Russia conducts a campaign to discredit Sandu's victory in Moldova - ISW.

Russian and pro-Kremlin figures have begun to discredit Maia Sandu's victory in Moldova

The Institute for the Study of War stated that Russian and pro-Kremlin figures began an information operation on November 4 to discredit the victory of the current President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, in the presidential elections.

The Central Election Commission of Moldova confirmed on November 4 that Sandu received 55.35% of the votes, defeating the Kremlin-friendly opponent Alexandru Stoianoglo. Pro-Russian opposition parties and officials tried to discredit Sandu's victory: the Moldovan Socialist Party called her an "illegitimate president"; Kremlin-linked Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor told the Russian state TV channel "Russia-24" that the Moldovan opposition had "evidence" of massive fraud in favor of Sandu; and pro-Kremlin former President of Moldova Igor Dodon announced to the Kremlin news agency "TASS" that Sandu won only thanks to the votes of the Moldovan diaspora.

The Russian information space, including Russian milbloggers, echoed the pro-Russian Moldovan opposition's statements that the Moldovan elections are controlled by "European bureaucrats" and that Moldovans have no influence on the election outcome.

ISW previously reported on systematic efforts by Russia to interfere in elections in Moldova with the aim of disrupting the holding of a referendum on Moldova's accession to the European Union (EU) and Sandu's victory.