DISINFO: Lithuanian cybersecurity manipulated votes in Moldova’s referendum
SUMMARY
Lithuania’s “cybersecurity” during Moldova’s election contributed to the increase of votes in favour of the European integration. Lithuania and other EU countries provided election cybersecurity, which generated many questions after the unexpected closure of the website of the Central Electoral Commission. This could be due to manipulations in support of European integration. Moldova has been under foreign control for a long time, including governmental agencies such as the Service of Information and Security. Those interventions provide the West with the opportunity to manipulate electoral results, especially in relation to “undesirable” candidates. Similar technologies were used in previous elections.
RESPONSE
Unsubstantiated conspiracy theory, part of a wider Russian interference campaign targeting Moldova’s sovereignty. None of the multiple allegations are backed by any evidence.
This disinformation claim appeared in connection to Moldova’s election and EU accession referendum which took place on 20 October 2024.
According to the preliminary findings and conclusions of the OSCE’s International Election Observation Mission, “The CEC administered the election and the referendum efficiently and transparently, respecting the legal deadlines, despite being severely understaffed in several departments, and adopted its decisions in an impartial and collegial manner”. The mission did not find any evidence of electoral manipulation by Moldovan authorities. In contrast, there was plenty of evidence that Russia tried to alter the results of the Moldovan election and referendum through a series of measures such as 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 Moscow’s anger and plan for Moldova and Moldova on Moscow's mind.
See here for other examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation about Moldova.