Moldova between the elections - 31th October 2024

The most recent update is linked to the validation of the referendum by the Constitutional Court (CC), following more complaints, including a couple by the Communist party. After deliberations, the Court validated the referendum, which means the Constitution can be amended to include the irreversible nature of Moldova’s European future.

The main news of the day in centered around the second part of the investigation by Ziarul de Gardă on Ilan Şor’s network of activists using funding from Russia to sway the elections. You can read the entire piece here, but we’ve summarized the main points for you. Back in part I, Măriuţa Nistor entered the network under a false identity, but she was not the only one. Natalia Zaharescu – or, as the Şor networks knew her, Irina Zahar – did not expose herself as soon as her colleague and continued to be an active pawn in the grand scheme orchestrated by the fugitive oligarch to sway the result of the elections.

For three months, Zaharescu infiltrated and became part of the network of Ilan Șor. The journey began in June, with the creation of a fabricated identity, complete with a bank account in Russia, which was used to receive payments. "Irina Zahar”’s first major task was to participate in protests organized by the network, as instructed by her coordinator. In addition to attending protests, the journalist was involved in distributing propaganda materials. Moreover, like a true pyramid scheme, a recruit could rise through the ranks and was encouraged to convince their friends to join, with the promise of larger bonuses. Like her colleague before,  Zaharescu documented the process of receiving payments through the Russian bank account.

The intentions of the network’s coordinators were not secret in any way: “We are the ones who are against the European Union, against Maia Sandu and for the union with the Russian Federation. That's the most important thing, so that on election day they go out and vote for union with Russia. All supporters who register will receive bonuses”. The bonus proposed to the reporter was 10 000 rubles, equivalent to a little less than 100 EUR. “Zahar” was encouraged to register as an independent observer and the key to the strategy was disclosed: “NO in the ballot for the referendum - it is important for us there, and the one for the president is not important”.

Other prevalent fake news regarding Maia Sandu and the referendum were discussed:
“Vote for whoever you want, just not Sandu. Because there will be war here, quite simply. And if the referendum passes, then the lands that belong to us will have to be returned to the Romanians who lived here in the 1930s-1910s. Propaganda of homosexuality will be allowed. There is a sexual development program for children from the age of three. From the age of nine they already have to have sex in schools. If the Constitution is changed, then we will have war for sure. Changing the Constitution cancels the country's neutrality, we will end up like Ukraine”.  

One day before the elections, each district of the activist network received indications on who to vote, “Zahar” being tasked with voting for Victoria Furtună, independent candidate, or, as a plan B, Tarlev. “But most importantly – vote NO at the referendum!”.  

After the first half of the investigation was published, the activists were urged to be careful who they talk to. As the state authorities started to crack down on the network and their payments, people became even more aware, deleting pictures and message exchanges from their phones. After the first roud of elections, the reporter was contacted “as per the direct indications of Ilan Şor”, to thank her for the good work and to announce the new strategy: “The stance of our Ilan Şor does not change at all. Anyone but Sandu. This is the most appropriate stance!”

When faced with the evidence, Stoianoglo’s campaign staff denied any link to Şor. As a side note, journalistic investigations in the past have pointed out that Stoianoglo and Şor were neighbours for 20 years. In response to this investigation, Maia Sandu made a public appeal to Alexandr Stoianoglo to publicly condemn the actions of the Şor network who actively supports him in the presidential race.

A group of 40 employees from the Public Services Agency (ASP) is suspected of receiving monetary rewards for their votes in the elections and referendum held on October 20. These individuals were identified by the ASP in collaboration with the police and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. According to the ASP, the employees had connections and received funds from the Russian Federation via the PSB app, and these activities are currently under investigation as part of a criminal case. The suspects had access to critical state registry data managed by the ASP. In response, the agency has initiated an internal investigation and suspended the 40 employees during the inquiry.

In other news, three men and two women from Slobozia and Tiraspol were arrested for planning to set fire to the entrance of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and vehicles in the IGP parking lot belonging to high-ranking officials, with the operation scheduled for October 31. The suspects, aged 18 to 42, confessed they were recruited by a Moscow resident named Vladimir, who promised them $5,000 for the attacks. Their communications confirmed the plan, including prior orders to vandalize the Appeals Court.

Stop Fals debunked a fake claim on President Sandu’s mental health issues. resident Maia Sandu allegedly received treatment at a private clinic in Vienna in 2021, where she was diagnosed with "schizophrenia and panic attacks".  A copy of her medical record, signed by a physician from the clinic, was published. However, the clinic representatives strongly deny the authenticity of the medical report. This information has been circulated and promoted by several Telegram channels, various websites (particularly from Russia), and social media accounts on platforms like Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

Regarding updates in online disinformation, we have noticed the same narratives being revamped and circulated once more, prior to the second round of the elections:

• Propagandist Bogdan Țîrdea is still very active. In his videos, he uses hate messages against Maia Sandu and those who voted for EU membership and he promotes the false story that Moldovans are to be castrated by the current government.
• Sergiu Banari promotes fakes about the war in Ukraine and uses antisemitic language against Israel. According to him, the West is guilty of the war in Ukraine and supports Russia in this war.
• One anonymous page promoting people to vote against Maia Sandu and accusing her of having rigged the referendum and the first round of elections. According to these pages, Maia Sandu would sell national interests to foreigners. Another anonymous page is promoting a poll on a Russian website, trying to find out how Moldovans perceive Eurasia, an organization led by Putin's Russia.
• A support page for Ilan Şor is promoting a video in which Şor urges prosecutors, police and judges not to punish members of his criminal group because they will have to answer for his actions.

This newsletter is part of our ongoing work with the Bulgarian-Romanian Observatory of Digital Media, member of EDMO.