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In the face of growing strategic threats and disinformation campaigns, Expert Forum, in partnership with WatchDog.MD, has been at the forefront of efforts to protect Moldova’s democratic processes. With the constitutional referendum and presidential election set for 20 October 2024, Moldova stands at a crucial crossroads. The referendum will determine whether the nation amends its Constitution to safeguard its European Union trajectory, ensuring that future governments cannot easily reverse the country’s pro-European stance.
A Year of Strategic Countermeasures
Over the last year, Expert Forum and WatchDog.MD have worked tirelessly to monitor and counteract the disinformation narratives that have been strategically deployed to mislead voters.
- Our recent report, “Referendumul Republican Constituțional din 20 octombrie 2024: Evoluția Narativelor de Dezinformare”, offers a detailed analysis of how misinformation linked to foreign actors, particularly Kremlin-backed sources, is shaping public perception ahead of the vote.
- We have also held a landmark event on 25 September, titled “Alegeri în România și Moldova – Campanii de Influență și Dezinformare,” gathering over 100 participants from various sectors to discuss how external influence campaigns aim to undermine Moldova’s democratic resilience.
Building Resilience on the Ground
Recognizing that true resilience is built not only online but also at the grassroots level, our teams have spent the last two weeks on the ground in rural Moldova. In collaboration with Cetățeni pentru Europa, we’ve been holding community meetings and city hall discussions in villages like Mileşti and Nisporeni, engaging directly with citizens who are most vulnerable to disinformation. Through these direct engagements, we’ve dispelled myths about European Union membership, addressing fears that EU policies would harm traditional Moldovan ways of life — such as church practices, land ownership, or food production customs.
We’ve found that many of the fake news stories circulating in Moldova today mirror the same strategic disinformation campaigns seen in Romania prior to its EU accession. For instance, residents express concerns that Brussels will close churches or that foreigners will seize local farmlands. Through open dialogue, we’ve been able to counter these narratives with factual information about the benefits and protections that come with EU integration.
Facing Historical and Strategic Threats
One of the most poignant moments came during a visit to a village in northern Moldova, where we gathered in front of a massive Soviet-era cultural center. In front of this imposing structure lies a memorial to the 1946-47 Holodomor, an engineered famine by the Soviet Union that claimed the lives of 300,000 Moldovans and Ukrainians. This brutal episode serves as a stark reminder of the historic consequences of authoritarianism and disinformation.
Today, Moldova’s strategic vulnerability to external disinformation campaigns echoes these past threats. By educating citizens and dispelling falsehoods, we are working to build a more resilient and informed society that can withstand the pressures of manipulation from foreign actors.
Looking Ahead: The 20 October Referendum
The stakes for Moldova’s future could not be higher. The 20 October 2024 referendum will ask citizens whether they wish to amend the Constitution to secure the nation’s path toward EU membership. Alongside the referendum, the presidential election will also be held, making this a pivotal moment for Moldova’s future direction — either towards the West and European integration or towards greater vulnerability to external strategic threats.
In the lead-up to these crucial votes, Expert Forum remains committed to protecting Moldova’s democracy by building resilience through fact-based education and engagement. Our work both online and at the grassroots level aims to ensure that Moldova’s citizens are equipped with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their country’s future.
You can also watch our series of videos below