A sophisticated pro-Russian disinformation campaign, dubbed “Matryoshka,” has significantly intensified its propaganda efforts in Moldova. The campaign aims to discredit the pro-European Union government ahead of parliamentary elections, according to new research reported by Euronews.
“Matryoshka” Spreads False Claims Against Moldovan President
NewsGuard, a transparency tool, revealed that the operation is promoting false claims that Moldovan President Maia Sandu profited $24 million and is addicted to “psychotropic drugs.”
The research indicates that a single campaign targeting Moldova involved 39 articles within three months since the elections were announced in April, compared to no media articles before the decision for new elections. The elections are expected to be held in September of this year.
The “Matryoshka” campaign is a coordinated pro-Russian operation known among fact-checkers for spreading fake media news in the style of legitimate portals. It had previously spread disinformation about the 2024 US presidential elections and the war in Ukraine. According to NewsGuard, the false Moldovan narratives disseminated by “Matryoshka” have recently taken the form of articles imitating the BBC, The Economist, and Euronews. There are also 20 other conventional media outlets whose writing style is being mimicked by Russian propaganda.
Disinformation Targets Governance and Public Figures
“Euroverify” had previously found a number of fake videos, produced using the logo and graphics of “Euronews,” targeting false claims about how Moldova is managing sexual health, corruption, and illegal migration. Many of these media reports blamed Sandu and her government for mismanagement and corruption.
In April, a video with the BBC logo was aired, claiming that the investigative journalism organization “Bellingcat” had reported that the Moldovan president had a secret caretaker who had stolen $24 million in state funds. Sandu was even accused of assisting her. “There is no record of any such reporting from the BBC or Bellingcat, and NewsGuard has found no evidence that these claims are true.”
