The European Union has sanctioned Dumitru Buimistru and Veaceslav Valico for their roles in supporting Russia’s hybrid attacks against the EU.
Authorities identified Veaceslav Valico as a participant in a Russian-orchestrated influence operation. In one incident, he painted the Star of David on the streets of Paris after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The EU says Valico carried out this act to provoke tensions within French society and did so for financial compensation.
The EU holds Valico responsible for promoting and implementing Russian government-linked actions and policies that undermine the stability of both individual EU member states and the Union as a whole. Officials accuse him of supporting and coordinating these efforts—directly or indirectly—through manipulative information campaigns and foreign interference with destabilizing intent.
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Dumitru Buimistru faces accusations of conducting disinformation campaigns and engaging in coordinated information warfare. As the chief propagandist for MD24, a Russian-based online platform created by Ilan Shor, Buimistru allegedly continued spreading pro-Kremlin narratives after Moldovan authorities revoked the licenses of Shor’s previous television channels.
In response, the EU has frozen their assets and banned both individuals from entering its territory.
These new measures follow the EU’s July 15 decision to sanction seven individuals and three entities for threatening Moldova’s sovereignty, democracy, and rule of law. Most of those targeted maintain ties to Ilan Shor or other political actors who promote violence and instability.