Chișinău, September 18, 2025 – With parliamentary elections just days away, the Independent Countering Disinformation Centre (ICDC) convened a Regional Learning Call to discuss how disinformation is shaping Moldova’s information space and what this means for regional security.

The online event gathered more than two dozen participants from civil society, media, and partner organisations across the region. The focus was on identifying dominant narratives, understanding patterns of manipulation, and sharing strategies for effective responses.

Disinformation narratives in Moldova

Participants highlighted a series of recurring messages circulating in the domestic space:

• Moldova is portrayed as a country in economic collapse and demographic decline;
• institutions are described as authoritarian and repressive;
• EU and Romania are framed as threats to sovereignty;
• elections are depicted as fraudulent or predetermined;
• fear of war is amplified, with claims that Moldova risks being dragged into regional conflicts;
• religion is weaponised, with Orthodox faith described as under attack from “European values.”

These narratives converge on one aim: to erode public trust and weaken Moldova’s European path.

External pressure

Analysis of the wider regional information environment revealed additional meta-narratives: the EU and NATO depicted as colonial powers, Moldova’s government framed as corrupt and incompetent, and Russia promoted as Moldova’s only reliable ally.

Experts warned that ahead of the elections, disinformation will continue to portray pro-European leaders as authoritarian and the process as illegitimate. After election day, the focus is likely to shift to challenging the results, regardless of the outcome.

Key takeaways

The call stressed the need for rapid and coordinated responses to disinformation, stronger community-level communication to rebuild trust, and continued regional cooperation.

ICDC will continue to provide a platform for dialogue, learning, and action to strengthen Moldova’s resilience against malign information operations.