Moldova Summons Russian Ambassador Over Disinformation

Moldova's Foreign Ministry on October 3 summoned Russian Ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov to protest what officials described as a coordinated campaign of disinformation targeting Moldovan citizens ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for later this month.

Kremlin-Linked Disinformation

The Foreign Ministry statement said Moldova had documented a series of Russian state-linked media narratives aimed at undermining public trust in Moldovan state institutions, spreading false claims about the government's European integration agenda, and inflaming social tensions. Officials said some narratives were directly coordinated through channels linked to the Russian presidential administration.

Pattern of Interference

This is the latest in a series of diplomatic protests by Chisinau regarding Russian interference in Moldovan affairs. In the past year, Moldova has expelled Russian diplomatic personnel and sanctioned several individuals linked to influence operations. President Maia Sandu has repeatedly accused Moscow of attempting to destabilize the country and derail its EU accession process.

Election Security Concerns

Moldovan security services said they were monitoring increased activity on social media platforms and messaging apps linked to networks of accounts believed to be coordinated from Russia. Authorities urged citizens to rely on verified news sources and to report suspicious disinformation content.