In the Spotlight | Russian Influence Operations
While much attention has been focused on Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin also continues to sow chaos and disruption elsewhere in Europe.
In the Black Sea region, Russia has attempted to co-opt governments and, when that proves impossible, has attempted to disrupt, discredit, or manipulate democratic elections. This week, FPRI hosted an expert panel of experts from Georgia, Moldova, and Romania to discuss the implications of Russia's interference in democratic processes in the region and the lessons to be learned for democratic societies.
Featured Speakers
Alina Bârgǎoanu, Romanian communication scholar
Ecaterina Locoman, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, FPRI
Ambassador Vasil (Dato) Sikharulidze, Non-Resident Senior Fellow, FPRI
Robert Hamilton, Head of Eurasia Research, FPRI
Event Highlights
The influence operations in Georgia highlight the fundamental reality that no country is immune to Russian hybrid warfare. It’s not only the fate of Georgia, Moldova, or Ukraine. No country, not even in NATO, is immune. - Amb. Dato Sikharulidze
For years the US and EU worked together to support democratic institutions in Moldova, however in the new US administration this alignment is becoming uncertain. One immediate consequence is the scrutiny over USAID funding in Moldova. Pro-Russian politicians such as Igor Dodon have seized on debates in Washington to discredit Western aid and call USAID an organized criminal group. This mirrors Russian narratives portraying Western aid as a tool for foreign influence rather than a means of strengthening democratic institutions. When statements from Washington undermine USAID programs, they reinforce Russian disinformation casting the West as an unreliable partner at a critical moment for Moldova. - Ecaterina Locoman
There are commonalities regarding the Central and Eastern European area, whether we talk about countries like Romania, Poland, and Hungary, who are NATO and EU members, or those countries that are not NATO or EU members…I’m making this general point to help people understand that foreign influence operations do not stop at national borders, they do not stop at EU or NATO borders. This is not something that is peculiar to Central and Eastern Europe or faraway regions. - Alina Bârgǎoanu
Dive Deeper
📖 Moldova’s Critical Decision Between Russia and Europe - Ecaterina Locoman
🎙️ Georgia On My Mind: Election Takeaways - Maia Otarashvili & Aaron Schwartzbaum
📖 Romania’s Electoral Crisis: A Blueprint for Defending Democracy - Antonia Colibasanu
📖 Georgian and US Elections: Defining the Next Chapter for the South Caucasus - Robert Hamilton & Nvard Chalikyan