Moldova between the elections - 2nd of November, 2024
Published Saturday 2 November 2024 at 13:21
Welcome to the 17th iteration of our bulletin! We aim to provide special insights into how disinformation works and spreads in Moldova in the weeks leading up to the presidential elections and the EU accession referendum. At Funky Citizens, we have been following trends and narratives linked to disinformation for the last few years, and we understand how intense this crucial period is. We would like to thank our colleagues from watchdog.md and stopfals.md for their contributions to this bulletin. Their materials and findings, quoted directly or indirectly, form the foundation of the current content.
On November 1st, the last day for electoral campaigning took place, and today, November 2nd, is the Day of Silence across the country. According to the Electoral Code, any form of electoral agitation is strictly prohibited on election day and the day before. During this period, candidates are not allowed to appear on television or radio shows. Local public administrations and advertising broadcasters are required to remove advertising materials from localities. However, the ban does not apply to information already posted on the internet.
Several journalists and opinion leaders in Moldova have recently received threatening messages from anonymous or unidentified phone numbers. These audio messages contained death threats, warning them to vote for Maia Sandu. The incidents have been reported to the police for investigation. Prime Minister Dorin Recean has condemned the threats, describing them as an “extreme attack.” In a video message on social media, Recean emphasized that these threats are acts of intimidation aimed at creating panic and fear among the public, discouraging them from voting. He assured that state institutions will maintain order and protect citizens, urging everyone to remain united and confident as they head to the polls. Later throughout the day, the Parliament informed the public about false emails sent to citizens on the Parliament’s behalf, endorsing one candidate and promising money in exchange for votes. Similarly, fake news allegedly coming from the Ministry of Health regarding an increase in hospital beds has been denounced.
Yesterday we mentioned false emails being sent out, claiming people will be paid if they vote for Maia Sandu and requesting a photo of the ballot as proof. Complementary, citizens have received phone calls with a similar message. The police have acted after recording thousands of such cases within an hour and have identified the number and country from which the calls originate. They are also investigating the sources of the email addresses used to send these messages. The police urge the public to ignore these messages and calls, as they are false and intended to tarnish the image of the candidate. On the same day, the National Anti-Corruption Center (CNA) announced fines totalling 3,500,000 lei (181.350 EUR) for cases of passive electoral corruption. The CNA clarified that these cases involve voters accepting or receiving goods, services, privileges, or advantages in exchange for exercising or not exercising their electoral rights.
Culiță Sterp and Bogdan Mocanu, two of the four manele influencers who promoted the proRussian candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo through social media clips, publicly apologized on Friday. Sterp explained that he made the promotional clip at the request of a friend from Moldova and did not receive any payment. He mentioned that after deleting the initial clip, he was offered “large sums” of money to repost it. Sterp apologized to his followers and his country, admitting his naivety and emphasizing that he should focus on his singing career rather than politics. He insisted that he did not receive any money and invited anyone with evidence to present it. Similarly, Mocanu explained that he was asked by a friend working for an agency in Moldova to help and admitted his mistake, acknowledging that he should have been better informed before promoting a politician from outside Romania.
Irina Rimes, popular Moldovan singer, reacted on TikTok to the aforementioned clips and expressed her dismay at her colleagues’ actions, questioning why they would support a candidate they know nothing about. She emphasized that she usually stays out of politics but felt compelled to speak out this time. Her message was civic, encouraging everyone to vote without endorsing any specific candidate. Rimes highlighted that her values are clear to those who follow her. She stressed the importance of voting on November 3rd, as it is the only time citizens are asked for their opinion.
Pro-Kremlin pundit Bogdan Ţîrdea published messages allegedly coming from PAS local groups, where the leaders ask the member to report on the Şor activists in their communities. He claims that PAS is terrorizing citizens in the hopes they will save „Maia Sandu’s organized crime group”. He is accusing the president of being a true dictator because of these actions.
Former president and leader of the Socialist Party, Igor Dodon, made a number of claims yesterday, including quoting „the real polls” that show Stoianoglo has a firm advantage of 10- 15% and realistically reaching 20% on Sunday. Nonetheless, he states that these results only cover Moldova, while aboard things could look differently. He also claims enormous amounts of public funding have gone into this campaign, instead of making the lives of people better. His Telegram acoount, just as that of the Socialist Party, frequently uses the the terms „dictator” and „hysterical” to reffer to Sandu.
Ilan Şor could not miss today’s assortment on disinformation. An anonymous page (since taken down by Meta) was promoting fugitive oligarch Ilan Şor, with videos where Şor urges prosecutors, police and judges not to punish members of his criminal group because they will have to answer for his actions. Another similar page (taken down as well) was urging Moldovans to vote against Maia Sandu through promoted posts with fake claims that Maia Sandu did not bring Moldova to the EU but brought poverty. Şor recently launched MD24, a Moscowbased TV station, that has been livestreamed by Facebook pages, since it cannot be braodcasted. As expected, MD24 is ripe with anti-EU narratives, which different pages promote as ads.
Another fugitive oligarch, Veaceaslav Platon, sanctioned by Canada in 2023 for destabilizing the Republic of Moldova in the interests of the Russian Federation, is active during the Day of Silence. Platon is sponsoring posts urging Moldovans to vote for Aleksandr Stoianoglo. Bear in mind that Platon was released from prison on the orders of Aleksandr Stoianoglo, when he was General Prosecutor of the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, posts discrediting Maia Sandu are being promoted.
This newsletter is part of our ongoing work with the, member of EDMO.
