inRESPONSE Researcher Elena Simanschi Highlights Disinformation Dynamics in Moldova at CIDOB Seminar – October 2024

Elena Simanschi recently participated in the research seminar titled “Disinformation in Enlargement Countries: Sowing Instability, Distorting EU’s Perception”, held at CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs). This seminar, organized by CIDOB with support from the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) of the European Commission, aimed to identify the factors driving disinformation in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood and to explore democratic strategies to combat these challenges. The panel discussion, inaugurated by Carme Colomina Saló and moderated by Celia Cernadas, alongside experts l Yevhen Fedchenko, Elena Simanschi, and Katarina Klingova, brought valuable perspectives on the evolving challenges within the information environment. The event provided an important platform to discuss the complex dynamics of disinformation, particularly in light of regional shocks like the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

During the seminar, Simanschi presented her findings on the disinformation landscape in Moldova, focusing on how it has impacted public trust in the government of President Maia Sandu. She shed light on key disinformation trends, particularly the spread of personal attacks against President Sandu, unfounded criticisms of her policies, and the use of the Transnistrian conflict to amplify these narratives. Her insights highlighted how both domestic and foreign actors are manipulating information to distort public perception and fuel instability. Elena emphasized the importance of such discussions in developing more effective strategies to combat disinformation across the region.