Election Psyops and the Assault on Democracy
Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR)
Giving Voice, Driving Change
THE BIG PICTURE
In a year of momentous elections, recent votes in Moldova and Georgia have highlighted the threat posed by complex malign influence operations against free and democratic decision-making.
Last month, citizens in both countries were asked to choose between continuing on the path of European integration or opting for closer relations with Moscow.?
Moldova’s referendum on EU accession passed by a razor-thin majority, with pro-European candidate Maia Sandu’s presidential win dependent on diaspora and urban support.?
In Georgia, the ruling Georgian Dream party was re-elected in what opponents insist was a rigged vote, amid allegations of intense Russian interference.
VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINE
“Russia has occupied two of Georgia's regions and maintained troops there since the 2008 war,” noted IWPR Caucasus regional director Beka Bajelidze. “So these elections were an indicator of how their psychological operations have worked to discourage Georgia from joining the EU and NATO, and to keep the country under its influence.”
Writing for IWPR this week, Bajelidze noted how the ruling party adorned central Tbilisi with huge banners juxtaposing black-and-white images of war-destroyed Ukraine – which has sought an EU orientation against Moscow’s wishes – with colourful photos of prosperous, peaceful Georgia.
“This divisive political discourse pushed individuals toward radicalisation, creating a sense of crisis and urgency,” he concluded.
In Moldova, disinformation included a story that Sandu had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Austria, with intense efforts to spread disinformation in more rural areas.
“In many localities, the narrative persists that if we integrate into the EU, we will all become gay and lesbians,” Lilia Zaharia, director of Transparency International Moldova, told a post-election panel discussion hosted by IWPR in Chisinau this week.
“This disinformation shocked us, especially the claims that the current president is a lesbian or that the former prime minister divorced because she is also a lesbian. It is alarming that people believe these lies, which are being propagated locally by high-ranking politicians.”
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WHY IT MATTERS
With war raging in neighbouring Ukraine, the geopolitical significance of both Georgia and Moldova have been highlighted by Russia’s extensive efforts to influence these crucial elections. ?
IWPR Caucasus director Bajelidze warned that Moscow would learn from its successes in both countries and tailor influence operations accordingly around the world, “wherever it finds fertile grounds to destabilise liberal democracies and the institutions that underpin them”. ?
In a piece for IWPR this week, Moldova media expert Tatiana Puiu noted that the next likely target would be Moldova’s 2025 parliamentary elections. ? “It is clear that the Kremlin is prepared to pursue multiple avenues in the future to derail Moldova’s European path,” she said.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The high turn-out in both elections illustrates peoples’ appetite to express their legitimate will. The role of independent media and civil society groups has been critical, working valiantly to combat the impact of malign influence operations. ?
But more effort is clearly needed. ?
“It is crucial to involve more people to effectively withstand this assault on democracy,” said Petru Macovei, director of the Chisinau-based Association of Independent Press, speaking at IWPR’s conference. ?
IWPR has been working extensively across the region, with a long-standing focus on rights reporting in Georgia and on combatting malign information in Moldova, through training, media literacy and content production. ?
We will continue to help local media and civil society confront complex interference and protect their right to make free decisions about their own future.