Moldova's Oligarchs Spread Disinformation on Facebook Despite Sanctions

Despite ongoing U.S. sanctions, fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor and his associates are actively disseminating Russian disinformation in Moldova via Facebook. As the country approaches a pivotal referendum on EU membership and a presidential election, Shor's activities, alongside those of other Russian proxies, are intensifying, raising concerns about the impact on Moldova's political landscape and Facebook's financial gains. A report from the Moldovan NGO Watchdog revealed that Shor and his affiliates spent at least €30,000 on Facebook advertising in June alone. In response to public pressure, Facebook has taken action against Shor's network, removing 1,326 accounts and 80 pages linked to him after being alerted by watchdog organizations. However, another fugitive oligarch, Veaceslav Platon, who has been sanctioned by Canada but not by the U.S., EU, or UK, is also heavily investing in social media advertising. Platon's spending on Facebook surged to €25,250 in June, a 37% increase from the previous month, indicating a growing trend of disinformation campaigns. While Shor's advertisements are overtly pro-Russian and anti-EU, Platon's messaging is more subtle, focusing on discrediting the Moldovan government and framing the upcoming EU referendum as a political maneuver by the ruling party. Watchdog's report highlights the limited resources available to the Moldovan government to combat this disinformation wave, emphasizing the need for increased media and civil society engagement to provide citizens with accurate information.