{"id":7099,"date":"2024-10-19T10:50:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-19T10:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/?p=7099"},"modified":"2024-10-25T12:51:39","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T12:51:39","slug":"moldova-at-a-crossroads-expert-forums-efforts-to-build-resilience-against-disinformation-and-external-threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/moldova-at-a-crossroads-expert-forums-efforts-to-build-resilience-against-disinformation-and-external-threats\/","title":{"rendered":"Moldova at a Crossroads: Expert Forum\u2019s Efforts to Build Resilience Against Disinformation and External Threats"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7100 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/2-2-e1729334720724.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2030\" height=\"1035\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/2-2-e1729334720724.jpg 2030w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/2-2-e1729334720724-600x306.jpg 600w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/2-2-e1729334720724-1024x522.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/2-2-e1729334720724-768x392.jpg 768w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/2-2-e1729334720724-1536x783.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2030px) 100vw, 2030px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>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\u2019s 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&#8217;s pro-European stance.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Lansarea raportului \u201eAlegeri \u00een Rom\u00e2nia \u0219i Moldova. Narative de campanie ale Kremlinului\u201d\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JRceAJzQ7NA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>A Year of Strategic Countermeasures<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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. <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Our recent report, &#8220;Referendumul Republican Constitu\u021bional din 20 octombrie 2024: Evolu\u021bia Narativelor de Dezinformare&#8221;, offers a detailed analysis of how misinformation linked to foreign actors, particularly Kremlin-backed sources, is shaping public perception ahead of the vote.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We have also held a landmark event on 25 September, titled &#8220;Alegeri \u00een Rom\u00e2nia \u0219i Moldova \u2013 Campanii de Influen\u021b\u0103 \u0219i Dezinformare,&#8221; gathering over 100 participants from various sectors to discuss how external influence campaigns aim to undermine Moldova\u2019s democratic resilience.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 33%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-7099 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-medium'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/moldova-at-a-crossroads-expert-forums-efforts-to-build-resilience-against-disinformation-and-external-threats\/41-1\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/41-1-600x427.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/41-1-600x427.jpg 600w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/41-1-1024x729.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/41-1-768x547.jpg 768w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/41-1.jpg 1497w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/moldova-at-a-crossroads-expert-forums-efforts-to-build-resilience-against-disinformation-and-external-threats\/42-1\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/42-1-600x384.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/42-1-600x384.jpg 600w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/42-1-768x492.jpg 768w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/42-1.jpg 937w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/moldova-at-a-crossroads-expert-forums-efforts-to-build-resilience-against-disinformation-and-external-threats\/51-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"463\" src=\"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/51-1-600x463.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/51-1-600x463.jpg 600w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/51-1-1024x790.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/51-1-768x592.jpg 768w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/51-1-1536x1184.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/files\/2024\/10\/51-1-2048x1579.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><strong>Building Resilience on the Ground<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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 Cet\u0103\u021beni pentru Europa, we\u2019ve been holding community meetings and city hall discussions in villages like Mile\u015fti and Nisporeni, engaging directly with citizens who are most vulnerable to disinformation. Through these direct engagements, we\u2019ve dispelled myths about European Union membership, addressing fears that EU policies would harm traditional Moldovan ways of life \u2014 such as church practices, land ownership, or food production customs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We\u2019ve 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\u2019ve been able to counter these narratives with factual information about the benefits and protections that come with EU integration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Facing Historical and Strategic Threats<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Today, Moldova\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking Ahead: The 20 October Referendum<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The stakes for Moldova\u2019s future could not be higher. The 20 October 2024 referendum will ask citizens whether they wish to amend the Constitution to secure the nation\u2019s path toward EU membership. Alongside the referendum, the presidential election will also be held, making this a pivotal moment for Moldova\u2019s future direction \u2014 either towards the West and European integration or towards greater vulnerability to external strategic threats.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the lead-up to these crucial votes, Expert Forum remains committed to protecting Moldova\u2019s democracy by building resilience through fact-based education and engagement. Our work both online and at the grassroots level aims to ensure that Moldova\u2019s citizens are equipped with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their country\u2019s future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>You can also watch our series of videos below<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Aderarea la UE nu i\u0302nseamna\u0306 s\u0326i aderarea la NATO\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s8rlvtZXuCs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Aderarea la UE va distruge Republica Moldova?\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Vpfd5aXku18?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Este Rusia victima expansiunii NATO?\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vuPy0hT91es?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; 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\u2019s 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/moldova-at-a-crossroads-expert-forums-efforts-to-build-resilience-against-disinformation-and-external-threats\/\" class=more>&middot;&middot;&middot;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":7100,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[342,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-watchdog","category-stiri"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expertforum.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}