Russia has developed a plan to interfere in the elections in Moldova, which will be held at the end of September: Moscow’s efforts will be aimed at disrupting the country’s continued course towards joining the European Union.
Source: document reviewed by Bloomberg , “European Truth”
Details: This is a multi-level strategy, approved “directly” by the Kremlin. The documents state that the goal is to undermine the chances of President Maia Sandu’s Action and Solidarity (PAS) party in the September 28 elections and, ultimately, to remove her from power.
One of the documents reviewed by the agency notes that one of the main aspects of the Kremlin’s plan is to create the impression of competition, but in reality it is aimed at weakening support for Sandu.
Documents show that the Kremlin’s tactics include:
- recruiting Moldovans abroad, including in Russia, to vote at polling stations in the EU and other countries;
- involving people to organize destructive protests;
- a large-scale disinformation campaign on social media.
Another major part of the plans of the administration of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin involves the use of compromising materials to pressure civil servants in order to disrupt the electoral process.
Potential Russian plans also include recruiting young men from sports clubs and criminal groups “to organize violent provocations during the vote and protests afterward.”
This will likely include demonstrations demanding Sandu’s resignation if her party loses the election, or to discredit the results if she wins.
The focus is also on what happens after the elections. According to European officials, the support that Moldovan opposition parties receive from Moscow is mixed and ranges from consultations to funding.
Two European officials familiar with the matter told the agency that it was “almost certain” that Russia intended to implement most of these plans.
Recall that parliamentary elections in Moldova will be held on September 28 and will be decisive for the country’s future course.
President Maia Sandu stated that Moscow is preparing an unprecedented intervention through voter bribery, disinformation, cyberattacks, organizing paid protests, etc.
Українська правда
