Russia-linked group pays Moldovans to spread false election claims via Telegram ahead of Sept. 28 vote.

A secret Russian-funded network is using Telegram to recruit individuals in Moldova to spread pro-Russian disinformation ahead of the September 28 parliamentary election, according to a BBC investigation. The operation, linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor and the sanctioned NGO Evrazia, pays participants 3,000 Moldovan lei ($170) monthly to create fake social media content using AI tools like ChatGPT. Posts falsely claim the pro-EU ruling party plans election fraud, that EU membership forces LGBTQ+ acceptance, and that President Maia Sandu is involved in child trafficking. The network also ran a fake poll to undermine confidence in the election. Moldova’s police say the campaign has shifted from bribery to disinformation. The BBC found no response from Shor or Evrazia.