A street in Chisinau, capital of Moldova. © IWPR

A man cycles past a train station on May 3, 2022 in Chisinau, Moldova. More than two months into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fears of the conflict spilling over into Moldova, a country of 2.5 million inhabitants, has increased after two attacks on April 23 and 24 in the separatist region of Transnistria. © Andreea Campeanu/Getty Images

Focus

Countering Disinformation in Moldova

The Countering Disinformation in Moldova (CDM) project builds the capacity of local Moldovan organisations and journalists to effectively counter disinformation operations in their country.

Years active: 2022-present

CDM draws on IWPR’s successful track record supporting local CSOs and media organisations in the Eastern Partnership region, including Moldova.

Such as the ongoing Amplify, Verify, Engage (AVE) programme and the recently launched Building Resilience in Eastern Neighbourhood (BREN) project, funded by the United Kingdom's Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF). The CDM project is supported by CSSF.

LATEST FROM THE PROJECT

British Ambassador to Moldova Steven Fisher delivered the keynote speech during the launch of the Independent Countering Disinformation Centre (CDC) in Chișinău. © Mariana Aricova

Project Highlight

New Centre to Tackle Disinformation in Moldova

IWPR launches one-stop shop for media and civil society to address Moldova’s hybrid threats.

At the training event in Chisinau, participants learned the basics of podcasting. © Lilia Zaharia

Project Highlight

Moldova: Learning Key Skills to Counter Disinformation

Training events cover advanced fact-checking, conflict sensitive communication and open-source intelligence.

Project Highlight

Moldova: From Village to Village

Project trains people in more isolated areas how to identify and combat fake news.

Konstantin, a pensioner from Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia, watches a report about the announcement of "partial mobilization" for the war against Ukraine on pro-Kremlin channel Rossiya 24. © Piotr Garchu/IWPR

Russian Propaganda Dominates Moldova’s Gagauzia

Pro-Kremlin narratives rule the information space in an autonomous region with deeply rooted ties to Moscow.

Andrey Kolioglo came out in March 2018 and faced widespread harassment. Since March 2022 he lives in France, where he was granted asylum in the wake of the discrimination he faces in his native Moldova.

Coming Out in Gagauzia’s Conservative Society

“Living life with a constant feeling of fear; this is what you have to get used to here if you are gay.”

Moldovans Face Bomb Threats and Cyberattacks

Attacks are tracked to pro-Kremlin forces as tools to put pressure on Chisinau in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A workshop held on 8 and 9 July by IWPR's partner in Moldova, WatchDog.MD, for the representatives of local media and the government about countering Russian disinformation. © WatchDog.MD

Project Highlight

Moldovan Media and Officials Fight Fake News Together

A lack of accurate government information provides fertile ground for false narratives to feed distrust and ultimately destabilise the country.

IWPR's partner, Association of Independent Press, has trained citizens in more isolated, rural areas of Moldova – who often remain particularly vulnerable to manipulation - in how to identify and counter disinformation. © Association of Independent Press (API)

Project Highlight

Moldovan Journalists Explain High Cost of Disinformation

Media literacy seminars in more remote parts of the country highlight danger of fake news.

IWPR’s local partner in Moldova, the Association of Independent Press (API), held two seminars in May and June 2022 as part of a project supporting Moldovan media’s resilience to disinformation following Russia’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. The project is funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). © IWPR

Project Highlight

Moldovan Media Learn New Skills to Build Resilience

Programme provides emergency response to fighting fake news surrounding the Ukraine conflict.

Moldova: The Disinformation Handbook

IWPR Moldova's Disinformation Handbook is aimed at journalists, communicators, campaigners and educators.

Summary of Countering Disinformation Moldova (CDM) Formative Research

This summary provides an overview of the research methods, key findings and insights which have emerged from parts of the Moldovan public politically aligned as neutral towards Russia or the West.

Moldova: From Village to Village

Project trains people in more isolated areas how to identify and combat fake news.