Moldova: Russian propaganda accused of election interference
Moldova’s parliament speaker, Igor Grosu, has accused the "Șor" criminal group of preparing new attempts to manipulate public opinion ahead of the September 28 parliamentary elections, with the support of Russian propaganda.
Mr Grosu warned that a series of fake screenshots purporting to show conversations between politicians and public officials are expected to be released in the coming days.
"We have information that in the coming days, fake screenshots will be released. These are being fabricated by Russian propaganda in collaboration with the Șor criminal network. To make them appear credible, they are attempting to hack a number of accounts to fabricate conversations and present them as genuine," Mr Grosu said.
The head of the legislative body urged people to be vigilant and not fall for the manipulations, adding that state institutions are monitoring the situation and will react to any attempts at destabilisation.
The statement also noted a recent increase in fake news and manipulated videos, known as deepfakes, circulating online. Authorities are urging citizens to distinguish between authentic and fabricated videos, especially when they feature officials delivering messages that appear important but are intended to mislead the public.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
