Final part of my 4-part series on religion in Kremlin influence campaigns during Moldova’s 2024–25 elections.
How Moscow links “traditional values” to Western anti-globalist networks—and why the contradictions create openings to push back against Russian FIMI.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Oil prices are surging as the Iran war disrupts global supply and closes the Strait of Hormuz. What could this mean for Moldova and Europe?
In this week’s roundup: the potential energy fallout, Transnistria’s gas issues and a week of political scandals in Chișinău
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Kremlin-linked influence campaigns about Moldova aren’t just aimed at Moldovans.
Part 3 of my series with WatchDog examines how a delegation of far-right Western bloggers helped spread religious-themed disinformation about Moldova to English-speaking audiences.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Part 2 of my new series on the Kremlin’s use of religion to influence Moldova’s elections looks at how networks were used to spread political messaging, pay clergy, and build a grassroots propaganda machine around “traditional values.”
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Thanks for the comments and the interest! I think it's the "full communion" part that is lacking in practice even if that's the official view from Constantinople (or elsewhere in the Orthodox world)
Hi Ivan - I note this partially in the comparison section with the situation in Ukraine. At the same time, this is the colloquial use here in Moldova and is the preferred framing of the Moldovan Orthodox Church ("schismatic priests" etc). I've opted to keep the local framing.
Religion became a key vector in Kremlin influence operations during Moldova’s recent elections.
In Part 1 of a new series based on a report with WatchDog, I explain the Orthodox church schism that underpins these campaigns.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
As Moldova marks 34 years since the outbreak of the Transnistrian war, Chisinau steps up the pressure on Tiraspol and takes concrete steps in the “convergence” strategy for gradual reintegration.
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Some reflections on 4 long years of war and a roundup of how the grim anniversary was marked in Moldova.
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With Maia Sandu in Munich and US Senators in Chisinau there was a lot of diplomatic news this week. Plus, we got updates on Igor Dodon’s corruption case with recordings of his negotiations with Plahotniuc (on behalf of Putin). This week's roundup...
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New economic data show the depth of the crisis facing the Transnistria region. Plus - Prime Minister Munteanu visits Kyiv, the EU is considering a 2-speed Europe and team Moldova makes their debut at the Olympics. All this and more in the Weekly Roundup.
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It’s been 100 days since the Munteanu government took office - what are their main accomplishments? What comes next? Who knows. The PM perplexingly dismissed the 100 day marker as “Soviet” and gave us a masterclass in missed opportunities in political communication
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Fascinating read
Over the weekend an electrical fault in Ukraine triggered a cascading power outage that took down almost the entire Moldovan grid. We look at the technical cause and how the authorities responded in this week’s roundup.
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I’m sharing Aliya’s entire opening statement. We owe it to her, and those who no longer have a voice, to watch. youtu.be/zrcW8SZtYpI?...
As the world tries to make sense of the new revelations in the Epstein files, I take a look at where Moldova is mentioned and what it can (and can’t) tell us about his connections to the country.
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I mean, I know you mean the UK but you see what I'm sayin' ?
Are you referring to Russia, North Korea or China?
A drone crashed in Moldova and this one was armed. Plus, we find out that George Simion, eager to annex Moldova and carve up Ukraine, has no problem with Trump taking Greenland. This and more in the Weekly Roundup.
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In yesterday’s speech to PACE, President Sandu called on Europe to recognize that the continent faces 2 wars - the hot war in Ukraine, and a hybrid war that seeks to fracture democracies - and Europe itself - from within.
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How an antisemitic conspiracy theorist and Jan 6 insurrectionist helped organize a Kremlin-linked disinformation campaign around Moldova’s elections. I’m sharing part of my new report in collaboration with Watchdog.md on externally facing influence campaigns
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In fairness, she would certainly oppose classical liberalism as well if it was explained to her using small words.
Maybe "busy professionals" rather than dummies ;)
Today I’m announcing a new page on Moldova Matters that I’m calling Moldova 101. It’s my “start here” page for anyone new to Moldovan politics, history or culture - check it out!
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As Moldova faces the coldest January in years the talk of the town remains President Sandu’s comments on union with Romania. Also - we look at the resolutions of some important court cases and other updates. See the full Weekly Roundup at Moldova Matters
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Maia Sandu’s podcast remark on union with Romania sparked confusion far beyond Moldova. It wasn’t a policy signal - but it does echo a century of hard security choices. It’s a a Hypothetical with History.
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This is an excellent episode of the War & Peace podcast about how Europe must react to what they call the American "betrayal."
podcastaddict.com/war-peace/ep...
Oh damn, I hear it now :(
on Ukraine the Latest?
The title kinda says it all - here’s my take on the viral (and fake) story about Transnistria and what it says about the information space surrounding the region on social media.
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