As foreign information manipulation grows faster, cheaper, and more sophisticated, Moldova finds itself on the front line of a new kind of democratic battlefield—one where algorithms shape opinions, hidden money fuels narratives, and influence operations move seamlessly across borders and platforms. The newly launched report on election-related foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) reveals a stark reality: Moldova’s greatest vulnerabilities lie in the digital space, opaque political financing, and gaps in institutional coordination. At the same time, the findings show that democratic resilience remains possible—if institutions, civil society, media, and citizens act together in a sustained and strategic way.
Against this urgent backdrop, International IDEA and the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT), supported by Global Affairs Canada, convened the launch event of the report ‘Mapping Election-Related FIMI Enablers and Incentives in the Republic of Moldova’ in Chișinău on 11 November 2025. The event brought together more than 60 participants from government institutions, political parties, civil society, the media, and international partners to examine vulnerabilities in Moldova’s political, legal, social, and institutional environment, lessons learned, and concrete pathways for strengthening its democratic defenses—beyond crisis response and across the entire electoral cycle.
Opening Session
Opening remarks were delivered by Khushbu Agrawal (Adviser at International IDEA), Katelynn Wynen (Second Secretary at the Embassy of Canada in Romania), and Igor Boțan (Executive Director of ADEPT). The message was clear: defending Moldova’s democracy in the age of foreign information manipulation requires shared responsibility and unity of purpose.
Report co-author Petru Culeac presented the methodology, explaining how the analysis—grounded in document review and in-depth interviews—revealed the vulnerabilities that feed the FIMI phenomenon in Moldova. The report applies the 22-factor analytical framework, which identifies key enablers and incentives, ranging from low institutional trust and socio-economic fragility to gaps in digital regulation, that are exploited by malign actors, particularly those from the Russian Federation.
Panel I — Institutions Under Pressure: Confronting Internal Gaps and External Threats
Speakers:
- Igor Boțan – ADEPT, Author
- Ana Revenco – Director, Center for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation
- Arcadie Catlabuga – Head, National Investigation Inspectorate
- Angelica Caraman – Chair, Central Electoral Commission
- Liliana Vițu – Chair, Audiovisual Council
Igor Boțan examined how institutional gaps, especially weak coordination, outdated regulations, and crisis-driven responses, continue to create openings for foreign interference. Arcadie Catlabuga described how foreign influence increasingly intersects with criminal networks, intimidation, and destabilization efforts. Angelica Caraman and Liliana Vițu pointed to persistent digital vulnerabilities and new pressure tactics, including the misuse of petitions to overwhelm institutions. The discussion reinforced the need for a permanent, coordinated national architecture to protect elections and institutions from the sophistication of modern-day interference.
Moldova must abandon the crisis-driven model and instead build a strategic, nationwide response architecture. Protecting democracy depends largely on the actions taken between elections, when institutions should prepare, coordinate, and strengthen communication channels~Ana Revenco
Panel II — The Digital Battlefield: Money, Platforms, and Invisible Influence
Speakers:
- Petru Culeac – Good Governance Expert, Author
- Pavel Postică – Deputy Chair, Central Electoral Commission
- Andrei Curăraru – Public policy and security expert, WatchDog Community
- Constantin Cheianu – MP, Parliamentary Committee for Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sports, and Media
- Măriuța Nistor – Investigative Journalist, Ziarul de Garda
- Vitalie Eșanu – Founder/CTO, Soofragio & Privesc.eu, IT Expert
Petru Culeac described a political communication space that has shifted decisively online—faster than transparency rules and oversight mechanisms have evolved. Opaque financing, including third-party actors and cryptocurrency-linked flows, continues to feed vast networks of anonymous pages and coordinated messaging.
Pavel Postică from the CEC revealed that over 200 suspicious accounts are producing hundreds of thousands of posts across Telegram, TikTok, and Facebook. Măriuța Nistor traced the evolution of manipulation from offline paid protests into sophisticated, often foreign-run online ecosystems. Vitalie Eșanu highlighted how platform algorithms and AI-driven tools now amplify targeted narratives at an unprecedented scale. The panel concluded that without stronger financial transparency, digital regulation, and platform accountability, the online space will remain Moldova’s primary vulnerability.
With the cost of producing manipulative content plummeting because of AI, international propaganda targeting Moldova has intensified, especially in the context of EU accession efforts ~ Andrei Curăraru
Panel III — Society as a Firewall: Education, Journalism, and Civic Responsibility
Speakers:
- Polina Panainte – ADEPT, Author
- Natalia Țurcanu – Director, Center for Continuing Education in the Electoral Field
- Mariana Rață – Investigative Journalist, TV8
- Nadine Gogu – Executive Director, Center for Independent Journalism
- Victoria Roșca – Opinion Leader, influencer
The final panel focused on society’s role as the ultimate line of defense against manipulation. Polina Panainte stressed that even the strongest institutions cannot protect democracy if citizens lack the tools to recognize misleading content. Natalia Țurcanu and Mariana Rață all identified media literacy, civic and electoral education, and strong independent journalism as essential pillars of long-term resilience. Victoria Roșca reflected on the growing responsibility of influencers in shaping public perceptions and the importance of sharing only verified information.
The panelists agreed that true democratic resilience is built not only through policies and institutions, but also through informed citizens, empowered journalists, and a civic culture grounded in critical thinking.
Many citizens consume news without verifying sources, making them vulnerable to misleading information. Integrating media literacy into educational and community spaces is essential for long-term resilience~ Nadine Gogu
Key Takeaways
- Manipulation tactics are rapidly evolving through digital platforms, AI tools, and opaque online networks.
- Foreign interference in Moldova is becoming more structured and increasingly linked to criminal networks, which are attempting to undermine Moldova’s European trajectory.
- Digital platforms are a primary vulnerability due to anonymity, unregulated online political advertising, lack of platform accountability, and weak oversight.
- Political financing transparency has not kept pace with digital realities, blurring the boundaries between legitimate communication and covert influence.
- Independent media face systemic disadvantages in the current information ecosystem. Opaque online platforms, commercial pressures, and disparities in content monetization undermine fact-based journalism and public access to reliable information.
- Algorithm-driven echo chambers amplify targeted narratives and polarization.
- Democratic resilience depends on sustained coordination among institutions, civil society, and partners.
- Moldova needs a long-term national strategy—not only election-period responses, but a stable, coordinated architecture for addressing manipulation.
- Media literacy and civic education are indispensable long-term defenses.
- Early-warning and monitoring systems can significantly strengthen preparedness.
The report has been prepared in the framework of the project ‘Combatting election-related foreign information manipulation and interference’, implemented by International IDEA and supported by Global Affairs Canada in four countries: Moldova, North Macedonia, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire.
Event Photos
About the authors
