Victoria Olari
Victoria Olari is a research assistant for Moldova with the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.
Prior to joining the DFRLab, she served as program coordinator at the Institute for Strategic Initiatives, where she directed programs in the field of conflict resolution and confidence building, with a particular emphasis on the Transnistrian region. She also has expertise in fact checking and has contributed to Disinfo Lab projects in different Moldovan regions. Olari has a strong understanding of the social and political environment in Moldova, having served as a policy advisor in the Moldovan parliament for four years.
March 2024
Unpacking the Kremlin media blitz surrounding Gagauzia leader’s Russia visit
Eugenia Gutul’s meeting with Vladimir Putin drives Kremlin news cycle positioning Russia as "protector" of Gagauzia and Moldova as its "oppressor"
February 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
November 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.