Eastern Europe

Screenshot of a Facebook ad displaying Ilan Shor's allegations that "the collective West aims to seize Moldova" and "the West means war and fear."

Mon, Jul 8, 2024

Inauthentic Facebook ad campaign spreads anti-EU messages

Facebook pages disguised as neutral news sources sponsored ads to promote anti-EU narratives ahead of Moldova's referendum on EU integration

by Victoria Olari

Advertising Deceptive Content Manipulation

Tue, May 28, 2024

Websites of Moldovan politicians linked to local pro-Russia news outlets

Website infrastructure links Moldovan pro-Russia news outlets to far-left political parties

by Valentin Châtelet, Victoria Olari

Disinformation DNSLytics
Alexandru Musteața press conference

Fri, Apr 12, 2024

Moldova in the digital crosshairs of anonymous, pro-Russian Telegram channels

Anonymous Telegram channels attempt to discredit Moldova’s pro-European government and amplify pro-Russian narratives

by Givi Gigitashvili, Victoria Olari

Disinformation Moldova
A woman holds a phone with a portrait of Soviet leader Josef Stalin on case, during an event marking the 70th anniversary of Stalin's death, in his hometown of Gori, Georgia March 5, 2023. (Source: REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze)

Thu, Mar 14, 2024

Stalin lionized on Georgian TikTok

TikTok videos promote myths about late Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, portraying him as a religious, well-educated strongman

by Sopo Gelava

Georgia Politics & Diplomacy

Thu, Feb 15, 2024

US celebrities unwittingly recruited to undermine Moldova’s president

Pro-Russian propagandists solicited US celebrities on Cameo to record videos calling for the downfall of Moldovan President Maia Sandu

by Victoria Olari

Deceptive Content Manipulation Disinformation
People look out of the window of a house on a flooded street following a storm in the village of Pribrezhe, Crimea November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak

Thu, Nov 30, 2023

Russian War Report: Pro-Kremlin surrogates accuse the US of using ‘climate weapons’ in Crimea

Following a severe storm in the Black Sea heavily impacted Crimea, pro-Kremlin sources circulated a conspiracy suggesting the US used a weather weapon.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

A general view shows the Russian Embassy in Chisinau, Moldova March 27, 2018. (Source: Reuters/Viktor Dimitrov)

Thu, Nov 30, 2023

The Kremlin and its proxies attempted to deflect the “spy antennas” scandal in Moldova

Pro-Russian entities attempted to divert attention away from the growing volume of potential intel-gathering equipment on its embassy roof

by Victoria Olari

Cybersecurity Eastern Europe
Screencap of a video posted to Facebook on September 18, 2023, showing troops participating in a military exercise in Moldova. (Source: Andrei Dobrovolschii)

Tue, Nov 28, 2023

Pro-Kremlin actors amplify video to target multinational military exercises in Moldova

A video featuring a local Moldovan farmer accosting military personnel participating in multinational exercise was used as a pretext to attack the West

by Victoria Olari, Eto Buziashvili

Eastern Europe Eastern Europe
Protesters scuffle with police during a rally to demand the resignation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan, Armenia, September 22, 2023. (Source: Vahram Baghdasaryan/Photolure via Reuters)

Thu, Oct 5, 2023

Kremlin propagandists fuel anti-government sentiment in Armenia

Russian media and influencers blame Armenian prime minister and the West for the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh while encouraging anti-government protests

by Ani Mejlumyan, Sopo Gelava

Armenia Disinformation
Members of security services investigate a damaged office building in the Moscow City following a reported Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow Russia, August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Thu, Aug 3, 2023

Russian War Report: Drones target central Moscow skyscrapers

Drone strikes hit central Moscow this week killing none but damaging a skyscraper. Meanwhile, TGStat has restricted access to a Telegram channel that tracks Russian casualties.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

SCREENCAP: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SPEAKS AT RUSSIA-AFRICA FORUM AT ST. PETERSBURG, SAYING RUSSIA IS READY TO USE REGIONAL CURRENCIES FOR SETTLEMENTS WITH AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Thu, Jul 27, 2023

Russian War Report: Kremlin seeks stronger ties in Africa as Wagner eyes Niger coup

As Russian president Vladimir Putin attends the Russia-Africa Summit, he and his government are making moves to solidify regional cooperation. Amid this, Wagner seeks to capitalize on the coup in Niger.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

Russian War Report: Wagner is still in business in Africa

Despite their Russia-based forces being relocated to Belarus after their failed mutiny, Wagner Group is still alive and active in Africa, including ahead of a referendum in the Central African Republic.

by Digital Forensic Research Lab