CHISINAU—Meta Platforms announced on Friday the removal of numerous fake accounts targeting Russian-speaking voters in Moldova, as authorities intensify their crackdown on illegal election interference ahead of the presidential election scheduled for October 20.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Meta’s decision to eliminate these accounts comes in response to their violation of company policies against coordinated inauthentic behavior. The operation involved about a dozen fictitious Russian-language news brands, which masqueraded as independent media entities and had a presence on various online platforms including Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta, as well as Telegram, OK.ru, and TikTok. This network of fake accounts was found posting content critical of pro-European Union politicians and supporting pro-Russia parties. The deleted accounts included seven Facebook accounts, 23 pages, one group, and 20 Instagram accounts. Approximately 4,200 accounts followed one or more of the Facebook pages, while around 335,000 followed one or more of the Instagram accounts.
The National Investigation Inspectorate in Moldova reported that it had blocked 15 Telegram channels and 95 chat bots that offered voters money, violating local political financing laws. These channels were allegedly connected to supporters of Ilan Shor, a fugitive businessman and leader of the banned party named after him, from his exile in Moscow. Moldovan police also conducted searches at homes of leaders linked to Shor as part of an investigation into election meddling, revealing payments to tens of thousands of voters through accounts in a Russian bank aimed at derailing the vote.
The crackdown comes as Moldova’s pro-European President Maia Sandu, who is seeking reelection, has made EU membership a key focus of her campaign, evidenced by the simultaneous referendum on joining the EU. Amidst this political backdrop, tensions between Moldova and Russia remain high, with accusations from Sandu about Moscow’s attempts to topple her government, while Moscow has leveled charges of “Russophobia” against her.