Starting September 5, dozens of Telegram channels and X (formerly Twitter) accounts promoted a fake decree attributed to Moldova’s president under the branding of Realitatea Media Group. Realitatea condemned the materials, stressing that it has no connection to the false information and that the RLIVE TV logo was abusively and illegally used.
An internal investigation by Realitatea found that the disinformation first appeared on a German-language X account with more than 34,000 followers, previously known for deepfake videos of Maia Sandu. The account belongs to an international network amplifying false narratives. The video later spread through about 50 accounts on X and Telegram. To avoid boosting disinformation sources, Realitatea did not disclose their names.
The editorial team emphasized that the supposed decree never appeared on the Presidency’s official website and lacked a date, undermining its credibility. The branding was misused to add legitimacy to fabricated claims.
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The disinformation alleged preparations for military operations, invoking false claims about 30 NATO exercises and the construction of 51 military bases. It also contained fabricated provisions banning men aged 25–50 from leaving Moldova and referenced two nonexistent institutions — a “Border Service” and a “Security Council,” likely confused with the Supreme Security Council.
Realitatea warned that these techniques aim to spread fear, weaken trust in democratic institutions, and discredit independent media. Similar disinformation campaigns previously targeted outlets such as Euronews and CNN. In July, StopFals.md had already debunked Moscow-linked narratives about 51 military bases in Moldova.
The fake decree follows other attacks on Realitatea Media Group. In August, the group suffered about 250,000 cyber interference attempts over 21 days, while similar incidents also hit its platforms in April 2025.
Realitatea reaffirmed its mission to provide accurate, balanced reporting and called on the public to report any suspicious materials using its official pages or email.