• Research Assistant, Moldova

Victoria Olari

Victoria Olari is a research associate for Moldova at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), where she specializes in monitoring Moldova’s information environment and countering disinformation and foreign information manipulation.

Before joining the DFRLab, Olari served as a program coordinator at the Institute for Strategic Initiatives, where she designed and managed programs on conflict resolution and confidence building, with a focus on the Transnistrian region. She also contributed to fact-checking research through DisinfoLab projects addressing disinformation across Moldova’s regions. Olari previously served as a policy advisor in the Moldovan parliament, where she spent four years advising on key legislative initiatives and gaining deep insight into Moldova’s social and political dynamics.

Fluent in three languages, Olari is passionate about cultural exchange and enjoys traveling to connect with diverse communities.

December 2024

Rise of unknown Romanian presidential candidate preceded by Telegram and TikTok engagement spikes

by Victoria Olari

Network of Telegram channels helped previously obscure candidate Calin Georgescu reach 1.4 billion total views on TikTok
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October 2024

Malign interference in Moldova ahead of presidential election and European referendum

by Victoria Olari, Daniela Calmis, Givi Gigitashvili

Pro-Russian influence tactics exploit divisive issues to undermine Moldova’s October 2024 election and EU referendum
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October 2024

Mysterious cross-border influence campaign sparks election controversy in Moldova

by Victoria Olari

The campaign posed as Ukrainians and portrayed the Moldovan government as enforcing censorship
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