Despite Sandu’s party victory, Moldovan opposition claims superiority within country
With 98.55% of the ballots counted, including those from overseas, President Maia Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) won 49.71% of the vote and won the parliamentary elections. However, the opposition claims that it won within the country. According to the country’s Central Election Commission, excluding the diaspora, Sandu’s party received 44.13% of the vote, while the combined result of the opposition parties was 49.54%, TASS reports. The leaders of the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc and their allies claim that expanding polling stations in Western countries and restricting voting in Russia artificially changed the balance of power. According to them, these actions allowed PAS to maintain its lead thanks to votes from abroad. Former President Igor Dodon and opposition representatives demanded that the CEC “prevent fraud” and expressed their willingness to join forces to form a parliamentary majority (TASS).
Intended effect: This emphasis creates the impression that real support for the PAS within Moldova is weaker than that for the opposition, and that the ruling party’s victory was secured only thanks to votes from abroad. This benefits Russian propaganda because it undermines Sandu’s legitimacy and reinforces the image of pro-Russian parties as the true representatives of the will of the majority of citizens.
Telegram’s Durov reveals details of his detention in France
In an article on RIA Novosti, the author discusses Pavel Durov’s account of his detention at Paris airport and the French authorities’ accusations that he distributed prohibited content via Telegram. The article also notes that Durov rejects all charges, stating that there is no evidence of his guilt and calling the case absurd. According to the author, Durov claims that France tried to use his company for political purposes, such as influencing Moldova in exchange for positive reviews of him. After his arrest, Durov was released on €5 million bail with restrictions on leaving the country and was required to visit the police twice a week. His lawyers have filed motions to dismiss the case and appealed to the court to review the constitutionality of the charges (ria.ru).
Intended effect: The article portrays Durov as a “victim of Western pressure” by highlighting his conflict with Western authorities and his accusations of political interference. This reinforces the narrative of European pressure on Russian tech entrepreneurs.
Lenta.ru: Turkey criticizes Zelenskyy’s decision to sell weapons to Africa
The Turkish outlet dikGAZETE strongly condemned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to sell weapons to African countries amid problems on the front lines, calling him “crazy,” the Russian propaganda outlet Lenta.ru reports. The authors of the article claim that the proceeds from the sale of weapons will not benefit the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but will instead be appropriated by Zelenskyy and his entourage. The article also mentions that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan previously stated that the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine benefits “warlords” and noted Turkey’s efforts in the Gaza Strip. Erdogan continues to express Ankara’s desire to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and neighboring regions (Lenta.ru).
Intended effect: The article highlights Zelenskyy’s “recklessness” and the Ukrainian leadership’s alleged corruption, creating a negative image of Ukraine and reinforcing the narrative that the West and its allies are acting selfishly and without regard for the humanitarian consequences.
Gazeta.Ru: American tanks moving toward Russian border spotted in Estonia
American M1A1 Abrams tanks were spotted in Estonia moving toward the Russian border. According to Gazeta.ru, this information was published on the Military Observer Telegram channel. Earlier, on September 19, Estonian authorities reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets had violated the country’s airspace near the island of Vaindloo. In response, Tallinn appealed to its NATO allies, invoking Article 4 of the alliance’s charter. Moscow rejected the accusations, stating that the flight was part of a planned route from Karelia to the Kaliningrad region over neutral waters. According to Gazeta.ru, Major General Vladimir Popova, a military pilot, said that the incident was yet another provocation by the West. He emphasized that Russia always issues warnings when approaching the state borders of other countries (Gazeta.Ru).
Intended effect: Indications of a possible increase in the U.S. military presence near the Russian border could cause concern in Moscow and increase tensions in the region.
