“Based on our experience, we have found that instead of constantly chasing Russia and shutting down channels here and there, we need to focus more on our own strategic communication.” The statement was made by Stanislav Secrieru, presidential adviser on defense and security, at the Moldova Security Forum.
The official was responding to a question about whether Telegram should be shut down. Secrieru noted that the platform is not used solely to spread disinformation, but is also used by Russia to recruit people to carry out acts of sabotage and other destabilizing activities.
“Should we shut down Telegram or not? We can focus on chasing Russia and shutting down all kinds of channels, or we can focus on our own strategic communication and the messages we want to convey to the public. I believe that, based on our experience, we have found that instead of constantly chasing Russia and shutting down channels here and there, we need to focus more on our own strategic communication.
“Our strategic communication goes beyond what the government communicates. I would like to return to the issues of resilience and civil society. You cannot combat Russian hybrid attacks without the involvement of civil society and independent media. And that is the beauty of democracy,” Secrieru said.
The presidential adviser also stated that independent media and civil society “do not receive orders from institutions.” In his view, these actors participate in countering hybrid attacks “only when they believe they share the same values as the government.”