence operations had been keenly felt.

Valeriu Pasa, Director of WatchDog Moldova (WDMD), said that civil society organisations and independent media had been overwhelmed with the amount of disinformation they faced.

“The pro-Kremlin opposition is well-funded and they are now much better prepared for the parliamentary elections in 2025,” he said. “They have tested new methods, understood the limits of our institutions and those of the civic actors, and identified the limits of the international partners who are trying to help Moldova - both financial and procedural.”

Petru Macovei, director of the Association of Independent Press (API), agreed that the deluge of misinformation had been relentless.

“Disinformation reached unprecedented levels,” he continued, emphasising the key role that media watchdogs played in countering fake news.

The API, for instance, fact-checked politicians’ statements in real-time during presidential debates.  

“A critical lesson learned is that journalists must not allow politicians to lie during live broadcasts,” he said. “Moderators should not passively accept false statements from their guests. Journalists need to develop real-time fact-checking skills. By working together, we can strengthen journalists' ability to protect the public interest and respond effectively to disinformation spread by politicians.”

Nadine Gogu, director of the Independent Journalism Center (IJC), explained how her organisation had also taken proactive measures to counter fabricated stories about public figures.

She noted one striking example involving a rumour that Sandu was receiving psychiatric treatment in Austria, a claim widely circulated online, despite official denials.

“We filed a police complaint and issued a press release,” IJC explained, stressing that disinformation needed to be countered swiftly and decisively.

Engaging younger voters was critical, as this demographic often turned to social media platforms were disinformation spread rapidly.

Alexandru Ghetan from the Youth Media Center argued that simply delivering fact-based information would fail to reach this group.

“Let’s stop focusing solely on content that’s ethically correct and factually accurate but lacks emotional appeal,” Ghetan suggested, highlighting the importance of crafting engaging messages to capture young people’s attention.

Irina Tabaranu, Director of Zona de Securitate (ACIM), agreed that social media could be harnessed to counter misinformation, noting examples from Transnistria.

“Although TikTok often receives criticism, it’s been an effective tool,” she said, citing one video that gained substantial traction by addressing local concerns.

Lilia Zaharia, director of Transparency International Moldova, highlighted the importance of engaging with rural communities, where pervasive myths about EU integration were often spread by local officials. Disinformation that EU accession would lead to societal upheaval gained traction in these areas, and Zaharia stressed the need for penalties against public figures who perpetuate such narratives.

“We need sanctions against officials promoting disinformation and hate speech,” she said.

IWPR Caucasus regional director, Beka Bajelidze said that Moldova could learn from last month’s parliamentary vote in Georgia which he described as a “Russian special operation” involving sophisticated psychological tactics, financial manipulation and cyber warfare.

“Disinformation now plays a smaller role in psychological operations,” he explained, noting that these methods went beyond simple propaganda and required coordinated, sustained countermeasures.

Looking ahead to 2025, panelists stressed the importance of coordinated action and deeper collaboration among civil society, media and other stakeholders.

“This is a war of attrition,” Pasa said, “and success will require resilience, strategic resource management and long-term preparation."