Russian Orthodox influence ahead of Moldova elections
In Moldova, ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for September 28, there is an intensification of russian influence on political processes — primarily through pro-russian forces and controlled religious structures. Specifically, Moldova’s Central Election Commission reported that on August 29, representatives of pro-russian parties held campaigning events near the walls of the ancient St. Cyprian Monastery, in violation of the legal ban on religious organizations participating in pre-election campaigning.
▫️ Pro-russian russian orthodox church (roc) clergy in Moldova systematically exploit public trust to support political forces loyal to the kremlin. In addition to traditional propaganda, religious-information centers are established in monasteries and churches, where kremlin anti-Western narratives are promoted: lectures and speeches by journalists, bloggers, and political analysts are held, campaign materials are organized, and schemes for covert funding of pro-russian political forces are implemented, featuring messages about the “destruction of Orthodoxy” and “total Romanianization.”
Through pro-russian clergy, religious-information centers in monasteries, and the spread of anti-European narratives, moscow consolidates pro-russian forces, finances them, and organizes provocations. In practice, religious institutions become an important mechanism of geopolitical influence.
The Center previously reported that the kremlin systematically uses the roc as an instrument of its geopolitical influence in Africa.
