A pair of bilateral senators is urging Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta to prevent Russian impact operations on their social media platforms related to Moldova’s parliamentary elections on 28 September.
The bipartisan letter highlighted Russia’s constant threat and developed a strategy in working to increase the outcome of foreign elections, especially in Democratic, former Soviet states, because Moscow continues its war against Ukraine.
Sensor. Jean Shaheen (DN.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Thom Tilis (RN.C.) accepted the Mata’s association with the Central Election Commission of Moldova in June and urged continuous cooperation.
The senators wrote, “We urge you to stay with the CEC and dedicate enough resources to prevent Russian-supported disintegration and political financing by reaching your platforms during the pre-election period in Moldova.”
“The engagement during pre -election period is important to ensure that elections are not only independent, but also appropriate.”
Moldova, a small country with a population of some 2.4 million people from the border of Romania and Ukraine, is a target for Russian impact operations. Russian forces have occupied the small area of Transnisturia, and Kremlin has political impact in the autonomous region of Gagaujia in Moldova.
Parliamentary elections are highly resulting, as the Russia helps Pro-orderly parties gain majority and harasses the country’s trajectory towards joining the European Union.
Russia Tried to dominate Moldova kills a referendum in favor of joining the European Union, using the October presidential elections and campaigning, media manipulation and bribery. Meta -owned social media networks Facebook and Instagram were particularly seen to be unsafe for Russian malicious activity.
The referendum narrowly emerged in favor of the integration of the European Union, and Western Presidential candidate Mia Sandu was re -elected, influencing the results with the votes of the migrant community of Moldova.
Next to the October 2024 elections, Meta announced that it was A network taken on Facebook and Instagram Targeting Russian speaking audiences in Moldova. The network promoted criticism from Sandu and European Union politicians, promoting pro -Russian parties and thus posted about offering funds and giveats for choice. Fake accounts referred to the exiled elite Ilaan Shor, which has also been approved by the US, and his party, which Moldovan authorities have been accused as the chief driver of Russia’s influence campaign.
Moldovan Police accused the noise of planning to buy $ 39 million votes To influence October elections.
The senators wrote, “Russia’s effort in Moldova’s 2024 presidential election and the referendum on the European Union’s membership preceded the Kremlin strategy, which should inform our efforts before the upcoming elections in September,” the Senators wrote.
“We urge you to do everything in your power to ensure that it cannot continue using your platforms for publicity.”
