DISINFO: Collective West beefs up pressure on ex-Soviet states
SUMMARY
One of the key emerging threats to (Russia’s and its allies’) collective security is the intensified pressure of the collective West on ex-Soviet republics. It extends beyond the European states to include the Caucasus and Central Asia. The West is also fuelling protest sentiments under the pretext of promoting democracy and civil society. Tools of ‘soft power’ such as educational initiatives, scholarships, NGOs, and media are being employed to orchestrate scenarios similar to the ‘Ukrainisation’ of other post-Soviet states. The aim is to distance these nations from Russia, hinder their alignment with China, and bolster overtly pro-Western forces. The consequences of these efforts are evident not only in Ukraine but also in Moldova and, until recently, Georgia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the presidential elections in Moldova, which took place on November 3 2024 and were won by pro-European current president Maia Sandu and Georgia's parliamentary elections on 26 October 2024.
Popular movements in many post-Soviet countries, such as Ukraine's Euromaidan, were primarily driven by internal dissatisfaction with corruption and autocratic governance rather than by so-called Western ‘soft power’. The 2024 protests in Georgia erupted in response to the government’s introduction of a contentious ‘foreign agents’ law and its generally pro-Russian orientation. The proposed legislation required organisations and media outlets receiving over 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as ‘agents of foreign influence.’ Many Georgians viewed the law as a threat to the nation’s democratic development and its aspirations for closer ties with the EU. More protests followed the 26 October parliamentary elections in Georgia, where the pro-Russian ruling Georgia Dream party won. There is no evidence that Western NGOs directly triggered these protests. Opposition parties and civil society groups accused the government of election manipulation to retain power. Many civil society organisations, some supported by Western donors, contributed by monitoring the elections and highlighting irregularities, which was an effort focused on promoting transparency, not interference.
In Moldova, international NGOs and Western countries actively support civil society initiatives and the promotion of democratic values. However, their involvement does not constitute election interference. There is no evidence of direct interference by the EU or the United States in Moldova's presidential elections. The incumbent Maia Sandu, a pro-European candidate, defeated Socialist candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo in a victory that signalled a major shift toward European integration. Her win reflected the will of Moldovan voters who supported reform and closer ties with the EU. The election was marked by Russian interference and voter fraud, with Moldovan authorities investigating claims of organised voter transportation and vote-buying schemes. It was Russia who tried to alter the results of the Moldovan election through a series of measures such a disinformation campaigns, buying votes, training Moldovan citizens in paramilitary camps to stage protests, and bussing voters to overseas polling stations. As this did not achieve the results expected by Moscow, pro-Kremlin outlets and Russian officials launched a baseless narrative about electoral fraud. See our articles Moldova on Moscow’s mind and Moscow’s anger and plan for Moldova.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Like always the West organised a new colour revolution, that The West sponsored a typical colour revolution in Kazakhstan, and that In Georgia, the struggle was between common sense and Western curators.