Viorel Cernauteanu, Chief of the National Police of the Republic of Moldova, told News Hour with CNN on Antena 3 CNN that the country faces an unprecedented disinformation campaign, carried out on TikTok. He said people linked to a former candidate in Romania’s presidential elections are behind the pro‑Russian propaganda.
Cernauteanu stressed that the disinformation methods now used in Moldova resemble those applied in Romania during recent elections. While disinformation mainly spreads on Telegram, the epicenter of manipulation has now shifted to TikTok.
“The production of these videos is running at full speed. We’re not talking only about simple, edited clips. We talk about sophisticated materials created with the help of artificial intelligence, which go beyond our physical ability to detect and stop them in time,” Cernauteanu explained.
Alarming data: millions of views for false content
According to Moldovan authorities, on Thursday alone, they identified 700 videos containing false information. In total, the police requested the blocking of 443 TikTok channels suspected of spreading disinformation. These channels have more than 1.2 million followers and have generated over 4.5 million views.
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In a country with around 2.4 million citizens, the scale of the phenomenon is alarming. Cernauteanu said the authorities have already requested the closure of 400 pro‑Russian propaganda accounts and that the disinformation network covers various topics:
- 98 channels spread false information about Moldova’s involvement in the war in Ukraine.
- 12 channels claim that authorities are preparing to rig the elections.
- 128 accounts spread disinformation about state authorities (judges, prosecutors, police officers).
- 97 channels target the ruling party and incite hatred and violence.
External influences and ties to a former Romanian candidate:
When asked who is behind these accounts and funds them, the police chief said the investigation is ongoing but that he has “no doubt” about the identity of those orchestrating the campaign:
“We are a country of strategic interest for the Russian Federation, which wants to stop us on our European path. There are intermediaries here in the Republic of Moldova – they are the pawns in this process,” Cernauteanu said.
He added that Moldovan authorities are working continuously with their Romanian and European counterparts. Moreover, supporters of a former Romanian presidential candidate linked to the Shor group in Chisinau allegedly created some of the TikTok clips appearing in Moldova.
The show’s host, Ana‑Maria Roman, named Calin Georgescu as the former candidate in question. Cernauteanu did not explicitly confirm the name, saying he is already being harassed in court by those involved and does not wish to fuel further attacks.
The disinformation model: copied from Romania
According to the police chief, the current disinformation campaign follows the model recently used in Romania:
“In the previous elections, the highest intensity was on illegal funding. Now we see a reversal: disinformation is in first place, with a focus on TikTok, while Telegram remains a secondary platform.”
Parliamentary elections in Moldova will happen on September 28, and authorities expect these influence operations to intensify in the coming period. The NATO and European Union leaders have already voiced concerns about possible Russian interference in the democratic process in Chisinau.