Stirring Turbulence: (Dis)information in Moldova

Moldova has reappeared on the security studies agenda following the Russian Foreign Minister's ominous statement, "It will be the second Ukraine." The election of Maia Sandu as president of Moldova posed a threat to Russian influence in the country, which Russia regards as its satellite. This prompted the deployment of troops and military resources in the 1990s. To counter Sandu's strongly pro-Western leadership, the Kremlin and its local allies launched a hybrid campaign, primarily utilizing (dis)information tactics to sow distrust. Despite strict media controls imposed on unscrupulous outlets, polls suggest that Russian speakers have been receptive to the (dis)information efforts. This article contributes to security studies by redefining (dis)information as a tool for fostering distrust through collaborative efforts between foreign powers and local proxies, highlighting its effectiveness in the face of media restrictions. In the midst of extensive (dis)information research, this article challenges media censorship as an effective security measure in an era of high digitalization. Beyond this case study, our findings hold significance for the contexts of the EU's Eastern expansion and for states whose security strategies rely on media control measures.