The West will betray the Republic of Moldova, just like it betrayed Afghanistan, Georgia, and Ukraine when they were faced with major security issues, the Kremlin's main propaganda channel, Sputnik Moldova, suggests. The narrative aims to weaken the population's trust in Chisinau's western partners and the European path taken by the new government in Chisinau.
NEWS: “The latest events in Afghanistan eloquently demonstrate the sad ending of a policy whose only slogan was “Foreigners will help us!” […] This, Ciubașenco believes, is a serious signal for President Maia Sandu. The main source of legitimacy for Sandu's personal power regime is the unconditional support of the West. “Sandu is not simply a pro-Western politician, she is a purely western politician, a kind of “governor” of Chisinau appointed by the West. She and her Cabinet of Ministers believe that the West will not leave them in times of need and will always come to their aid. That was what the Georgians believed in 2008, as did the Ukrainians in 2014, and the Afghans in 2021. Probably so did Plahotniuc until 2019”, Ciubașenco concludes. From his point of view, the events in Afghanistan eloquently demonstrate the sad ending of a policy whose only slogan was “foreigners will help us!”.
NARRATIVES: 1. Maia Sandu's regime is based solely on western support; 2. Maia Sandu is a “governor” of Chisinau appointed by the West; 3. The West will betray the Republic of Moldova, as it betrayed Afghanistan in 2021, Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014.
CONTEXT: In a new propaganda episode in the hybrid war against the West, the Kremlin-affiliated press presents the withdrawal of American troops after 20 years of war not only as a failure of the United States in Afghanistan, but also as a signal that smaller countries that rely on US, EU or NATO support will be betrayed.
The situation in Afghanistan is extrapolated to countries that the Kremlin is trying to keep within its area of influence , such as Moldova, Ukraine or Georgia, countries that are making efforts to get closer to the European Union and join NATO (Ukraine, Georgia).
The “Foreigners will help us” narrative - a quote from the famous Soviet novel and film “12 Chairs” - is frequently used in the Kremlin's disinformation campaigns. They target the West, but also opposition (pro-Western) parties and politicians, civil society, and the independent media.
These speculations appear in the Moldovan information space and in the context in which, following the parliamentary elections, the former president Igor Dodon and his party, PSRM, lost power in Chisinau, which was taken over by a party with European aspirations, PAS.
PURPOSE: To induce the perception that the West will betray the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, who expressed their European option, voting for a pro-Western party in the last presidential and parliamentary elections. To undermine trust in Chisinau's western partners.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: The situation in Afghanistan cannot be compared to that in the Republic of Moldova or other ex-Soviet states. The United States intervened in Afghanistan in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, staged by Al Qaeda, whose militants had received protection from the Taliban. The Taliban were quickly removed, but retreated to Pakistan, reorganized themselves, and started a long guerrilla war. While fighting this war and seeking to keep the situation stable, the United States and its allies also engaged in an effort to rebuild Afghanistan, as the country was still destroyed after the USSR invasion and the civil war of the 1990s; the reconstruction also entailed reestablishing institutions, including the creation of a new army, which failed to maintain control of the country after the US withdrawal.
The United States/NATO are not waging a war in the former Soviet countries targeted by disinformation; on the contrary, all of them have had conflicts with the Russian Federation, which maintains troops on their territories and supports separatist entities. Each time the three countries opted for rapprochement with the EU and NATO (in the case of the Republic of Moldova it is only the EU, as NATO membership is currently excluded given the country's neutrality status, supported by the majority of the population), it was as a result of the coming to power of pro-Western parties, legitimized by popular vote.
As regards the statement taken over by Sputnik that “the main source of legitimacy for Sandu's personal power regime is the unconditional support of the West”, is mere disinformation, as Maia Sandu was legitimately elected head of state in the presidential election of November 20th, which was also recognized by the international community. The Action and Solidarity Party was also elected by a majority of the votes cast in the July 11, 2021 elections.
GRAIN OF TRUTH: The Taliban quickly conquered important territories in Afghanistan along with the withdrawal of US troops from the country, after 20 years of war with the rebels.
THE NARRATIVES BENEFIT the Kremlin and Moscow-backed anti-EU and anti-NATO political forces in Chisinau, in their attempt to undermine trust in the EU.
