Russian Interference and Disinformation: Implications of a Pro-EU Parliamentary Victory in Moldova

Leaders of Moldova’s pro-EU party, Party of Action and Solidarity, rally at Chisinau in August. Image by Vladislav Culiomza. 

“Today, dear Moldovans, you have given a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in history books.” – Maia Sandu, President of Moldova 

With the victory of the pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) against the Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP) in Moldova’s most recent parliamentary elections held on September 28th, many are reminded of the fragility of democratic institutions—and the unpredictability that accompanies them. This is especially true among former Soviet republics trying to veer away from Russian spheres of influence as they navigate internal and external obstacles in solidifying their path towards European integration. 

Debates surrounding corruption, judicial reforms, energy security, and persistent economic hardship dominated the campaign period. The PAS positioned itself as the party of transparent governance and European engagement, pledging to curb Russian influence in state institutions and accelerate integration with the European Union. By contrast, pro-Russian parties such as the BEP capitalized on economic uncertainty and skepticism toward the EU, advocating for closer ties with Moscow and reaffirming Moldova’s posture of “neutrality” in foreign affairs. 

The ruling pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu and parliamentary leader Igor Grosu, won a clear majority with approximately 50.16–50.2% of the vote. This gave PAS around 55 of the 101 parliamentary seats, securing a stable single-party majority government. Meanwhile, the main opposition was the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP), which received about 24.2% of the vote and won 26 seats. 

Yet in the months leading up to the national elections, Moldovan authorities reported waves of Russian cyberattacks, AI-generated content, and other forms of disinformation on social media platforms such as Telegram, TikTok, Instagram, among others. NewsGuard, an organization responsible for tracking the spread of misinformation, documented 39 fabricated stories alone originating from the Russian group “Matryoshka,” all of which focused on the pro-European President Maia Sandu and the PAS. 

These strategies are consistent with Russia’s broader strategy of “hybrid warfare,” which centers on diminishing trust in democratic institutions through creating a sense of disorientation in the information environment. To be clear, these campaigns are not concerned with getting others to subscribe to a certain belief, but rather, the goal is to push the idea that nothing is true. 

In addition to virtual campaigns, reports indicate illegal financing of pro-Russian parties and violent destabilization plots in the form of bomb threats by those sympathetic to pro-Russian causes. In one case, Moldovan police detained three men from the breakaway region of Transnistria—a territory which the Council of Europe formally designated as being “under military occupation by Russia” in 2022—who attempted to supply groups involved in election destabilization.    

The securing of a parliamentary majority for the PAS marks a critical juncture in Moldova’s pursuit of integration with the European Union—an aspiration widely galvanized by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A national referendum in October of 2024 which codified support for EU accession within the Moldovan Constitution affirmed this trend. While this election marks another step forward, Moldova’s pro-European path remains far from guaranteed. 

The challenges facing Moldova extend beyond the country, however. The risks of unrestricted AI-generated content and social media in spurring extremism and disinformation is a trend which transcends borders, no matter how robust a state's democracy might appear to be. Understanding the power of these tools in shaping the political consciousness, Russian disinformation efforts capitalize on exploiting political institutions throughout Europe and the United States from within.  

As hybrid threats continue to evolve, the success of pro-European coalitions will depend not just on electoral victories, but on their ability to deliver tangible reforms and maintain public trust amid a volatile information landscape.  

As seen in Moldova, elections alone do not guarantee the strength of democratic institutions; vigilance, transparency, and accountability must follow.