The Republic of Moldova has declared itself ready to assist European countries organizing elections in countering disinformation and destabilization campaigns attributed to the Kremlin.
The Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Cristina Gherasimov, argues that the country’s accession to the European Union is not only a security guarantee for Chisinau, but also an advantage for the entire community bloc.
“Moldova’s accession is often described as a security guarantee for our country. And it truly is. But it is, in equal measure, a strategic investment in Europe’s own security”, she stated for Politico.
In turn, the National Security Advisor to the President, Stanislav Secrieru, asserts that the Republic of Moldova brings direct experience in countering hybrid threats.
“We bring something unique. We have hard-earned knowledge and solutions tested directly on the ground to counter Russian hybrid threats,” he declared.
The authorities in Chisinau accuse Moscow of interference in the electoral processes of recent years, including through vote buying, cyber attacks, and disinformation campaigns. Russia has rejected these accusations.
“Elections are the easiest gateway for Russia,” declared Olga Roșca, foreign policy advisor to President Maia Sandu.
According to authorities, the Republic of Moldova has even managed to dismantle a cross-border network that allegedly trained young people in camps in Bosnia and Serbia for presumed destabilization actions in European states, reports realitatea.md, referring to Antena3 and Politico. The participants were reportedly trained to pilot drones, use incendiary devices, and avoid the intervention of law enforcement during protests.
Moldovan officials say they have already shared the accumulated experience with EU member states that are set to organize elections in the upcoming period.
“Moldova has tested and successfully implemented, through trial and error, a series of counter-strategies. We can offer expertise in combating illicit financing, disinformation, in cybersecurity and in protecting the integrity of electoral processes”, Secrieru further stated.
In this context, several European countries are preparing for significant elections, including Hungary, but also France, Italy, Spain, and Poland in the upcoming period. The French authorities have already warned about the risk of Russian interference in the forthcoming elections.
In parallel, President Maia Sandu continues her efforts for the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union, arguing that the country’s integration is essential for the security of the entire region.
“A Europe that takes its own security seriously must also take its eastern neighborhood seriously. It cannot support Ukraine with one hand, and leave democratic nations in gray zones with the other,” she declared in a speech held in the Latvian parliament.