Chifu - Razboi Informational Eng 2016.08.18-1 PDF

Iulian Chifu Oazu Nantoi
Rzboi informaional
Tipizarea modelului agresiunii
Iulian Chifu Oazu Nantoi
Information warfare
The pattern of aggression
The Publishing House of the Institute of Political Sciences and

International Relations Ion I. C. Brtianu of the Romanian
Academy
Bucharest, 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part one
The patterns of Russias informational war
Chapter 1. The informational war. Concept, instrumentation,
functioning Iulian Chifu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1. The informational war. A concept and an instrument . . . . . . 15
2. The informational war in Russian documents . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3. Militarizing of information in the Russian Federation . . . . . . 34
4. How the informational war works. The components of the
informational war. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
5. Ways of counteracting the informational war. . . . . . . . . . . 46
Chapter 2. The project and the work methodology Iulian Chifu . 52
Chapter 3. The war of trolls Iulian Chifu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Chapter 4. Examples of the informational war waged by Russia and

modus operandi Iulian Chifu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Chapter 5. Narratives of the informational war in Romanias public

space Iulian Chifu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
1. Romania slave to the US and anti-Americanism Radu Arghir . . 83

2. Propaganda and anti-NATO attacks Alexandru Voicu . . . . . . 91
3. The missile shield as a vector of the informational war triggered by
the Russian Federation Narciz Bloiu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
4. The division/disintegration
of the European Union Diana Brbuceanu . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
5. Turkey (Erdoan) equal of Russia (Putin) Adriana Sauliuc . . . 110
Chapter 6. Distinguishing the patterns of Russias

informational war Iulian Chifu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
Part two
Romania and Russias under the radar informational war.
Narratives and media tools
Chapter 1. Analysis of Pro TV i Antena 1 Adriana Sauliuc . . . 135

Chapter 2. Analysis of Antena 3 Alexandru Voicu . . . . . . . . .175
Chapter 3. Analysis of B1 TV Diana Brbuceanu . . . . . . . . .184
Chapter 4. Analysis of Realitatea.net Adina-Elena Cincu . . . . .190
Chapter 5. Analysis of Romnia TV Narciz Bloiu . . . . . . . 209
Chapter 6. Analysis of Adevrul

and Romnia Liber Eveline Ioana Mroiu . . . . . 219
Chapter 7. Analysis of Evenimentul Zilei

and Gndul Dumitru aranua . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Chapter 8. Analysis of Mediafax news agency Iulia Lupulescu . .267
Chapter 9. Analysis of Hotnews.ro Sebastian Blidaru . . . . . . .293
Chapter 10. Analysis of DC News Andreea Ibnescu . . . . . . . .329
Chapter 11. Analysis of Ziare.com

and Stiripesurse.ro Irina Iacovoiu . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Chapter 12. Analysis of Facebook groups & pages Radu Arghir . 391
Chapter 13. Propaganda on social media an instrument

of the hybrid war Departamentul de monitorizare
al CPCEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .405
Part three.
The Republic of Moldova. Control over public space, infiltration of
politics and alteration of state decisions
Chapter 1. Vulnerabilities and actions of the Russian soft power

policies in the Republic of Moldova Oazu Nantoi . . 421
Chapter 2. The informational war: practices, tools and impact

on the National Security of the Republic
of Moldova Elena Mrzac, Danu Marin . . . . . . . .448
Chapter 3. Political parties as instrument of the

hybrid warfare waged by Russia. The case of
the Republic of Moldova Viorel Cibotaru . . . . . . . .473
Chapter 4. Mass-media as part of the information warfare

in the Republic of Moldova. The monitoring
done by the Coordinating Council
of the Audiovisual Olga Guuui . . . . . . . . . . . . .488
Chapter 5. Information warfare in Chiinu: the fifth column in the

Republic of Moldova Sorin Buctaru . . . . . . . . . .509
Foreword
In order to ascertain the Russian informational war, we
started from two complementary realities. First we looked at the
Republic of Moldova, where there is a total penetration of the public
space and the informational war reached the political parties. There
the control over political forces includes the most important party,
which deliberately promotes the interests of the Russian Federation.
In this environment the study targets obvious direct elements of
the informational war, where the message bearers themselves are
decision makers, politicians and opinion leaders from the media
space, most of them using content coming directly from Moscow,
some of them using content produced in Chiinu.
For the second under the radar component, we used the
case of Romania, where there is a deep suspicion towards everything
that is coming from the Russian Federation in terms of policies,
information and motivation.
In this context, the Russian informational war in Romania
must adopt the most insidious and inconspicuous tactics, in order to
avoid virulent negative reactions. Therefore the preferred components
are the war of trolls, psychological operations and elements of
conditioning. Especially here, at this stage, recruitment attempts
take place alongside attempts to establish inf luence groups, support
groups and easy to manipulate masses, especially, recruitment of
the convinced.
10 Iulian Chifu Oazu Nantoi
In both cases we analysed the public space and public actions

and by no means did we try to trace the operations. It is up to
other institutions of the mentioned countries to build upon these
observations and to identify the smoking gun, meaning the proven
links between Russian authorities direct links, involving secret
services, supposed NGOs or the embassy and those carrying out
operations of the informational war. In the Republic of Moldova
there is a Centre for Investigative Journalism, a RISE Project
collaborator, with whom we worked, that deals partly with this
component. However the project seeks to identify the manner of
operation, tools and goals of the informational war, not the circuit
of money and commands given.
Based on these two components, studied in distinct
environments, where their manifestation is the most important, we
managed to put together this definition of the Russian informational
war. Additionally we created a system of thresholds and levels of
influence that we propose as a reference when assessing the impact
of Russias informational war in any given country.
We also believe that the most important part of the project is
the illustration of the information warfares systems at work and
raising awareness regarding this war as well as the institutional
and individual protection formulas against the informational war.
Furthermore, the project exposes publicly, for any internet user or
genuine commentator on a news site to see, the dangers they expose
themselves to and how he/she can be used or recruited in this
informational war.
Iulian Chifu
Oazu Nantoi
Part one
The patterns of Russias informational war

Chapter 1
The informational war. Concept,

instrumentation, functioning
Iulian Chifu
1. The informational war. A concept and an

instrument
A component of hybrid war, but also a self-contained

instrument, is the informational war.
The informational war represents the creation of alternative
realities by perverting the objective truth based on concrete data,
facts and arguments its misconstruing by using a combination of
elements, facts and pieces of truth that are selected, interpreted,
combined with altered reasoning through the use of syllogisms,
fallacies, propaganda, forced interpretation, everything stuffed with
a multitude of lies.
The battle of alternative narratives, of alternative truths,
became the most insidious way of constructing beliefs.
But it relies on the groups and audiences targeted for each
individual operation, on a vast contexture of preparation knowledge,
inclinations and expectations of the target audience, its propensities,
frustrations. Obviously the instruments do not concern only

the information as such, but refer to other subtler components as
well, related to basic emotions, context and the capitalization of
opportunities provided by the events in progress and the state of
mind created in a target population, in order to inoculate a certain
reference to the subject.
The alternative reality perverts the perception of the target
population, in a combination of psychological operations PsyOps,
together with disinformation and propaganda, using fundamental
beliefs, feelings and images with impact, aiming to lead the target
audience towards a pre-defined perception. And, finally, as the
public already built an opinion, its perception has taken the place of
reality1 and, no matter what argument or proof of the truth would be
presented, these should confront the blockage of the already formed
perception.
In a world in which information travels quickly to a large

number of people, in real time, via television, the Internet and
social media, the perception on an event is easy to form, derail, alter
and impose. The subsequent submission of the truth will lead to a
minimal change of opinion on a large scale due to the lack of critical
thinking of the majority of the population, a conservative approach
in assuming the recognition of their own mistake, at the level of
the wider population, and the ease in using the already interiorized
explanation by an ordinary person, especially one located within
a community that has developed conformism and has its own
description, perception and its own truth.
The overall objective, the main one, of the informational war

is to determine, to control or at least to alter the strategic decision,
of foreign policy, security and defence, to pervert or hinder the
instruments intended for the military component of a state, and to
1
Eric Stern, Crisis decision making. A cognitive institutional approach, Dept. of Political
Science, University of Stockholm, 1999.
Information warfare 17
hinder the functioning, if not to block some elements related to the

security of a state. The instrument and mechanism to achieve this
goal are to determine the public, the citizens, the pressure groups
that are prepared and conditioned, organized and directed, to put
pressure on the authority in order to alienate it from the objective
solution identified for the decision, at some point, due to the lack of
support, or even due to the public opposition.
Therefore, the characteristic elements, principles and
values of an open and democratic society are being capitalized
against the states and their institutions. An undermining from
the inside through building within groups of enemies. Moreover,
the approach is unitary, integrated, and not rarely a fact or a
component of the informational war, taken separately, appears only
as an oddity, a singularity, an accident, in no circumstances an act
aggressively planned together with a suite of other elements. The
insidious manner of action and this integrated approach creates
the favourable elements for a credible denial of such action of
informational aggression on a target population.
The informational war uses three distinct levels of action,

with different relevance and degree of legal and moral significance.
Together, through the integrated and sequential approach dependent
on the targeted audience, increases the efficiency of the informational
war.
The first component is the visible one, the evident and
regards the engagement in altering the public space of a subjected
target, involving in the media, the Internet and the social media
area, but also at other more subtle levels, an injection of ideas and
information that valorises the principles and fundamental values of
democracy and human rights including the freedom of expression,
freedom of speech, free circulation of ideas, elements that are not
only legal and moral, but stand among the fundamental values that
the democratic societies defend.
At a lower level we deal with an open injection of propaganda,

manipulation and disinformation difficult to prove. Moreover, this
type of action requires constant replicas, analyses, investigations and
public exposure of counterfeits and deliberate misinterpretations
of facts, of alternative narratives that are behind these ideas and
which are using the manner of interpretation of facts particularly
to support the alternative package of truth proposed by the author.
Not infrequently the actions capitalize the vulnerabilities of
the system, habits in failing to comply with, or bypassing, or avoiding
the sanctions based on the law, or vulnerabilities of the control
institutions, legal limits, or the absence of professional institutions
capable to morally sanction the use of such excesses in promoting
an approach or another on an embraced subject or narrative, the
absence of responses in the same news, the lack of expertise to qualify
the released information, the speed and poor training of employees
in the media area, the information dissemination and peddling. The
false information, coming from obscure sources and penetrating
the mainstream, the selected information, forcibly interpreting
and piloting judgments to a default conclusion, the absence of
alternative media, independent, which would strictly keep to the
rules of narrating some events, balanced news, providing in the
same area alternative approaches, polemic, or at the same time the
pros and cons arguments, all these help to build this informational
war element.
In the developed societies, mature, with mass media that
are developed, rich and with many alternatives, the component of
takeover, guidance and control of the public space is much lower.
The education matters as well, an so does the democratic culture of
the target population. But there are societies where the public space
is controlled by third party actors, such as the Republic of Moldova
case, where a report news seen impact shows that 80% of the
audience made that the consumed news to be produced in Moscow.
And when they are packaged in extremely well made and attractive
entertainment programmes, these genuine news injections
situated in the space of a preconceived narrative makes that the

impact of the projected alternative truths to be major. Propaganda
has its limits. Hence the use of a set of integrated instruments
is required, developed and utilized at the same time, with target
audience destinations and distinct approach. On this point we reach
the second element, lobbying, Public Relations whether we are
dealing with a company or a personality or public diplomacy, if we
are talking about a state. This is a perfectly legal approach, in the
countries where a law on lobbying or equivalents exist.
The instrument works as follows: the decision makers must be
influenced by ideas launched in the public space by the legitimate
and credible sources, with impact on its own population and the
decision makers that lead a state at a certain time. Herein sums of
money are used, paid so that the credible persons, analysts, experts,
former and current politicians with impact on a target population or
even foreign carriers of messages, but again credible and legitimate
to the target population to defend the theses proposed by the part
that makes the payment.
The paid media or the expert, the analyst who is expressing,
are paid to create a certain image, to defend a certain actor, to carry a
certain message, a vision, a narrative previously prepared. Therefore,
a credible character, otherwise a highly appreciated one, of impact,
suddenly voices himself in the public space, spreading ideas that
are not the result of his analysis, of his thinking, but are the result
delivered to be broadcast as such for an amount of money, paid by
the silent partner. The public is not warned and does not know that
the one standing in front of them does not speak his own mind, but
that it expresses ordered ideas. Therefore, the assessment is made in
the context of credibility and legitimacy of the person concerned
(actually this is what the analyst is selling, the message carrier in the
lobby). Moreover, after fulfilling the mission, the person in question
returns to his analyses, legitimate, correct, a result of his own
thinking, baggage of knowledge and ideas. The person becomes once
again himself or preserves his credibility further on and may be used
also subsequently, on another project regarding the informational

war or spreading another theme.
While in the USA there is lobby law, the public exposure of
positions in this category, paid, and the transparent formula of the
amount of money received to convey certain themes, this instrument
is missing in Europe, but not the lobby agencies. It is a legal
instrument, sometimes immoral, but which is used in combination
with propaganda and taking control or altering the media space in
the informational war framework.
The third level is the most insidious one, deeply illegal, which
targets subtler components of the informational war. It is linked to
PsyOps elaborated psychological operations. The level of access
of this component is much more profound, in the fibre of the social
organism, of the common beliefs, of the psychological state and of
the deeper fears. Here the disseminated information matters, and
especially the effect created by information in the target audience,
namely the shaping and creating or deepening of fears, creating
collective emotions, preparing the public to react to future events in
a directed formula, previously prepared and pondered.
The objectives are achieved using false news, personalities and
experts with known moral references within the society, directed to
certain positions, but the target is not the immediate information
but creating the context for an emotional public reaction facing
a subsequent event, that will appear. Dirigisme in relation to the
subsequent reaction is created by accessing subtle levels of the
subconscious and creating patterns of thought by repeating some
sequences of this kind at predetermined intervals, learning the
brain and the subconscious to react in a certain manner to this
type of informational and emotional preset stimuli. And the goal
is to determine a specific public response, collective, when we need it
to pressure and alter the action of a decision maker in times of crisis.
The instruments used are a combination of narratives,
alternative ideas, planting doubt, promoting and validating lies as
credible as possible that will enter the subconscious as perceptions
of truth, exaggerated and directed interpretations, exaggerations,

manipulation, misinformation, with all the components, the effects
of trolls actions (directed commentators in cyberspace).Here as
well, the components for conditioning the target audience are built,
actions at the subliminal and subconscious level, the inoculation of
the constructed perception, accessing the basic emotions and their
orientation - fear, humiliation and hope.
The functioning of the informational war is done in an
integrated manner, on all three dimensions, with deliberate dosages
and a vast instrumentation built in time. Important resources are
used for such actions and the component is most frequently moved
towards the military space. It is an instrument whose relevance is
just being discovered and the impact can be extremely powerful.
2. The informational war in Russian documents

It is important to know what the Russian Federation
understands by soft power, by informational war and its mode
of action, which are its instruments and the way it intends to apply
them. More than this, the practical application must be understood
and how these policies have been addressed in clear terms must be
analysed. In order to form an overall picture, there are three important
documents of the Russian Federation:The Concept of the Foreign
Policy of the Russian Federation (2013), The Military Doctrine
(December 2014) and the statement of Vladimir Putin on March
18th, the day the Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation.
These three documents are the benchmark in Russia1foreign affairs,
defence and security.
We have identified the development and the presence of
concepts such as soft power, hybrid action and informational
warfare, concepts that are important parts of the Russian soft power.
Furthermore, the content description of these concepts, shows us
how that these instruments are perceived and defined, and by means
of such a research we can see how they have been applied and used
in reality.
From a certain point of view, the humanitarian dimension of
Russias foreign policy involves soft power only as an additional
instrument. Thus, soft power becomes a practical means of the
humanitarian dimension in the foreign policy, which could be an
answer to the dilemmas Russia is facing at the regional level 2 .More
than this, the concept of soft power is not limited only to the
ability to inf luence, or even the one to manipulate the public opinion
in a target country, but includes a well formed partnership idea with
benefits in the short and long term3 .
In this manner, even though many authors have suggested that
Russia s ability to apply soft power is reduced, some voices suggested
the maximum potential in the trend mixture of humanitarian
soft power. Russia still holds some attractive sources to the post-
Soviet countries, elements which are being exploited: language,
common culture, energy resources 4 .In addition, an important
period in which the policies of this kind have been experienced and
when it was necessary to apply soft power was during the colour
revolutions, in Georgia (2003) and Ukraine (2004), in which the
Russian propaganda outlined the idea that the colour revolutions are
an instrument designed by the Occident to change the regimes in the
former Soviet space and to impose the Western liberal democracy
and not an independent system.
The soft power concept is included in the Concept for
the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation and is correlated to
the informational war, public diplomacy and cultivating the
international image of Russia. More than this, there is a definition
2
The Humanitarian Dimension of Russian Foreign Policy Toward Georgia, Moldova,
Ukraine, and the Baltic States, 2nd, supplementary edition Riga, 2010, p. 38.
3
Andrey Makarychev, Hard Questions About Soft Power: A Normative Outlook at Russias
Foreign Policy, (DGAPanalyse kompakt, no 7), Berlin, October 2011, p. 2.
4
Jarosaw wiek-Karpowicz, Limits to Russian Soft Power in the Post-Soviet Area,
DGAPanalyse 8 | July 2012, p. 5.
of a good and legitimate kind of soft power and an illegitimate and

wrong soft power.
In Article 20, Chapter II of The Foreign Policy of the Russian
Federation in the Modern World, for example, soft power is defined
as a comprehensive instrumentation for achieving foreign policy goals,
which build on the potential of the civil society, information, cultural
methods and other technologies and alternatives to the traditional
diplomacy5 . The document stresses that the soft power is an
indispensable component of the modern international relations6 .The
same article also marks that at the same time, the increasing global
competition and the existence of some crises generate a risk towards
the destructive and illegal use of soft power and of the concepts
regarding human rights. These negative interpretations make possible
the political pressures on sovereign states, the intervention in their
internal affairs, destabilizing their political situation, manipulating
the public opinion, inclusively under the pretext of financing projects
regarding the cultural and human rights abroad7.
Here we outline the definition of a negative type of soft power,
which actually describes the perception of the Russian Federation
regarding the influence created by projects in the field of human
rights, which in part have an illegal and destructive use, presume
the immixture in the internal affairs of a state, exercise political
pressure and destabilize the political situation by manipulating
the public opinion. This approach emphasizes, through the number
of negative nuances and attributes, the fear of the colour revolutions
and the monitoring of human rights, as well as the fear of hierarchy
in the principles of stability versus democracy and human rights.
Also, it is the point in which soft power is directly related to
5
Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation, approved by President
of the Russian Federation V. Putinon February 12th, 2013, 303-18-02-2013, unofficial
translation, The ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation official site,
athttp://archive.mid.ru//brp_4.nsf/0/76389FEC168189ED44257B2E0039B16D
6
Ibidem
7
Ibidem
manipulating the public opinion this way having components of

informational warfare.
In Chapter III, International Humanitarian Cooperation and
Human Rights, Article 39, the foreign policy objectives of Russia
are stated, as a country dedicated to the universal democratic values,
including the human rights and liberties 8 . In addition, a priority
is to establish a positive image of Russia, worthy of the high status
of its culture, education, science, sport and the achievements in
the development of the civil society, as well as the participation in
assistance programmes for the development countries; modelling
instruments to improve its perception in the entire world; improving
the application of soft power and identifying the best forms of activities
in this field, which would take into account both the international
experience,as well as the national peculiarities and would participate
in building mechanisms of interaction with the civil society and
experts; the further development of the regulatory framework in the
aforementioned domain 9.
Once again, Russia sees soft power as having an important
influence in building the international image and perception
regarding its developments and policy and insists to promote the
international experience and national achievements. But do not
forget about the negative soft power, as described above, including
the development of a regulatory framework, in order to limit the
negative effects, meaning the colour revolutions.
The same concern for accurate information and international
perception (which aim at avoiding the effects of negative soft power
and of the informational warfare) appeared in a special chapter
entitled Information Support for Foreign Policy Activities. Its main
concern is the real and accurate information correlated with
Russias actions, which means promoting its own narratives and
perspectives on the evolutions and events. Article 40 states that
8
Ibidem
9
Ibidem
an important element of the foreign policy activities of the Russian

Federation is making available (for the world wide audience) the
complete and precise information regarding its position on major
international issues, the foreign policy initiatives and actions of the
Russian Federation, the development of processes and plans on social
and economic development policy, as well as the cultural and scientific
achievements in Russia10.
More clear is the description from Article 41, in which the

emphasis lays on an objective perception11 of Russia, achieved
through effective means of influence on the public opinion and
the information from abroad12 . We have here a direct description
of an informational war and the projection of an alternative
reality for a specific audience, endeavour called public diplomacy,
activity standing at the limit of propaganda and informational war:
Russia, through public diplomacy, will try to ensure an
objective perception, to develop its own effective means of influence on
information, to strengthen the role of mass media in the international
information environment, offering them the essential support. At the
same time, it will actively participate in the international cooperation
regarding the information domain and will take the necessary steps
to counter the cyber threats to its sovereignty and security. The
possibilities offered by the new information and communication
technologies will be widely used in these activities. Russia will try
to develop a set of legal and ethical rules for the safe use of these
technologies13.
We find here a reference to the informational threats
and to the need to take the necessary measures to counteract
these threats. We do not have a precise description of what these
10
Ibidem
11
Ibidem
12
Ibidem
13
Ibidem
informational threats might mean, but the text, and especially the
context, provide insight of what it might assume as threats to the
sovereignty and security of Russia: ideas and information that are
different from those issued by the Kremlin and the affiliated mass
media. The precise meaning is found in the rest of the document,
having several directions. Firstly, it is based on cultivating prestige
and forming the image of Russia by promoting its interests and
defending the Russian citizens, the Russophones Russian
language speakers and compatriots, meaning residents of the former
Soviet Union (together with citizens who left the Russian Federation).
These categories do not exist in real life, but they are tools of the
post-imperial syndrome. And assuming a protection of rights
represents a powerful instrument of the informational war in the
post-Soviet space. In a given case, the one regarding the Russian
speakers, conceptually, it was taken over from Francophonie, the
French institution created as an instrument to cure France of its own
post-imperial syndrome. Similarly, the Compatriots Policy people
who remember and cherish life in the former Soviet Union is an
alternative to the British inhabitants of the British Commonwealth/
Commonwealth of Nations, an institution of the United Kingdom.
The difference is that Russia adapts these institutions and assumes
special rights in the countries where these categories exist and creates
instruments to intervene in the internal affairs of these countries.
Thus, if we look at the countrys objectives, Article 3 notes

that the rapid acceleration of the global processes, in the first period
of the 21st century and the new tendencies in the global development,
require new approaches to key issues and a new vision on Russias
foreign policy priorities, being taken into account Russias increased
responsibility to establish the international agenda and its ability
to shape the international relations system14 . In Article 4 we
find out that in line with the main objective of national security
14
Ibidem
ensuring the protection of the individual, the society and the state
the foreign policy should concentrate primarily on pursuing the
following fundamental objectives: a) ensuring security, by protecting
and strengthening sovereignty and territorial integrity and ensuring a
central position within the international community, as an influential
and competitive pole in the modern worldg)ensuring the legitimate
rights and interests of the Russian citizens and compatriots, as well as
promoting Russias perspective, in various international formats,
on issues related to human rights; h) promoting the Russian
language and strengthening its position in the world, disseminating
information regarding the achievements of the Russian population
and strengthening the Russian diaspora15.
Russias policy, which presupposes its own interpretation of
democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the so-called sovereign
democracy, has a facet in Chapter II The Foreign Policy of the
Russian Federation and the Modern World, article 13 for the first
time in modern history, the global competition takes place at a
civilization level, through values and development models, based
on the various universal principles of democracy and market economy,
that are starting to compete. The cultural and civilisation diversity of
the world becomes increasingly obvious16 .
In the same document we have references to hybrid warfare
and the use of all instruments in order to achieve the goals and
objectives of the foreign policy, inclusively the informational war.
In Chapter III, Priorities of the Russian Federation in addressing the
global issues, article 27, it is mentioned that the diverse and complex
nature of international problems requires prioritization in the foreign
policy of the Russian Federation. The use of political instruments,
diplomatic, legal, military, economic, financial, et cetera in solving the
foreign policy problems must correspond with the interests of Russias
foreign policy; additionally, these instruments must be in coordination
15
Ibidem
16
Ibidem
with all branches of power, as well as with the appropriate agencies.

When discussing The emergence of a new world order, article 28
points out: Russia is pursuing a policy aimed at creating a stable and
sustainable system, based on the international law and the principle
of equality, mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs
of states. The system proposes to offer security for every member
of the international community in the political, military, economic,
informational, humanitarian sector etcetera.17
The Intelligence domain is often used, as well as the
combination of political, military, economic, informational sector,
with the humanitarian field. The first relates to the description
of hybrid war as well as to the informational war. Through the
humanitarian field, Russia understands defending its population
and compatriots, but, also tries to assume a special responsibility
towards the Slavic nation, a precursor of the Russian World
concept which Moscow promotes, as shown in the Humanitarian
International Cooperation and Human Rights chapter.
In Article 39 it is written: as a country dedicated to the
universal democratic values, including human rights and liberties,
Russia considers that its objectives are:
c) the integrated development of the diplomatic and consular
protection system of the Russian citizens abroad that are subject to
international law and international treaties concluded by the Russian
Federation to strengthen its effectiveness, including by expanding the
network of consular offices abroad;
d) protection of legitimate rights of the compatriots living
abroad, based on international law and treaties signed by the
Russian Federation as partner, inclusively through expanding and
consolidating the area of Russian language and culture;
e) supporting the compatriots organizations to enable them to
effectively back up their rights, in their countries of residence, while
preserving the cultural and ethnic identity of the Russian diaspora
17
Ibidem
and its links to the historic homeland; to provide conditions for the
voluntary relocation in the Federation of the compatriots who wish
to do so;
f) facilitating the learning and the widespread use of the Russian
language as an integral part of the world culture and an international
and interethnic instrument of communication;
g) promoting the interstate cultural and humanitarian relations
among the slave peoples18 .
Perhaps the most interesting element is the relationship
Russia has with the world of the Second World War and its role
in this context. This symbolism is of primary importance, and the
same article 39 contains a reference to the canonical defending of
its approach, its role and to the symbolic victory in the wartime: h)
the strong counteracting of the extremist manifestations, neo-Nazi, or
any forms of racial discrimination, the aggressive nationalism, anti-
Semitism and xenophobia, as well as the attempts to rewrite history
using confrontation and revanchist politics at the world level;
help de-politicize the historical discussions in order to ensure their
exclusive academic character19.
Equally important for soft power are the previsions found
in The Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation, issued in
December 2014. Soft power, its negative form, has a special relevance
in the military field. Firstly, Russia divides the security threats in
two: dangers and threats. Danger is a less significant threat,
present, but included into a second method of reaction.
Therefore, article 12 makes a difference between the main
external military dangers:
k) the use of information and communication technologies
for military political purposes against actions contrary to the
international law, which affects the political independence, the
18
Ibidem
19
Ibidem
territorial integrity of states and that threatens the international

peace, at the global level and the regional stability
l) setting in the states neighbouring the Russian Federation,
regimes imposed inclusively as a result of diverting the legitimate
public authorities, whose policies threaten the interests of the Russian
Federation20.
Therefore, the informational war is noted as such in the
military doctrine, as well as a description of the meaning of such
dangers in the international arena and in the inner space. But
more important is the fact that the danger represents establishing
in the neighbouring states imposed political regimes, whose policies
threaten the interests of the Russian Federation21.The Russian
Federation tries to supervise the type of regime (Liberal Democrat)
in the neighbouring countries and considers them to be a threat to
Moscows interests. This is a form of limited sovereignty, a Soviet-era
Brezhnev doctrine, in which the very sovereignty of its neighbours
must be imposed by the Russian interests.
The document also illustrates the content and substance of the
hybrid war concept in article 15 The nature and characteristics of
modern conflict:
a) the integrated use of military, political, economic,
informational force and other non-military measures, implemented
with the widespread use of the protest potential of the population and
of the special operation forces;
20
Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation, approved by the President of the Russian
Federation, V. Putin, Russian Federation Embassy in Malaysia, at http://malaysia.
mid.ru/web/embassy-of-the-russian-federation-in-malaysia/press-release/-/asset_
publisher/rAwX0ikSv3ua/content/29-06-2015-the-military-doctrine-of-the-russian-
federation?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fmalaysia.mid.ru%2Fweb%2Fembassy-
of-the-russian-federation-in-malaysia%2Fpress release%3Fp_p_
id%3D101_INSTANCE_rAwX0ikSv3ua%26p_p_lifec ycle%3D0%26p_p_
state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-1%26p_p_
col_count%3D1
21
Idem
c) the effect on the enemy from its territory, simultaneously

in the global informational space, the industrial, aerospace, land
and sea one;
j) the use of political forces and financing some social
movements22 .
This definition, which includes the sphere of information is

of prime importance, because its perception and definition show us
the manner in which the Russian Federation wishes to use this type
of war. And this could be found in the entire post-Soviet space, in
eastern Ukraine, but also in Central and Eastern Europe and in the
Western Balkans.
And this is already mentioned in Article 21 The main duties
of the Russian Federation to prevent the armed conf licts:
s) creating conditions to bring back the usage of information
and communication technologies in the military and in formulating
the political objectives of action, contrary to the international law,
sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and which
constitutes an international threat 23.
Now the analysis of the third document, Vladimir Putins
speech, dated March 18th, 2014, 3:50 pm. After a complete historical
context and references to international law (referendum and the
will of the people), other arguments have entered the process. The
possibility of Ukraine to join NATO, fact connected to the military
doctrine and linked to the free will and sovereign decision of a
country, but limited to Russias interests, appeared eight months
later: we expected Ukraine to remain our good neighbour, we hoped
that the Russian citizens and the Russian speakers in Ukraine,
especially in the Southeast and in the Crimea, will live in a friendly
condition, democratic and civilized, one that would protect their
rights in accordance with the international law. President Vladimir
22
Address by President of the Russian Federation, March 18th, 2014, 15:50 The Kremlin,
Moscow, President of Russia, at http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/20603
23
Ibidem
Putin said that this did not happen and that Ukraine had a different
agenda: they prepared another government; they wanted to seize power
and stopped at nothing. They resorted to terror, murder and riots. The
nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes and anti-Semites executed the
coup. They continue to set the tone in Ukraine. It is also evident that
there is no legitimate executive authority in Ukraine at this moment,
no one with whom to discuss24 .
Therefore, the revolution and the Maidan in Kiev were
presented as a military coup supported by the United States and
the West, and not as a natural protest of the Ukrainian people. The
declaration states that those who opposed the coup were immediately
threatened. Of course, the first line here was the Crimea, the Russian-
speaking part from the Crimea. Given this, the residents of the Crimea
and Sevastopol have appealed to Russia for help25 .
So the annexation addresses the protection of rights of the
Russian population, Russian speakers and the Compatriots, that
created a special right for Russia to interfere through a hybrid war
the in the Crimea, by taking institutions and blocking the Ukrainian
troops, holding a referendum and by the annexation of Ukrainian
territory. The Russian President raised the following problem
secondly, and most importantly - what exactly are we infringing?
True, the president of the Russian Federation received permission from
the upper house of the Parliament to use the Armed Forces in Ukraine.
However, strictly speaking, no one has acted on this permission yet.
The Russian Armed Forces have never entered the Crimea; they were
already there, in accordance to an international agreement. It is true
that we have increased the presence of the forces. However this is
something I want everyone to hear and know we have not exceeded
the staff limit in the Crimea, which is established at 25.000, because
it was not needed26 .
24
Ibidem
25
Ibidem
26
Ibidem
Hence, there is no invasion, since the Russian forces were

already on the field and new forces were introduced on the basis
of an international agreement, even without Ukraines consent.
Russia did not need this, because they do not have a recognized
government and at Kiev the nationalists, neo-Nazis, Russophobes
and the anti-Semites executed the coup27.
The most interesting part of the speech is the direct reference to
the colour revolution:Here were a whole series of controlled colour
revolutions. Evidently, the people in the nations where these events
took place, were overwhelmed by tyranny and poverty, by their lack
of perspectives; but these feelings have been cynically taken advantage
of. Standards that do not correspond to these nations and their way
of life, their culture etcetera have been imposed. As a result, instead
of democracy and freedom, it was chaos, outbreaks of violence and a
series of transformations28 .A similar situation took place in Ukraine.
In 2004, in order to push the necessary candidate to the presidential
elections, they thought of some kind of the third round, which was not
provided by the law. It was absurd and a mockery to the Constitution.
And now, they invented an organized army and well-equipped with
militants29. We understand what is happening; we understand that
these actions were directed against Ukraine and Russia and against
the Eurasian integration30 . Thus the Russian perception is shaping
and moreover, the perception of President Vladimir Putin on soft
power, the informational war and the colour revolutions. Everything
is against Russia: these actions were against Ukraine and Russia,
against the Eurasian integration the new project to rebuild the
Soviet Union in a different form. This is achieved through using
Russias soft power policies, the humanitarian policy, the policy of
the Russian compatriots. Because President Putin tells us in other
27
Ibidem
28
Ibidem
29
Ibidem
30
Ibidem
words let me say one thing. Millions of Russians and Russian-

speaking people live in Ukraine and will continue to do so. Russia will
always defend their interests through political, diplomatic and legal
means. But it should be above all in the interest of Ukraine31.
And, here again, we find indications regarding the
informational war from Vladimir Putins perspective. In the same
speech, he remarked: obviously, we will encounter opposition, but
this is a decision that we must take for ourselves. Are we ready to
constantly defend our national interests, or are we holding back?
Some Western politicians are already threatening us with sanctions
and problems on the domestic front. I would like to know what exactly
goes through their minds: a disparate bouquet of national traitors
or will they put us in a social and economic situation that is getting
worse, so as to cause public discontent? We believe such statements
are irresponsible and clearly aggressive and we will respond to them
accordingly32 .
The actions conducted by a disparate bouquet of national
traitors, these are the elements of informational warfare, along
with NGOs financed by the West, or the political forces which finance
and lead the social movements. This explains the policy against
the NGOs funded from external sources in Russia, considered as
foreign agents.
3. The militarizing of information in the Russian

Federation
The Russian Federation proposed, at the beginning of the 21st
century, as a way to engage in conflict, the hybrid war. It employed
it in the Crimea, when the little green men in fact the special troops
of the Russian army, as explicitly acknowledged by President Putin
led the assault against the public institutions in the region, blocked the
Ukrainian military units in the peninsula and overthrew the legitimate
31
Ibidem
32
Ibidem
authorities, replacing them with a bunch of poorly trained adventurers,

supported by a pseudo-referendum realized after the model of the
Austrian Anschluss, at gunpoint with cartridge on the pipe.
They did it afterwards in Eastern Ukraine, combining in the
same space all the instruments of this war, which has also a classical
component, and insurgency war, and terrorist actions, and war
through intermediaries, and organized crime and cyber warfare,
and economic warfare, and asymmetric warfare and informational
warfare and psychological warfare, and limited war, and war without
limits, without rules. All together, in a combination appropriate forthe
time, place, the operation or the objective to be achieved.
The Russian informational war, carried in Ukraine and
worldwide, was led directly from the Kremlin. Former employees
of the Russian public television stations recently showed that the TV
stations have turned into a propaganda machine for the regime,
just as in the ideological war period. The stenogram of the meetings
with former employees of VGTRK mass media holding (includes the
channels Rossia-1, Rossia-2, Rossia-24 and many others) was
presented by the former deputy editor of the channel Rossia-24 and
Rossia-2, Aleksandr Orlov. Orlov was dismissed in July 2014 because
of the commentaries on social networks in support of the Russian
opposition politician Aleksei Navalni.
It all started with the meeting in February 2014, when in Kiev,
in Euro-Maidan, the first protesters were dying. All employees were
brought together and told that the Cold War had began. An epoch
beside which the years 70-80 represented a trill of birds was brought
into discussion and that those who do not wish to participate can find
another field of activity outside the news channelaffirms Orlov. The
Russian authorities wanted blood on the screens and an increased
media pressure on the public in order to counter the relative
natural closeness between Russia and Ukraine and the sympathy of
the Russians for the Ukrainians, who were having success in a new
orange type of revolution and recalibrating the path towards West.
On Fridays, the chiefs of the television stations were summoned

for the briefing meeting in the Kremlin, where the publishing plans
for the next week were handed over to them. It was compulsory to
have at least one story per day about the Crimea, Donetsk and Kiev.
At first, the meetings were led by Alexey Gromov, the first deputy
secretary of the Presidential Administration of Vladimir Putin, and
later by the press secretary of Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov. The
approaches regarding the events in Ukraine, the new leadership
in Kiev, was exclusively the official one: at first, the coup detat
in Ukraine dominated the screens as well as the revolt in Eastern
Ukraine, fearing the fascists had installed themselves in Kiev.
These were considered a junta, a bunch of extremist nationalists
going in for killing the Russian minority, which is why the Eastern
regions, Novorossia in its entirety, had to leave, either by becoming
independent under the Russian protectorate, or by incorporating
with Russia. All new leaders in Kiev were called bandirovtsi
meaning members of the nationalistanarchist groups of Banderas
robbers, the legendary hero who fought against the Russians and
Germans for Ukraines independence. As for the Crimea a legal
referendum decided joining Russia which was ready to rescue
them from the clutches of the Ukrainian fascists, from Kiev.
Not one word about the fact that the Parliament in Kiev,
the Verkhovna Rada, with the same composition chosen during
Yanukovich, had voted the new leaders and the new government,
about the legal elections and the little Russian green men, the regular
troops that seized the government buildings and blocked the military
units, taking over the Crimea with a referendum made within the
range of automatic rifles belonging to the unmarked occupation
troops. Everything was under personal control. When the first
negotiations took place in Minsk and there were rumours some kind
of peace may be concluded, the ban on using words like fascist,
Bandera, junta appeared. Then the situation was tense again
and everything was resumed says the former assisting chief editor.
As a result, the competition between TV channels disappeared all
the materials were borrowed amongst televisions, so the TV stations

had about the same topics. Propaganda was made unitary with the
same materials, the same images and the same message to deliver,
as in wartime, without the opportunity to treat subjects freely. Even
during Perestroika, the media in Russia had more freedom.
The VGTRK employees acknowledge that, in terms of
editorial policy, they lacked freedom everything was done in
accordance with the instructions coming from the Kremlin. The
personal control regime encompassed even the weather news. By all
means we had to invite a certain meteorologist a famous fortune-
teller in Russia, so that he may announce that in Ukraine it will be a
terrible winter. There is a general tendency to exaggerate.Ukraine
depends on Russia, Moscow will no longer give gas, and the rebellious
Ukrainians will freeze without the Russian gas, was the message that
was repeated in the 2014-2015 winter, the first war winter in eastern
Ukraine. As the Russian television stations employees claim, only a
quarter of the journalists believed in the content of reports about
Ukraine, made after scripts written by the Kremlin.
Hence, the presence of the informational war represents

a reality in the Donbas field. But not only: in the rest of Ukraine
as well, and in all the independent states in the post-Soviet space,
and in Eastern Europe, and in the founding states of the European
Union, and overseas. Everywhere. Where propaganda, the
political technologists and the classic agitprop combines with the
psychological operations, in an effort to create a parallel reality,
consisting of bits of truths, interpretations, syllogisms, sophistries,
inferences with logical fractures, juxtaposition of facts without direct
causal link, massive propaganda and a great deal lies. A figment with
scent of veracity in regard to which the arguments, facts, reality
and truth of evolution of actions no longer matter, because all are
replaced with the altered perception and directed from the outside
of the target audience.
The fact that Russia has applied this technique since long ago
on worldwide subjects did not make the Russian Defence Minister
to avoid the public exposure of this subject, on the contrary. Present
at the Media-As award ceremony for Russian journalists, mainly
from the official and officious media, the Russian Defence Minister,
Sergei Shoigu, declared that the mass media represents one of the
new types of modern weapons, which over the years brought both
victories and defeats to Russia.
Lately, the mass media encompasses a great deal of aspects and
can bring serious damage. We realize now that a picture, a word,
a camera, the Internet, the information, in general, have become
a type of weapon, which can be well or poorly used. Currently, a
piece of information held by a wrong person can become evidence,
a prosecutor, a judge, an executioner. I would not like to use this
weapon, the mass media, in a negative way, added Sergey Shoigu,
according to the Russian media.
Basically, the Russian Defence Minister reveals unusual things.
Known, but never acknowledged officially and formally, in no case
at this level and by a Russian Minister of Defence. Thereby, the press
is considered since a long time ago a weapon, is extensively used, and
its new capabilities are exploited by Russia within the bosom of the
West and the states concerned. Wins and losses are recognized. Of a
war in which Moscow uses the media as a weapon.
Shoigu indirectly explains the censorship as well and
controlling the mass media in Russia, and avoiding the democratic
rules. An opening and a fundamental human right is considered by
the Russian military structures for informational war as a weakness
and a vulnerability in the democratic Western societies and is
speculated as a vulnerability by Russia. Against societies in which
it is running, where the media tools serve. A weapon strategically
used, with planned actions and specific military objectives. And
the Internet, the websites and the social media, with the regiment
of trolls paid with 500-700 euros per month, were flooded in any
language.
The US administration was informed, by the Foreign Affairs

Committee of the House of Representatives, about the need to
counter the militarization and the conversion of information
into a weapon of war by Russia. The notification represented the
result of some hearings within the commission and referred to the
need of the US government to invest in the global media war.
Ed Royce, the chairman of the committee, argued that Russias
propaganda machine undermines the democratic stability and
promotes violence and cleavage in the Eastern Europe societies.
Among those interviewed are included critics of Russia, from the
former journalists of the Russia Today station in English, currently a
member of the Sputnik platform for propaganda and informational
war of the Russian Federation.
Peter Pomerantsev, Helle Dale and Liz Wahl were those
involved in these hearings and came up with their own experience
from the time when they worked in the Russian media in English, this
experience occurring even before the creation of the new instrument
of Russias informational war.
Peter Pomerantsev from the Legatum Institute in London,
being questioned before the committee of the Chamber, said that an
European and an US instrument were urgently needed, in order to
counter the propaganda, falsehoods and distortions widely promoted
by Russia, actions that affect many spectators in the West and in
the post-Soviet states. Operations of setting up groups fighting
against the national interests of the concerned countries, against
the US, the NATO membership and for embracing the equidistant
positions of Russia are being observed. Russia launched an
informational war against the West, and we are losing it today,
says Pomerantsev.
The debate is not new and was conducted at the European level
as well. Although in a less virulent and more reserved manner in
considering information as part of war, the EU decided to set up
appropriate instruments at the European level to genuinely present
what the European Union stands for and which are the benefits of
the EU membership or implementing the Association Agreements

reforms. FrankWalter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister,
promised the Baltic States aid regarding this war, consisting in
preparing journalists in Germany with the right tools to counter
Russia on this front.
The most exposed countries to this propaganda are those
where the financed political parties or supporters of Russia and of a
balanced policy already exist, that should respect the legitimate
concerns of Russia as well, Russias involvement in the agreements
with the Eastern Partnership states. The post Soviet states are
the most exposed because here the Russian minorities already
exists and they promote parallel agendas favourable to Moscow. But
the instrumentation extends to other national minorities in these
countries as well, as it recently happened in the Odessa region,
by establishing the Verkhovna Bessarabia, a separatist project
conducted under the Russian influence.
Moreover, in such states, the Russian media is still dominant,
the Republic of Moldova being the most accessible and the Baltic
states at the tail of the rankings, slightly behind Georgia. The
inf luence capacity of the Russian televisions based on the Russian
linguistic affinity, especially of the minorities in the former Soviet
space, creates a formidable weapon that was countered only by
banning the stations or blocking the news dissemination and the
electoral programmes on these stations. This is an interim solution,
in states with fragile and emerging democracies, but this solution
cannot last.
But propaganda and the subtler elements of the informational
war can be found also in the countries reluctant to the Russian
propaganda from the historical experience. And Romania has been
the target of such constructs of groups from the social networks, of
trying to build instruments of the civil society or the inoculation of
topics that would serve the Russian plans.
The freedom of speech and of assembly makes that, in these
EU countries, the combating to be done through arguments, correct
information, transparency and appropriate communication, at the

official level, as well through discussions with various categories of
the population for the demystifying or the public display of formulas
used by the instrumentation of the informational war.
And to take this step, first, it is necessary to acknowledge that
Romania is in full informational war and that it needs instruments
to counter the aggression on this informational component of the
fourth generation hybrid war.
4. How the informational war works. The

components of the informational war
The informational war substantially exceeds trivial
propaganda and even the strategic communication exercises. Indeed,
we are not talking about the legal part of the free circulation of ideas,
not about the lobby campaigns, PR, public diplomacy in the case of
a state. Propaganda is the first pillar, lobbying (which involves using
the important resources to promote inherent ideas, narratives or
images) is the second pillar, whereas the informational war concerns
the actions which alter decisions, influence the decisions in foreign
policy, security and defence, mostly through mass media and the
pressure that the citizens, having an inoculated certainty, can
artificially and programmed exert over the authority. The Russian
Federation, according to the carried it out categorization, has several
categories of objectives.
Firstly, the direct promotion, explicit, of Russia, through
messages, those of its leaders, promoting its version and its official
narratives. Here propaganda and lobbying are mainly used in an
non-transparent form but largely legal.
The second component aims at planting doubt, amplifying

artificial dilemmas, using conspiracy theories, but already using
a whole scaffold of psychological warfare instruments and for
creating forgeries and using instruments to confuse the target
population. The matter is no longer about questioning any

statement of the officials, nor about developing the critical spirit
(extremely healthy and even the main instrument in fighting the
informational war, together with education), but about inoculation
through fake, lie, subtle propaganda elements, reaching areas of
personal sensitivity, capitalizing the democratic inclinations of the
Western populations, of pseudo-credible narratives, plausible, but
artificially constructed on fakes. The purpose is not to promote
Russia, but to create a mass of manoeuvre and people who practice
suspicion as a rule, profess criticism at any cost, and absorb and
circulate conspiracy theories and abolish any element of decision or
of internal or relational construction.
The third component is aimed at building the common

hostile, the enemy, the adversary, necessary to maintain the
Russian society united, to impress the need for unity and support
of the leadership on account of the existence of the common
enemy. It is about the US, NATO, the EU as main enemies, of the
liberal democracy, the open society, human rights, the colour
revolutions, as instruments of informational war. Also, on this
level, the enemies are identified, rivals and campaigns to derogate
them from their credibility are promoted.
It is the classic case of Turkey and President Erdogan that

became targets after the downing of the Russian aircraft which
entered the Russian territory and the killing of the pilots by the
Turkmen populations in Northern Syria. We observed in Romania
the Campaign Turkey equals Russia, Putin equals Erdogan, designed
to collapse public support, political and general, at the population
level, for Turkey and for Turkeys receiving in the EU.
Fourthly, the objectives of the informational war campaigns

aim not only at immediately achieving the objectives, through the
content of information, but, as we saw above, building some states
of mind and approaches based on fears and common reactions, as

effect of the created context, accessing the subtle levels of the states
of mind preparation, conditioning the reactions and conducting
certain future reflexes towards possible actions, facts and events that
will unfold. At the appropriate time, as we saw above, conditioned
groups react as they were scheduled to and alter the objective option
of the decision maker for a solution to the ongoing crisis. The fifth
objective that we have identified is that of building instrumentation
for the informational war based on the actions conducted even using
this instrument.
The fifth objective that we identified is that of building the

instrumentation for the informational war, based on the actions
conducted using this precise instrument. Herein the losers and the
discontented of the liberal democracy are identified and taken
over, the mistakes of the administration being exploited as well,
and the concrete elements of the happenings, but willingly wrongly
interpreted, combined with blatant lies and misinformation. Within
this component of Russias informational war, the recruitment of
supporters is conducted, creating supporting groups, the maneuver
mass, that will form the local instruments, the enemy within the
fortress in the informational war, namely:
- groups of operative agents and neither of local antennas
engaged in operations;
-the mass of maneuver consisting of useful idiots who
embrace indiscriminatingly any topic they find appealing, without
understanding it, due to the feeling of imitation, rebelliousness,
silliness or adventure. Herein join those who follow a certain
fashion of the moment, whether the inclination towards being
equidistant towards various options or those who argue listening
to the Russians as well, they might also have their righteousness
as approaches per se, and not respecting the real arguments of the
discussed topics.
- The most complicated and valuable part of an action meant

to build some instruments from the pressure and support groups
is represented by the identification, selection, preparation and
conditioning of those who became convinced by the alternative
narratives, which are aware and consenting multipliers in the
informational war, that have discernment and the intellectual
capacity, sometimes they even come to recognize the false, their
manipulation and use by third parties in the informational war, but
are driven by the pride which prevents them to recognize, in time,
that they have been used. It is the most dangerous area, which is
being built today in all the targeted Western countries.
Beside these the other dimensions of informational war

located in the visible spectrum are added:
- the construction of attacks towards third parties or
directing some interpretations on matters of interest, in order to
achieve or support the Russian interests;
- actions to break the transatlantic cohesion and the
European cohesion, building doubt and exaggeration of the national
exceptional ideas in order to block the common projects and the
solidarity of the West;
- the war of trolls and controlling and directing the discussions
in the social networks and the Internet and guiding them towards
different directions of ideational development;
- controlling the ideas and the social constructs in the virtual
field in the form of blocking the unwanted clotting and promoting
the advantageous actions;
- the artificial amplifying of the visibility of some ideas,
people and groups and, of course, removing the visibility of others,
inappropriate to the objectives of the abuser (see the famous law of
oblivion and the instrumentation used for the transformation into
ghost on the Internet, not accessible to the public).
Most of the time the action unfolds in a concerted, planned
and integrated way, on all three dimensions media propaganda,
lobbying and psychological operations. All the objectives are

simultaneously pursued, those to achieve immediate, direct,
results and those to build a favourable context or preparatory for
the instruments of informational warfare developed in the future
conditioning or creating pressure and support groups, inclusively of
the convinced groups.
Approaching and planning the informational war is
conducted at three levels: global the themes of interest to the
Russian Federation, of context, which should be pursued along
the whole line, then regional the former Soviet space (with the
particularity of the humanitarian instrument, of defending the
Russians, the Russian speakers and the compatriots), the Eastern
Flank of the EU-NATO, the heart of the Westthe EU and the US,
third areas of interest, and respectively local at the national level.
The brains of the whole operation, most likely situated at the
Russian military body level, has the force to adapt and exploit in
real-time any arisen opportunity based on the events conducted
globally, regionally and locally. Not infrequently, our analysis has
demonstrated the ability to bring on the field Russian actors
with declarations of opportunity, but also other well-thought-
of international actors with credibility in the third spaces or local
actors stimulated and motivated to react in times of need.
Everything seems like a great devised machinery in which
everyone is both an actor, and a pawn, and a player, and a leader, at
the same time, the President Vladimir Putin, the Defence Minister,
the Chief of the General Staff, inclusively the Foreign Minister. The
alternative to a thorough and strict planning, to access and capacity
to determine these outputs of frontline leaders would only be an
ideological profound cohesion of all these actors that must be so
strong and precise, insomuch that to lead them to react immediately,
accurately and coherently to any event that might occur. This variant
is just as implausible as the ability to plan strictly and extensively,
hence the possibility that we might deal with a combination between
the two components planning and internal impulse due to strong
ideological cohesion that make such a mechanism of informational

war function so precisely and have such an impact.
5. Ways of counteracting the informational war

The awareness of the informational war's existence and the
creation of national, international and institutional counteracting
mechanisms, subsequently of rules and norms of action in the
instrumentation related to the informational warfare would be the
first variants of reaction. We have international players that are
more experienced or others that are weaker, more vulnerable to
informational attacks. Aggression using the instrumentation of
informational war is extremely broad as form of emergence.
We must remember that the informational war launched by

the Russian Federation, according to their own public programmatic
documents, cover the entire world, does not stop at the post-Soviet
space, nor at the level of the former socialist states situated today
in the Eastern Flank of the EU and NATO. Moscow felt aggressed
by the extension of the liberal democracy values, universally
declared, and invented the sovereign democracy, subsequently the
administered democracy, controlled. It felt attacked by enlargement
of the EU and NATO values area, inclusively through the instruments
of the free trade space, cultural, and of values and ideas. It considered
the colour revolutions as an informational war means, and sought
to build its own instruments such as the so-called humanitarian
policies and defending the rights of the Russians, of the Russian
speakers and of the compatriots.
Then the Russian Federation rejected the liberal democracy
and proposed instead Dughin's conservatism and traditionalism,
subsequently his Eurasianism, later on supported the nationalisms
in order to counter the European communitarism. The fact is that
the informational war proved to be implemented in the very heart
of Europe see the case of the famous Russian girl who had allegedly
been raped by immigrants, case that, amplified and sanctioned too

late by the German institutions, shook strongly the Chancellor chair
of Mrs. Merkel.
And operations like these can be found in France, in Europe
as a whole and in the US. It concerns everybody, and the lack of
attention or of reaction to the informational war can create
monsters and late reactions, when control over the public space is
already lost.
The Western states, the established democracies, are the best
equipped to deal with the informational war. But they are also not
immune. Thus, the existence of real media pluralism, of controlling
instruments for the audiovisual media in terms of ethics, of the
journalist profession, the education and the democratic culture level,
the critical spirit developed at the level of the society, at an early age,
in school, seeking alternatives should provide a natural reaction
and real antibodies against the elements of the informational
war. But democracies are not perfect, the modern man has access
to an enormous amount of information and is often sufficiently
comfortable to believe that, if the information is easy to obtain, then
he knows it without consulting it. The case of the UK referendum and
the great gammon of Brexit, which even its current followers have
admitted, demonstrated the limited action of antibodies against
the informational war even in most highly developed societies.
Moreover, a vulnerability in the West, the penetration of
informational war elements in the high quality and prestigious
media, the insight and seizure of some prestigious politicians or
opinion leaders in the informational war instrumentation carrousel
of the Russian Federation may anytime represent a major problem
for the Eastern Flank states, former socialist states through the
legitimacy and credibility given to the informational war elements
by passing through this Western filter and it is a true earthquake
and a catastrophe for states in the post-Soviet space and their
populations, being subjected in the long term and constantly to a
much stronger aggression, having reduced institutional antibodies

and a more precarious responsiveness.
In the long term, the reaction formula, the most appropriate

in the case of informational war, is education. Introducing in the
curricula starting from the middle school courses for developing
the civics and the critical spirit, in which the informational war
to be presented, but also elements for developing the critical spirit,
separating critique from criticism at any cost, teaching the basic
elements of advertising psychology and the working mechanism,
the structure of lies, disinformation techniques, the limits and use
of the conspiracy theories, communication strategies, elements and
examples of propaganda and manipulation, all these drive to building
a balanced personality and a citizen who has the instrumentation,
the discernment and the ability to fight the informational war and
avoid its effects. But for such a step a period of about 20 years at least
is needed, of a generation that has confronted with these elements, in
order to have immune citizens to the informational war.
In the short and medium term, and even afterwards, the

instrumentations qualified to manage the informational war
elements are necessary. Awareness of this war's existence must
be doubled by assuming, at the security documents level, of the
specialized institutions responsibilities in the security domain and
designating an integrative institution responsible for countering
the informational war that would utilize all the resources of the
other institutions in line involved.
Then, the assuming on an official website of the decryption
elements is necessary and the exposure of the informational war
instruments. The US State Department became accustomed to put
on its website materials such as the lies of the Russian Federation
about....It is an authorized source, official, where these elements
can be found. Then, in the nongovernmental plan, there are sites
such as stop fake, a site as the one in Mogila University, Kiev, (a
private university named after Peter Mogila, the first metropolitan

of Ukraine) is also very important. It exposes all the misinformation
found by its volunteers in the media regarding the case of the war in
Eastern Ukraine, but the experience could be extended to the level of
some institutions in each country.
The media coverage of the flagrant cases components of the
informational war is also useful. It is the case of the stratcom groups,
for strategic communication, established at the NATO and the EU
level. And other experiences and good practices or results could
be shared, such as the studies of the NATO Centre of Excellence in
Latvia for strategic communication in the Russian language space.
The European Alliance to counter Russias

informational war
The supporting countries of the transatlantic relationship
and that consider the US presence in Europe as indispensable for
the strategic balance and for countering the Russian inf luence in
the EU, have passed to strong individual measures to counter the
informational war waged by Russia in Europe and the world. The
approach emerged after the EU considered that such a threat must
be countered with plenty of public diplomacy, namely by promoting
its own version of the reality, although it is facing, in actual
fact, with a sophisticated instrumentation of military origins
and psychological operations PsyOps, not only with a trivial
propaganda appeared from the cold war memory and the bipolar
ideological battle.
The initiative belongs to the Netherlands and Poland, the first
being the main subject regarding the impact of the Malaysian MH17
plane knockingdown, in July 2014, by a surface-to-air Russian
missile, launched by a Buk device, brought from across the border into
the separatist area, afterwards moved back to Russia and destroyed.
One year after the tragedy in July 2014, that killed hundreds of
Dutch citizens, the international community has demanded the
appointment of a special UN court to judge the guilty, proposal

blocked by veto in the Security Council by Russia and countered with
a counter-proposal avoiding its responsibility and does not allow
the investigation without doubt on the humanitarian catastrophe
generated under Moscows responsibility, by a device belonging to
the Russian Army, operated by soldiers of the Russian army, entered
illegally on the occupied territory in eastern Ukraine and that have
brought down the airliner.
Poland embraced the project, being the most financially
potent and economically solid state in the first line of the Eastern
front of the EU and NATO, which is the major target of Russias
propaganda and informational war. The two states have established
and will launch a Russian-language news agency, an instrument
to counter the informational war conducted by Russia through the
Sputnik compound and other media channels.
Bert Koenders, the Dutch Foreign Minister, and Grzegorz
Schetyna, the Polish Foreign Minister, declared that the instrument
allows the Russian press and the social networks space to operate
with balanced information in Russian, identifying and analysing all
points of view, providing an important tool in the informational war.
The purpose is to have also the ability to counter propaganda and
the media aggression, including the one with psychological support
that targets an audience in order to have its perception altered and
directed, with arguments, analysis and scrutiny, respectively the
exposure of gross misinformation maneuvers and public exposure
of elements related to the sequential and evil-minded interpretation
of facts combined with Russia'a syllogisms and many malicious lies.
The idea of launching a news agency of this kind, that will have
television, radio, an online format and all the sites for socialization,
emerged after a study of the European Endowment for Democracy
(EED), which targeted the counteracting formula of the Russian
informational war in Europe. The model is that of a European
BBC, a factory of content, analysis and demystification of Russias
informational war elements.
The External Action Service of the EU decided also to act,

since March, to find ways to counter Russia's disinformation
campaigns. Five experts were employed from the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and the UK to lead this cell for strategic
communication and counteracting the informational war called
East StratCom Team. The most important part of their work will be
to decrypt and display the lying reports and stories of the Russian
media and of the official propaganda carried by the Russian officials,
information to be supplied to the Member States, the diplomatic
representatives of the EU, the mass media and the partner states
from post-Soviet space.
Chapter 2
The project and the work methodology.

Iulian Chifu
In order to ascertain of the Russian informational war, we

proceeded from two complementary realities. First we considered
the Republic of Moldova, where the penetration of the public
space is complete and the access level reached the penetration
of the political space, the control of a political force the most
important party which assumingly promotes the interests of the
Russian Federation, here the study being aimed at the direct visible
elements of the informational war, where the message carriers are
the decision makers, the politicians and the opinion formers in the
media space, the majority on content produced directly in Moscow,
some on content produced in Kishinev.
For the second component, the one situated under the
radar, we used the case of Romania, where the deep reticence
regarding everything coming from the Russian Federation, in terms
of policies, information, motivations, is major. This fact is showed by
a study made by the Centre for Conflict Prevention, in 2009, on the
perception regarding Russia, the Russians and the Russian policies in
Romania. Back then, the perception on the Russians was substantially
positive, with an acceptability level of the Russian citizens of 60%,
regarding the acceptability of the Russian Federation, it was 4545%,
pro and con, meaning a half acceptability, instead, regarding the

Russian policies, rejection was major, 75%.In this context, the
action of the Russian informational war in Romania must adopt
the most insidious and less visible alternatives, not to generate
negative virulent reactions. That is why, here, the components of
the war of trolls manifest, of the psychological operations, of the
conditioning elements and most especially here and at this stage the
recruitment actions unfold and the establishing of the influence
groups, the supporting groups, the mass maneuver and especially
the recruitment of the convinced.
In both cases we studied the public space and the public
events, by no means we followed the traceability of the action. It
comes to other institutions of the involved states to start from these
observations and to identify the smoking gun, meaning that proven
link between the Russian authorities direct, at the level of the
services, by means of some supposed NGOs or through the embassy
and those who bear this action of informational war. In the
Republic of Moldova there is the Centre for Investigative Journalism,
a RISE Project collaborator, with whom we worked together, which
partially handles this component as well. But the project aimed at
identifying the working methods, the instruments and the goals
of the informational war, and certainly not identifying the money
circuit and the action orders.
In the Republic of Moldova, our partner, the Institute for
Public Policies, along with numerous institutions and NGOs
involved in the project, realized the monitoring and assessment
of the complete visible spectrum of Russias informational war,
establishing the following access levels:
- control in the public space
- control in the political space parties and message carriers
that defend Russias interests
- media instruments
-non-governmental organizations and civil society formulas

that are instrumentation projections for waging the informational
war, at the civil society level and at the grassroot level, in the territory.
The level of control and influence, and even of decisions
determining, is at the very core of the political life and covers, to a
great extent, about half of the political spectrum in the Republic of
Moldova, approximately 80% of the media space and an important
part of the civil society and the ideas disputed. Also, although we
did not have the possibility to conduct the study in detail, at national
level, at the grassroot level, Russias informational war components
seem to have exceeded half of access, at the level of the population,
according to the estimates of those who worked on this component
of the programme.
Regarding Romania, our methodology targeted an analysis
of the public space, the news and the information targeting the
strategic decisions and the reporting to the Foreign, Security and
Defence Policy. We selected the most important TV channels, all
the TV news stations, the most important radio stations, news
agencies, newspapers, news websites as audience and evaluated their
content for the period starting from the Vilnius Summit, the Eastern
Partnership, November 2013, to March 2016. We have assessed the
information and analyses content and the troll war, the aim being
as follows:
- to identify the action patterns regarding Russias
informational war in Romania;
- to achieve the profile of the publication;
- to see the extent in which the informational war is
acknowledged;
- to identify the self-defense measures taken by the media
institutions regarding this war, especially in the war of trolls;
- to determine the vulnerabilities and problems of the media
institutions in the informational war;
- to track the themes of the informational war during this

period and to decant the main themes promoted in the
action directions of Russia;
- to supervise the virtual space, especially Facebook highly
appreciated in Romania and the yahoo-groups, as forms of
direct influence, in cyberspace, afferent to the informational
war.
With certainty the study cannot cover the niche publications
or the marginal media institutions, with low audience (under
5.000 followers), meaning below the level of a Facebook user at its
capacity limit without becoming a public figure. Starting from these
two components, studied in distinct environments, where their
manifestation is the most important, we managed to achieve this
definition of the Russian informational war. We also managed to
create a system of thresholds and levels of influence that we propose
as a reference for assessing the impact of Russias informational war
in a third country.
We also believe that the most important role of the project is
to disclose the informational war working systems and to bring
awareness on the existence of this war and the institutional and
individual formulas for protection against the informational war.
Furthermore, the project publicly exposes, including for any internet
user or genuine commentator on the news sites, the dangers they
expose themselves to and the manner in which they could be used
or recruited in this informational war.
Chapter 3
The war of trolls

Iulian Chifu
One of the most important weapons of Russias informational

war is represented by the armies of the so-called trolls, groups
of very well paid young people identifying highly visited sites and
media tools and where they post comments to direct the readers
debates towards the conclusions imposed by the financier, the
Russian state. The procedure has already been revealed by the inside
people, who worked in these factories of parallel truth, for building
and supporting the stories inoculated by the Kremlin in a target
population.
According to the statements, the trolls work in teams of three
and simultaneously attack an article published electronically on
the most famous websites of television and media, or NGOs and
professional publications related to Russia, the war in Ukraine,
Novorosia Putins imperialist project to occupy the northern coast
of the Black Sea to the mouths of the Danube, or other targets. One
of trolls plays the role of the one who launches a comment on an
extremely debated idea, another one gives him a reply, taking the
opposite position, and the last draws the conclusions of the dispute
in the direction in which the sponsors want. Clearly the comments
come on previously prepared scenarios and were tested so that the
postings have maximum impact on the target population, using

samples of local cultural references, formulations and common
apropos of the targeted region.
The strongest strike was recently launched by The Daily
Beast, which revealed on August 20 th, 2015, where these factories
of trolls of the Kremlin, on the Internet and used in the
informational war, are placed. And the way in which these factories
were identified is interesting: using an application that showed where
are the aberrations regarding searching terms such as Sector right,
Novorosia, the DNR Peoples Republic of Donetsk, the separatist
region in Ukraine. The geographical research showed that there
are areas in Russia showing aberrations, where a larger number of
computers seek excessively certain terms, several times more than
the rest of the region and the national average.
This it how it was demonstrated that the most important trolls
factory used in the informational war in Eastern Ukraine and that
projected worldwide is at Olgino, a suburb in Putins hometown,
Sankt Petersburg. The factory of trolls, entitled Internet Research,
Inc., moved, at the beginning of this year, from Olgino to Savushkina
street no. 55, in St. Petersburg.
The thorough research revealed other locations as well:
Perekatny, a suburb with 244 inhabitants and Yablonovsky, with a
population of 30.518 in the autonomous republic Adygeia, in North
Caucasus, near the city of Krasnodar. To these, we add Zelyony
Gorod, a suburb in the Nizhny Novgorod city, the last specifically
specializing in the war in Ukraine and preoccupied with the military
terms and technique involved in this war. Just as the separatist
republics are the responsibility of a trolls factory in Taganrog, a
town near the border with Ukraine, where convoys of Russian
armament are passing towards the separatists, then Perekatny and
Kursk and only afterwards, at the end, the Olgino trolls factory.
The informational war is a war as real as it could be,
which plays with perceptions, with the will and beliefs of the
target populations. A fact as real as possible that may affect the
support for the public policies of the concerned governments. Not

coincidentally defence formulas appeared worldwide and the news
media institutions have decided to control the comments published
on their websites in order to avoid being subject to this type of attack
or to the forgery instrument of truth by the Russian trolls factories.
Russias informational war does not strike only the post-

Soviet states or the ones on NATOs Eastern Flank, the former
socialist states, more exposed to the Russian propaganda and the
sophisticated psychological operations, but attacks also the heart of
Europe. Germany has experienced it, when it faced a real offensive
designed to oust Angela Merkel once with the refugees waves,
when the Russian media invented a 13-year-old girl, from a family
originally from Russia, who was allegedly raped in Cologne, and
provoked public demonstrations inciting 2 million Russian Germans
who held a public manifestation, whose magnitude was amplified by
the Russian news network Sputnik. Germany reacted and sanctioned
the informational operation accusing it of false, but the damage had
already been produced.
Apparently, recently the US became the target of the same
type of informational attacks on American soil. The Russian trolls
army, the pseudo-Institute for the Study of the Internet in Saint
Petersburg, is behind the generalized attacks of trolls at the address
of the most prized, most visited news sites, those with the largest
audience. Thus, Fox News, Huffington Post, The Blaze, Politico,
and WorldNet Daily are the most attacked sites by the Russian
trolls-agents as The Ghost of Marius the Giraffe, Gay Turtle, and
Ass. These activities have been exposed for the first time when they
were referring to the speculation of the public perception on the
annexation of Crimea and on the Russian military aggression in
Ukraine.
The interest explosion and the massive emergence of trolls in
the social media, also the comments in the electronic media, marked
the interest of the Kremlin to generate control over the Internet,
specifically over the ideas conveyed on the Internet, an army of

trolls being launched, financed with several millions of dollars to
affect and divert the American public opinion and also to block the
freedom of expression on the Internet at home. According to the
informational war strategy documents, the balance of forces is 20-
80% to the detriment of the Russia brand advocates, according to one
of the heads of Svetlana Boiko project, which is why they are trying to
amplify the pro-Russian answers, targeted and coordinated in order
to increase their efficiency, to give the feeling of an overwhelming
number and power of those who support the views of Russia through
activism, frightening the actors with opposing opinions and covering
the independent and anti-system ideas from Russia itself.
The instructions set the work level for the employees and the
efficiency targets: every working day, the Russian trolls must post
comments on the news articles at least 50 times, every blogger must
maintain at least five Facebook accounts, with at least three posts a
day for each, to discuss the news on the groups at least twice a day.
After the first month they must have at least 500 subscribers and
five media posts from each of them monthly. On Twitter, each must
manage 10 accounts with a minimum of 2,000 members, and to drop
messages it at least 50 times a day. The postings reach two themes,
the American Dream, attacking the actions of the US, its history,
the favourite themes of the American dream and creating the anti-
system and anti-American current in the world, and respectively
I Love Russia, messages praising Russias actions. The identities
adopted, without having an explanation for the reason of their choice,
are Handkerchief, Gay Turtle, The Ghost of Marius the Giraffe, Left
Breast, Black Breast and Ass.
The Project Leader at the moment of the interpellation,

Igor Osadchy, declared that he is not an employee of the Agency
for Studying the Internet, denying also the documents about his
hundreds employees situated in the suburbs of Sankt Petersburg.
Moreover, Osadchy declined to comment for BuzzFeed alsoa bout
the funding of the project that brings him 35,000 dollars a month
salary, claiming that it was only a missed challenge. He refused
to comment upon the interceptions and the data obtained by the
American hackers from the activity of the Agency that is being led
by him, just as the Kremlin proceeded regarding the official and
formal questions.
Concerning Romania and the trolls manner of action, our

study determined the following conclusions:
- The war of trolls in Romania exists with certainty. The fact
that the news with strategic impact and the ones targeting Russia are
primarily commented, singles out these issues.
- The alleged impact of the war of trolls is difficult to estimate.
However, given the strict comments on a number of issues and the
fact that a user reads an article and its 368 comments to write the
369 th means that there is a public and a target for the trolls, the
consumers of these materials.
- The trolls war is underlined also by the number of postings,
by their daily repetition at the same 3-5-7 relevant news reports on
the major news sites, as well as the confrontation between these trolls
and the outside observers or trolls of another colour. It is obvious
that those who are concerned with the posting have a permanent
mission, a permanent job in order to do that.
- The overwhelming majority of trolls are Romanian
citizens. It results from the writing, the formulations, et cetera.
There is a small number of posts that seem being translated with
Google Translate, therefore not a misused Romanian language or
spoken in the Republic of Moldova, but transfered and translated
formulas, however, they do not exceed 1% of the posts.
- The purpose of a battle of this kind is to direct the dispute
conclusions, in a constant way, towards the positions imposed by
the Russian area. But the approaches are different from one media
instrument to the next. Thus, to those that are permeable and such
a battle could be won, the things are carried to the end, in those
that are declaredly and explicitly pro-Western or pro-American, the

interest is only the presence in the space of these disputes and the
equal affirmation of the indicated themes, received through contract.
- Not infrequently, the postings have nothing to do with
the commented topic. In 5-10% of the cases, there are posts
with comments on some historical sequences which highlight
that the Russians were of help in a certain historical moment or,
on the contrary, that the Romanians were betrayed by the West.
Furthermore, the same postings are to be found on more news and
more sites at the same time, even if the user names are different and
humorous.
- The user names that comment are either comments per se, or
relevant acronyms, that draw attention, or proper names (probably
false) but that give credibility to the message.
- Neither the swearing, nor the pressure on the authors of
the commented materials are missing, especially if the approach is
unsuitable to the programme of the trolls. Direct pressure, swearing,
the attempt to have a more relevant ensemble to press pressure,
highlighting the number of agreements obtained at a posting,
altering the rating, all of these are used to generate a reaction.
Last but not least, the trolls wars are used for recruiting,
involving in the comments, exploitation in blind or convincing
a number of objective users. A user can genuinely believe that the
Crimea belonged to the Russians. From a simple comment follows
the involvement in bilateral talks and supporting the targeted one,
then the invitation to comment on other news, subsequently even his
direct hiring, in the real space. Based on this type of recruitment the
pressure groups and the convinced users are achieved, therefore
not the operative agents, not the mass maneuver and the slowcoach,
but people with relevant intellectual base, who are convinced by the
Russian approaches and are directed in groups, precise gatherings
and other forms where to be capitalized.
Chapter 4
Examples of the informational war waged by

Russia and modus operandi
Iulian Chifu
It is important to realize how the informational war works and

how the parallel narrative first contours itself, alternative, then how
the false is achieved and the amplifying of a marginal news, finally
how the space and the psychological context for the informational
war are built. We selected from the period we monitored, news and
disclosures of the informational war publicly exposed so as to have
specific elements, tangible, samples of news of this informational
was. We split the material in two, news and external information,
from other areas (but broadcast worldwide) and the news, and the
information part of the informational war in Romania.
Russia conquers Ukraine in 3-5 days

Obviously we could not start otherwise than with Ukraine,
one of the main targets of the Russian informational war. And
the objectives of the news are transparent in undermining the state
power, attacking the prestige and inoculating the themes of the
parallel narrative created by the Kremlin:
The President of the Russian Federation State Duma, Sergey

Naryshkin, recently announced (material published Thursday, July
30 th, 2015) that Russia does not want to occupy Ukraine but, if it
would have wanted it, it would do it in 3-5 days, without a problem.
The declaration that meant to be one for calming the spirits and
for undeceive the cries for help of Kiev, that repeatedly demands
the delivering of weapons in order to defend the de facto border of
the West on the Donbas demarcation line, proved to be the clearest
evidence of Russias bellicose inclinations, aggressive, revisionist and
revanchist, against the states that did not fold on the neo-imperial
ambitions of the Kremlin, which wants to transform the post-Soviet
states into new colonies and to impose sovereignty limited to the
supreme interests of Russia, by threatening with protecting the
Russians, the Russian speakers and the compatriots.
If we take the statement as such, it is clear that we are dealing
with bravado. Russia does not have the resources, the weapons, nor
the prepared people to lead a war in Ukraine, let alone to conquer it
in 3-5 days. What can Russia really do is to occupy different parts
of Ukraine, but which can not only be maintained with enormous
efforts and with the bankruptcy thereat of its own state, in economic
and financial terms.
A great deal has been discussed about a corridor towards the
Crimea, once the bridge across the Kerch Strait has proven not to
be feasible, and the supply of the Crimea is made only by water, or
it is dependent on the supply from the mainland to the peninsula,
meaning from Ukraine, from which it was torn away. The link
was organic as we can see today, while the annexation had no real
planning for the day after the occupation. What could this mean?
The occupation of the thoroughfare towards the Crimea would
not be a superhuman effort for the regular Russian troops. Obviously,
in this case also, as in the case of Ukraines occupation, the story
of the separatists fighting with the regular troops of Ukraine has
no longer coverage and the Russian regular troops and technique
must penetrate openly and in plane sight in order to fight. Admitting
avoiding the cities (whose conquest would be more expensive and

sustained) starting with Mariupol, a corridor to the Crimea could be
achieved. But could it be defended? At what cost?
The corridor to the Crimea could be done in about two weeks,
providing also the supply of the frontline troops. The operation
could even be launched from two directions, namely Russia via
Mariupol and the Crimea. But maintaining control would be
extremely difficult and would require about 30.000 people for that
length. Moreover, as in the case of any transit corridor, it would be
under pressure and simple incursions, groups of 1015 people, which
could attack and disrupt the corridor in multiple points and would
constantly harass the Russian troops. Hence, a neverending effort.
In order to maintain the corridor viable, the entire regions
should be occupied. Donetsk, until its end, Zaporoje and Kherson,
at least to the isthmus that makes the connection to the Crimea. But
for such an undertaking the support of the population is necessary
while, after the disaster in Donbas, Russia no longer has even the
support of the Russian minority in Ukraine and a much higher
number of troops, in principle with military effort supported for
18-24 months and the involvement of 150-200 thousand soldiers.
Without the support of the population, as occupation army, the
Russian Army would be able to maintain in exchanges the extended
region for a medium-term of 3-5 years, a quasi impossible fact at the
level of the available resources and the endowment/training degree
of the nowadays Russian army.
Obviously that the idea to occupy Novorosia, eventually until
the mouths of the Danube, is also a utopia on the short and medium
term. Destabilizing, strikes and terrorist actions could take place,
but the occupation of the Odessa region alone requires an effort that
today Russia is not capable of. It should be added that the Ukrainian
Army is no longer the one in 2014, when it succumbed without a single
fire shot in the Crimea, passing mostly to the enemy, or it turned
over in the Donetsk and Lugansk attack, as the hybrid war form. But
even maintaining the occupied territory claimed, at the end of last
year, the almost open intervention of the regular Russian troops, as

the regaining of a contiguous territory. But starting with this year, at
the tentative resumption regarding the Mariinka operations, it has
been clearly seen that the operations are so easy while the Ukrainian
army has noticeably improved. Russia needs 1-1.5 million soldiers,
trained and armed, to occupy todays Ukraine. Only to occupy it, not
to maintain it. At this stage, it has only 300,000. And the national
bankruptcy is behind the door.
The USA introduced the Zika virus as biological

weapon against Russia
The second development direction of the informational war
is represented by the absurd news, obvious subject for the blatant
misinformation, but which proved in our study to have an audience
as well. As some believe in aliens, others think that AIDS is a
laboratory product launched by the USA in the world as a biologic
weapon. On the same pattern, this time the star was the Zika virus:
The famous chief of the Russian Federation veterinary

inspection, Ghenadi Onishchenko, one of the most blasphemed
characters in the Republic of Moldova after he repeatedly provided
political evidence to suspend the exports to Russia regarding
wines, vegetables and other industrial products, became the author
of the latest attack in Russias informational war with the entire
world. Onishchenko declared, nothing more nor less that the much
dreaded Zika virus, who wreak havoc in South America, being
carried by mosquitoes and being responsible for microcephaly at
the new-borns from infected mothers, would actually be a biological
weapon created by the US to attack Russia.
The commentaries were made by Ghenadi Onishchenko at the
BBC post in Russian, claiming that unspecified Russian scientists
identified the appearance of the disease since 2012 at mosquitoes in
Abkhazia a Georgian separatist region being under the control of
the Russian Federation, militarized and integrated in the Russian

security system. This thing worried us because, at 100 km of the
place the mosquito lives, a microbiological laboratory of the US
Army is located. Onishchenko, currently adviser to Prime Minister
Medvedev, made reference to a facility in Georgia where The US
Agency of Defence against threats built, in 2011, a laboratory for
the epidemiological diseases control, which is currently located in
Georgias National Centre for the Control of the Infectious Diseases.
The reference to an American chain of biological laboratories
in the former Soviet states must not be forgotten, that would be
used to produce the biological weapon against Russia, appeared
in Russias last Security Strategy, a reference that was sent into
oblivion and became an important part of in determining the loss
of credibility for the document approved by the Security Council
of Russia, which marks the US, NATO and the EU as enemies and
threats to the security of the Russian Federation. The Zika virus
spread exponentially in South America but formal cases did not
register in the rest of the world, even less so from 2012 and in an
areal around the Black Sea.
The only known case in the Russian Federation is that of an
infected woman in the Dominican Republic, but two did not even
infect the other passengers in air travel that she came with, neither her
relatives, or other Russian citizens. As for Onishchenkos statements,
they come to revive an older theory of the Russian propaganda, which
once said that even AIDS was a disease resulting from a virus, HIV,
which is the product of the biological warfare launched by the US to
the USSR. Returning to these practices, in 2016 come to emphasize
the low level of the bilateral relations of Russia with the West and the
total lack of mutual trust, fact that leads to the reactivation of such
message carriers for Russias informational war.
In the meantime, the UK has identified a formula to combat
the Zika virus by attacking the responsible genes directly at the
carrier mosquito. London formed a veritable army made of millions
of genetically modified mosquitoes, that freely mate with the
females carrying the Zika virus and transmit a lethal gene, thereby
resulting from mating mosquitoes that die before becoming adults
and before transmitting the virus. The good mosquito was created
by a British company and has so far been successfully tested in a
locality in Brazil.
American soldier shooting the Koran

Another eloquent example is that of the double action, by
absorbing some false information, even some excogitations,
concocted in the communication laboratories, slipping them
through abstruse sources and absorbing them into the mainstream,
possibly through an intermediary western source to give credibility
to the news. The second objective of such news is to fundamentally
undermine the image of the enemy, the US, in relation to the third
parties, the Muslim world, in this case, and to generate reactions
from the third parties, creating new problems to the intended target:
The factory of trolls, commentators and postphiles (persons

that post frequently comments to the articles published on the
Internet) funded by Saint Petersburg to alter and influence the
virtual space and the international media, has produced a new
infamy, a disinformation through a huge lie, which they multiplied
exponentially: the movie in which an American soldier allegedly
shot a copy of the Koran. The Agency for Studying the Internet,
which covers the trolls factory, was revealed as author of the forgery
by an investigation effected by BBC in Russian.
The film showed a man dressed in the clothing of a US soldier
shooing three bullets in a blue book, apparently a copy of the Koran.
Launched in September 2015, the clip has generated inexplicable
interest in Russia, being fiercely criticized by the Muslim community
in the country, in terms of the American soldier who shoots the
Koran, even though the film does not explicitly ref lect this reality,
furthermore it is a fake.
The film involves a black man to clearly ref lect that he is

an American dressed in an American uniform and tests a semi-
automatic Saiga 401K rifle of Russian provenance, firing 10 bullets
towards a blue book with Arabic writing on it, which seems to be
a Koran. Out of the 10 gunshots, only 3 hit the book, and the one
who is filming, with a completely un-American English accent,
proffers obscenities and claims that the gun is not good. The movie
commented in English with many grammatical mistakes ends with
the conclusion that the American weapons are the best.
The film was posted on YouTube and was assumed by a an
allegedly National Gun Forum, the forum of the national weapons,
that would host the debates for the proud owners of weapons. The
Derr86 user is the one posting the video claiming that he persuaded
his friend not to buy a Russian Saiga 410K and shows how badly
it works through the mounted video. The user has this as unique
posting and has vanished since then.
According to the BBC investigations, the man claiming
to be a US soldier is dressed in a desert camouf lage uniform that
can be purchased by anyone in stores. The soldier is wearing a cap
belonging to Ops-Core FAST Base Jump and not a cap belonging
to the US military, and has on the band visibly written the message
INFIDEL STRONG. All seem to be subliminal symbols, from the
skin colour, the message on the cap, the discussion between the two,
the bullets into the alleged Koran. The video on Youtube is registered
on Mayaese Johnson, Google Plus claiming that the person is an
employee of a high school in Moscow.
On Google Plus there are over 50 accounts on the name
Mayaese, many of those registered on it claiming that they are
working for high schools in Moscow. The information was broadcast
on September 11th, 2015, on two twitter accounts @ComradZampolit,
with 33,000 customers, and @NovostiSPb, with more than 81,000
people who have seen it. In both of them the message claims that
an American soldier shoots a copy of the Koran. The NovostiSPb
Twitter account pours news into the Nevskie Novosti website,
belonging to the Russian businessman Evgeny Prigozhin, the one

credited with financing the Agency for Studyingthe Internet, the
trolls factory in Saint Petersburg, according to BBC. Within a few
hours, the film studded the Facebook and Vkontakte (the Russian
facebook) accounts creating a true hysteria about how an American
soldier shoots the Koran. In three days the movie reigned also on
the pro-Kremlin website Politonline.ru. So it entered the foreground
Russian press.
However, the first media institution, which is of reference,in
noticing the posts on the websites and on Youtube was The Popular
News, registered at 55 Savushkina Street in St. Petersburg meaning
precisely at the address of the Agency for Studying the Internet,
the Russian factory of trolls. Moreover, according to BBC, the IP
addresses used to promote the movie belong to the agency, one of
them promoting the film as the killer of the Koran at a forum in
Saratov. BBC also found the person who impersonates the American
soldier in the clip, a bartender from Sankt Petersburg, a friend of a
woman employed at the trolls factory. Here is how a fake is achieved,
and a lie that became an absolute truth is multiplied in Russia and
the Islamic world: the American soldiers are shooting the Koran.
Russia invents the Romanian separatism at Chernivtsi

Certainly the informational war needs some facts as well.
Invented, directed, placed in abstruse spaces, as we saw above, but
subsequently interpreted and amplified by the Russian official
media in order to create major effects. As we approach Romania,
here is a fake with credibility flavour publicly attached, in order to
create public disagreements between Romania and Ukraine at
a time of maximum closeness and of support offered by Romania
and the Romanians in Bucovina, on the field, for the war in Eastern
Ukraine:
The alleged founding conference in Chernivtsi of the so-
called Assembly of Romanians in Bucovina an organization that
demanded a special autonomy status for the Romanians in Northern

Bucovina was actually a diversion intended to destabilize the
situation in the region. Russia invented from the atmosphere the
Romanian separatism in Northern Bucovina, as part of the classic
informational war that it orchestrates in Ukraine as in Romania.
Thus, it achieved two objectives: to incite the weak-spirited Romanian
audience and the marginal Romanian nationalist parties, keen to
assert themselves, to loudly defend the compatriots from Chernivtsi;
then to simultaneously artificially create and deepen divergences
and rifts between the two neighbours, Romania and Ukraine, to
demonstrate that it is not only about the Russian minority or about
the Hungarians and the Ruthenians influenced by the two states
with revisionist policies, which were accusing the government and
the regime in Kiev of repressive policies against minorities, but it is
about all of Ukraines neighbours that might have such views.
The meeting in question proved to be a flash in the pan. A
fake that, the falser and nonexistent, the more it hoped to have a
greater inf luence. The informational attack was meant to destabilize
the situation in the tolerant Bucovina, to provoke an ethnic conflict
on the background of the Donbas crisis, where Russia carries out
military aggression against Ukraine, in the Eastern regions, Donetsk
and Lugansk.
In fact, it turned out that the respective meeting was never
held. Then, that as their leaders some nonexistent leaders from the
Romanian community were placed, the Assembly for the Romanians
in Bucovina being led by Dorin Chirtoaca and Cornelia Rusu an
innovation to sound familiar, by the proximity with the name of the
Chisinau mayor, Dorin Chirtoaca (who at that time was establishing
the Local Council) and of Corina Fusu, Liberal deputy in the Republic
of Moldova. Finally, the images from that meeting proved to be false,
montages made with other occasions and in other circumstances, as
resulted from studying the broadcast pictures, which accompanied
the story originally aired in the Russian media, by ricochet, from
abstruse sources.
According to the broadcast news, the Romanian minority

organized as such was committed to fight for a special autonomy
status for the Romanian ethnics in Ukraine, and all those present
voted unanimously in favour of this resolution. If the information
were initially denied at the individual level, several leaders of the
Romanian cultural association in Chernivtsi denied the respective
information. Practically the Romanians in Bucovina had nothing
to do with the reunion, neither with the media invention, in any
case with the separatist claims presented under the formula of the
request for duplicating the special status that Donbas will achieve
and in Bucovina, just as gatherings of Ruthenians or Hungarians in
Transcarpathia would have already claimed for the region in which
the Romanians live as well. If Csibi Istvan, the known symbolic
hangman of Avram Iancu, wandered through the region inciting for
separatism and the Ruthenians/Russians are coordinated by Moscow
in their separatist claims, in the case of the Romanians in Bucovina,
the situation is completely different.
In this context, the media, that fell victim directly and
indirectly to the Russian propaganda, must disprove the respective
information because it is nothing but a copy of the story invented
in the context of a comprehensive informational war, which should
not affect the interests of the Romanian community in Ukraine,
Bucpress refers to. And about the interests of the Romanians in
Chernivtsi, firstly the native Romanians have the right to speak
about, claims the news portal of the Romanian ethnics in Chernivtsi.
Not that the Romanians in Bucovina would not have their

own grievances and needs. That is a fact. But they do not evoke
them in these terms and in any case not to give arguments for
the Russian separatism in Donbas. Romanians proved to be a
minority loyal to the state in which they live, fought alongside the
majority Ukrainian countrymen in East, have defended their state
of residence, and consider that they can solve better their problems
if they can have representation in Parliament and in the regional
and local leaderships. Unlike the self-proclaimed Moldavians in the

area under Bessarabia, the Odessa region, here as well with many
nuances, the Romanians in Ukraine proved to be the second largest
minority that has behaved loyal to the Ukrainian state in which it
lives. Maybe here as well some officials in Kiev reflect more on the
Stalinist separation of the Romanian minority in Romanians and
Moldavians.
A Russian general, some armament,

a pump and many fireworks
The materials capitalize the media flaws and the
vulnerabilities in the target country, namely in Romania, in this case:
chasing the sensational, the uncritical takeover, without verification
and without offering the other opinion of rumor circulated by the
Russian media. Thus, a base for scaring the population was created
by rolling a pseudo-news and amplifying it by linguistic artifices
and the inventiveness of the titles of the media publishers. Thereby,
no more and no less, the allegations of a Russian general became
overnight The Russian army that supports, the Russian Ministry
of Defence that threatens and even it is presumed the position of
Russia itself that warns (news from June 18th, 2015).
The ingredients are clear and of impact: a Russian general
(necessarily), even though his belonging or rank and position are
unknown, therefore the relevance of the character. Then news about
armament in fact the reaction formula to the future placement of
the prepositioned military capabilities in Eastern Europe. It is about
heavy weapons intended to serve in exercises with various NATO
types of forces and to allow collective defence if an attack looms
in the future. A decision taken at the NATO Summit in Newport,
Wales, September 2014, transparent and known to everybody, to
which the alleged general gives the destructive response just when
the actual placement of weapons to defend the Eastern Flank is being
negotiated. Finally, a pump to fill out a lot the headlines in tabloid
version, indifferent to the fact that the effect is the unnecessary

frightening of the public. And a lot of linguistic artifices to boost
the title: extraordinary, unseen, danger! et cetera.
In fact, a clear decryption of the conveyed news was necessary
to avoid confusion: General Yuri Yakubov, used with other occasions
as well for catastrophic messages like it is necessary to think Russias
pre-emptive nuclear strike in case of threat, allegedly said that
Russia will offer an adequate response if the United States will deploy
heavy artillery in Romania and other Eastern European countries.
The speculation of what Russia might do as response follows. Next
to him immediately appears also the declaration of a Romanian
military official, this time of the Minister of Defence (previously at
a similar construction, as Chief of the General Staff) to give reply
and potentiate the news. In reality the Army General Iuri Iakubov,
the coordinator of the General Inspectors Directorate of the Russian
Defence Ministry, does not have responsibilities in the matter and
speaks from a personal point of view, even more since the Kremlin
refused to speak on the subject. It was not Russia that spoke, neither
the Ministry of Defence, not even the Russian Army, as the headlines
in our newspapers sounded like. His commentary runs:
If the heavy military technique of the US, composed of tanks,
artillery systems and other military equipments, will appear in a
number of countries in Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries (so
Romania is not explicitly mentioned), this will be the most aggressive
step of the Pentagon and of NATO since the Cold War. In this case
Russia can only increase its forces and means in the West strategic
direction, after which he speculated in the first place the military
group will be strengthened over the whole western border of Russia,
inclusively with new formation of tanks, artillery and air units. The
missiles brigade in the Kaliningrad region will be quickly rearmed
with new Iskander tactical missile systems, while the Belarusian
Interarms group will undergo substantial changes.
It should be well understood: I do not think that the general
spoke from his beliefs, without having the consent from his superiors.
Only that a speculation made on a direct addressed question, of

an over-gauged and irrelevant character in the Russian planning
system, is upgraded to being news and attributed to Russia. And
Moscow knows very well about NATOs plans from last September,
knows that placed force it brought from outside precisely because the
states on the Eastern border of NATO did not make purchases and
did not restructure the army and the level of troops and capabilities
is downright irrelevant in front of the reduction level of troops
and armaments in the region. Moreover, all are part of the all the
agreements such as the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe,
including the revised version.
NATO does not violate the arms control agreements and is
arming itself, but Russia. The amount of weapons and military
equipment brought to the Crimea exceeds any level previously
accepted, 25,000 soldiers and the tanks and planes level, because
Moscow considers it Russian territory, by means of the annexation.
And it has been announced that even nuclear weapons may be
brought, in violation of the INF Treaty, of the intermediate-range
action nuclear forces. And in Donbas, the number of forces and
conventional weapons go beyond what is supposed to be placed
throughout the whole Eastern Flank of the Alliance, Russia preparing
here its future frontier but also capabilities to take Ukraine by storm.
Informational war exercises:

Romania attacks Transnistria!
On June 5th, 2015, in the forefront, a classical fake appeared, a
montage of cascading information, having a single source, nuanced
views and presumed news, on sources, so as to build a successive
sequence of statements and mutually interdependent allegations, and
apparently reinforcing one another, in order to highlight the relative
and apparent veracity of a lie, of a blatant lie/lies. Nothing actually
happened however, on paper, the informational war masters started
almost a war of truth: Romania against the separatist Transnistria.
The Russian media released the theme of a possible war in

Transnistria, trying to accredit, by all possible means, the idea that
the blame for such evolutions will belong to Ukraine, Romania and
the constitutional authorities in the Republic of Moldova, but in any
case not to Moscow. In fact, the creation was not about facts but about
BLAME, who is to blame and who is not. It does not matter for what.
The entire string of information broadcast on this subject, from official
statements, to speculations with reference to anonymous sources, that
appear on less known sites, seem coordinated from a single source, the
Kremlin is used to proceed in case of informational attacks.
Wednesday, June 3rd , the Moscow agency Interfax published
a story about a possible extraordinary meeting of the Federation
Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament. It was the first
brick. Shortly after, on a virtual unknown site, Jurnalistkaia Pravda,
another story appears, which states that the Federation Council
meeting could be dictated by the need to declare Transnistria as part
of Russia!!!
Immediately after the battle training, the main attack
emerged: the official post of the Russian Armed Forces, Zvesda TV,
broadcast as news on its website, of course, in the space for external
comments a saying (we cannot call it an analysis) of an alleged
political analyst in Kishinev, Ernest Vardanean, who mentioned
something about some impression that Romania would be the one
currently analysing a military intervention in Transnistria.Thus,
the character that was arrested, released, legitimized and validated
through Transnistria, precisely as a great hero and objector, claims,
with no factual or argumentative basis, that the leadership in
Romania (there you are!) is defined by two views on the actions in
Moldova and against Transnistria. Prime Minister Victor Ponta is
strongly looking to organize a small victorious provocation, to
build a reason to enter the armed forces in Moldova. President Klaus
Iohannis is more moderate.
The earlier piece of the construction is immediately taken,
namely Interfax, which reports that Valentina Matvienko,
Chairman of the Federation Council in Moscow, is the one who

asked her colleagues to be careful, because an extraordinary
meeting is possible to happen, and validating the statement I do
not exclude that, taking into consideration the agenda of the State
Duma, there might be necessary to organize an additional meeting
of the Federation Council, therefore, do not go too far and keep
in touch. If such a decision will be taken, you will be informed in
due time. Nothing about Transnistria, only the smoke without fire
version and construct, figment of the informational war. An earlier
statement of the Vice President of the State Duma, Sergei Jelezniak,
was immediately juxtaposed, only as context, when declaring in a
TV show that Russia is ready to enter the war, on the pretext of an
alleged attack on the Russian peacekeepers in Transnistria, after the
nomination of the former Georgian president, Mikhail Saakashvili,
as Governor of the Odessa region. Finally, on this basis, the carrier
of the main strike of the lies bomb, an absurdity and ineptitude
to claim on his blog that the German Chancellor Angela Merkel
personally persuaded the leader in Bucharest not to take any action
yet. However, in principle, Romania and the Western countries have
not given up a military scenario. It all culminates when a news
agency in Tiraspol claiming that the separatist administration in
Transnistria could mobilize, within two weeks at maximum, 50
thousands of reservists in the region.
News, facts, syllogisms, forgeries, blatant lies and the construct
of a parallel reality with claims of truth. This episode should be
placed in the sign of Sheakespeares play, much ado about nothing
if it is not, in fact, about something else. Something very serious.
In their chase after the sensational, views, visits and spectators, no
less than three TV news stations and important sites in the country
have taken over the stupidity, claiming to be news, which they have
inf lated, placing them proudly in sight in the journals to bring
visibility. As if they were not living in Bucharest, they did not know
how the agenda looks and if someone discusses such a subject, they
could ask, but a Moscow-Tiraspol-Kishinev fake was necessary to
come and tell us what is discussed in the Bucharest chancellery and

to validate the forgery. Here is the blame: exploiting the inclination
towards cheap sensational, Russia gave us a strike with our own
hand. The best description of the story and of the news came from
Minister Bogdan Aurescu: deeply ridiculous. And, at this exam,
the press from Dmbovia took a deeply ridiculous note, failing to
pass the responsibility exam.
Guantanamo-type prisons
in Ukraine and Eastern Europe
Another case dates back to April 25th, 2015, and highlights the
involvement of the Russian Federation and the official propaganda
in the informational war, aimed at the human rights violations in
the CIA prisons in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, respectively in the
programme for interrogating and torturing the terrorist suspects.
Starting from a fact, combined with plenty of mythology already
rooted in the public perception, the official platform Sputnik built
a pseudo-news, which represents a complete fake, whose unique
references are the unspecified sources between the separatists in
Eastern Ukraine. By juxtaposition, conjugation and amplification,
the creation of a reality is attempted, in which any ambiguous
statement, leaving space for speculation and interpretation, is used
in mounting the fake:
Behold the side effects of a rash statement, obviously

inappropriate, by President Ion Iliescu about a building ceded
to CIA for the operations in Bucharest. Immediately, Sputnik,
the informational war platform of the Russian Federation has
launched a new enormity, this time the target being Ukraine and,
the secondary elements, the European and NATO states in Eastern
Europe, while the EU is also held responsible: Russia Today released
the news according to which the concentration camps such as
the famous prison in Guantanamo, but funded by the European
Union would exist in Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania and

Poland! Two such camps have been conquered by the Novorossia
militias, which published a video material on the Internet, declared
Russiatoday.ro.
Russiatoday.ro cites those from the Novorossia militias. A
source that does not designate anyone, due to its ambiguity, but
which introduces and circulates the Novorossia name, a region from
the time of Catherine the Great that never existed as such, and that
today is synonymous with the expansion of the neo-imperial Russia
and the take-over of Ukraines territories bordering the Black Sea.
The news relates about the fact that, near Donetsk, there
would not be just one, but two military prisons, actually an
unfinished Ukrainian Nazi concentration camp, in a village in
Zhdanovka, built for the people accused by the pro-American regime
in Kiev of separatism and terrorism. Here are some other symbols
with emotional impact on the target population: concentration
camp, Guantanamo, the Ukrainian Nazis and pro-American
regime, terms in juxtaposition. A school-construction of a non-
news, without real basis, if it might have a collection of symbolic
messages, subliminal, to support Russias position and condemn the
US, Ukraine and their policies by their association with Nazism,
concentration camps, Guantanamo, prisons. Perfectly well after the
new launch of the theme in Romania.
It is obvious that, for credibility, the news obviously
exclusive and sensational must also contain details: in this prison
documents have been found according to which the construction
was financed by the European Union. Formally, this camp was
designed to be a detention centre for the illegal immigrants. The
buildings were located on the territory of some military units. So it
emerged, in the story of the Russian propaganda laboratory citing a
nonexistent anonymous organization, but with symbolic name, and
the European Union. The organization is guilty, the organization
was the sponsor, even if she wanted something else, this is where the
European money go!
But the delirium continues, because not all the propaganda

targets have been achieved. The beneficiaries of the association with
the prisons, Guantanamo, the Nazis, must also be the individual states
wearing the disregard anathema for Russias interests in Ukraine.
Thus, besides the two such complexes in the Zhdanovka village, in
the Donetsk region, as far as the anonymous source knows, there
are 20 such detention centres in Ukraine. These are not detention
centres for the illegal immigrants in the civilized Europe. These are
NATO prisons as the ones existing in Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania
or Poland. It is not too hard to include these facilities on the list
of prisons for the war prisoners. These camps are Eastern Europes
Guantanamo. It is not said in the emitted pseudo-news, that
regulates the account with Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Poland
as well NATOs reassured Eastern front with the Alliance itself,
using the absolute fact, known, with certainty by the entire world,
about Guantanamo type camps, American, already associated with
Nazism and already named above extermination camps, that might
exist in Eastern Europe states and NATO/EU border states.
We are right in the middle of the informational war. Who
does not realize it, risks being the subject of this mass manipulation,
which already addresses the public of the Soviet space, but also
the elites and opinion makers in Eastern Europe, those who do
not have the time to verify the source of each idea consecrated
by the Russian, pro-Russian and affiliated, at the global level. It is
time to go back to the classical rules of fact journalism and accurate
narrations, to the direct communication of institutions, and with no
double meaning, to explain the phenomena and professionalise the
mass media. Otherwise, anybody will induce any kind of ideas, and
will induce any wanted perceptions to the population. Romanias
security strategy should explicitly contain this threat and the SCND
will have to appoint a national coordinator, responsible for the
integrated inter-institutional formula in order to fight this type of
threat. With all due respect to the freedom of expression and the free
f low of ideas and opinions.
The informational war in the virtual space

We left at the end the elements of the informational war
worn in cyberspace. The informational war is a component of the
hybrid war, but also a particular form of waging war which proposes
replacing reality and facts by building an alternative reality and
projecting it towards the target population to achieve objectives of
military nature, respectively demobilizing the population, creating
doubt regarding the national interest objectives, but also direct
actions, to block the possibility of engaging the population in the
battle training or convincing the young people not to become
volunteers for professional positions within the National Army.
A group suggestively called We do not want to fight against
the Russians was established and haunts the social networks with
alternative approaches. Beyond its strange name I do not remember
someone asking for the arming of the population and declaring
war on Russia, if the actual he heated madman exists, he should be
quickly calmed down by the appropriate bodies the programme of
the group is important as well. It is more than a Romanian-Russian
friendship group and the project speaks about the fact that the USA
want by any means to provoke war with Russia and if this happens,
Romania will be a certain target of the Russian assault.
After showing us that the USA is the enemy and using the
phrase strong of war, to induce fear and draw attention, the
authors also tell us within the programme that the US and the EU
have gradually destroyed Romania and that they want to take our
lives as well. After establishing the enemies, the programme of the
boys clearly says that We do not want to fight for the interests of the
Western invaders. We want them out and the liberation of Romania.
And to conclude in high feather, the parents of the group who did
not reach 21 years old yet tell us that all young people between 20
and 35 years old will be enrolled and sent to fight against the Russian
Federation. They will die for the profit of the Americans, who will
win from the sale of weapons. Naturally the aberration and non-
sense is present in these claims, the group is fighting for Romanias

liberation but says that there is nothing done in the interest of the
Romanian people, theres nothing left to defend (!).
I will not go into the groups details and its authors. Neither
the promotions made to the members to enter the more friendly
Russian social network Vkontakte is not necessarily coincidental.
We have just submitted a qualified sample of informational war
waged against Romania. And this happens directly in our home, in
Romania. What is there left to say about approaching the Regnum
agency, fundamentally romanophobic when speaking about
anything that Romania does in Moldova. Thus, everything that is
Romanian is automatically qualified as anti-Russian, Russophobe
or, alternatively, unionist, characteristics that have become
equivalent to the supreme crime of violating other Russian policy in
the territory left of the Prut River.
Here is the description of the transparent projects of the
Department for the Relations with the Romanians Everywhere in
Regnums vision, the Russian Intelligence and propaganda factory:
Most of the funds will be allocated to support the mass media in
the Republic of Moldova, especially the one of Romanian-unionist
and Russophobe orientation (...) Bucharest will provide around
22,700 euros to the nationalist and Russophobe publication Timpul
(The Time) (...) The Publicaia Uniunii scriitorilor din Republica
Moldova (The Publication of the Writers Union in the Republic of
Moldova), Literatur i art (Literature and art), whose editor is the
Russophobe writer Nicolae Dabija, will receive around 7,300 euros
(...). Bucharest will award another 6,500 euros to IDIS Viitorul (IDIS
The Future), with the aim of studying the situation of Romanians
in ATU Gagauzia, the self-proclaimed Dniester Moldavian Republic
Transnistria, Taraclia and from the northern part of the Republic of
Moldova, but also for promoting the Romanian values.
Chapter 5
Narratives of the informational war in Romanias

public space
Iulian Chifu
In assessing the topics approached by the Russian informational

war in the public space we have managed to identify no less than 162
tackled themes, within the studied time frame, namely:
- 47 themes in televisions (ProTV and Antena 1, plus news
televisions), of which only 41 on news channels (Realitatea TV,
Romania TV, Antena 3, B1 TV)
- 34 themes in quality print newspapers (Romania Libera,
Adevarul, Evenimentul Zilei, Gandul)
- 31 themes in the news agencies (Mediafax, Hotnews, DC
News)
- 41 themes in news sites (ziare.com, tiripesurse.ro)
- 9 themes in yahoo groups
Following the streamlining of these topics, we observed that

there are five fundamental themes recurring throughout the media
and which constitute the strong themes of Russias informational war:
1. Anti-Americanism and Romania as slave to the US
2. Propaganda and anti-NATO attacks
3. The missile shield the base at Deveselu
4. The cleavage / breakup / disappearance of the EU

5. Undermining Turkeys position in Romania. Turkey
equals Russia, Erdogan equals Putin.
At bottom, these findings underscore very clearly the action

direction of the Russian Federation in the region as well, and the
enemies categorization the US, NATO, the EU and the supreme
military concern The missile shield and the willingness to
undermine the public support that Turkey enjoys in Romania at
the level of the media, the public space and the public opinion, our
country being one of the three along with Poland and Sweden,
according to Transatlantic Trends which supports the EU and
NATO integration of Turkey.
1. Romania slave to the US and anti-Americanism

Radu Arghir
Since NATOs enlargement was identified as a main threat to

the security of the Russian Federation (the national security concept
from 2000 however, it was mentioned in the previous documents as
well), the Russian media close to the regime tried to discredit the US
and NATO. Creating a negative image of the Alliance and its most
powerful member among the population of the states that might
become NATO members, could stop the Atlantic aspirations of the
respective state. Thus, this strategy becomes a defence method of
defence against NATOs expansion.
But the Russian propaganda instruments objectives do not
end here. The image of the alliance can be attacked among the
populations of the member states, as well to weaken it from within.
Even though a state is already a NATO member, or has US bases on
its territory, attacking the image of Washington or of the alliance is a
method through which Russia is trying to weaken the cohesion from
amongst the alliance and to press for the withdrawal of the bases
(long term).
Moscows attempts to weaken the EU by supporting the ultra-
nationalist parties in the member countries is not necessarily a
secret and such a strategy can be applied at all levels (political, the
public opinion) and in the case of NATO. Romania is both a NATO
member and a host for the US military bases so that it becomes a
priority target for the Russian propaganda instruments.
The anti-Americanism is divided in two main themes.

The first is represented by the simple attempt to generate hatred
against the US and the Americans, against anything that can
be identified as American, such as the culture and values. This is
defined as anti-Americanism. The second is related to speculating
the dissatisfactions regarding the political class in Romania and
turning them against the US. This theme presupposes portraying
the political class as one servile to the interests of the US and
implicitly the US as a colonial power, one that only seeks to exploit
Romania. This second theme was called Romania slave to the US
after the message it is trying to convey. The analysis does not include
official sources of Moscow and includes only written materials from
independent media sources or from social networks.
Anti-Americanism
Although somewhat similar to the vassalage idea of Romania in
regard to Washington, the attempt to create an anti-American feeling
takes on many forms and is not so limited in resources. The news go
from criticizing the US policy in the world and denouncing NATOs
aggressiveness, especially towards Russia, and reach up some episodes
in history as the 1944 US bombing of Bucharest during the Second
World War. It is thus trying to create a negative image for Washingtons
role in the world, in general, and in Romania, in particular.
A first way to promote an anti-US message is related to

promoting nationalism and creating an antithesis between the
decadent culture of the West, especially of the US, which it is
trying to be imposed at us as well, and the pre-eminence of the
moral and spiritual values of the Romanian people. An example
of such propaganda materials is the article Why do not want the
Romanian young people to enlist and fight in the upcoming war with
Russia1 taken over by several news agencies, including Sputnik, the
international branch of Russia Today 2 .
The posting on the Napoca News portal started from a
debate generated by a series of false or inaccurate news, emerged
after the crisis in Ukraine, suggesting that the Romanian Army was
preparing for war, for which reason it was expected it to recruit all
the young people under 30 able to fight. As it was expected, this
news has generated a critical reaction from those who took it as true.
The posting tries to explain these reactions.
For starters it assumes that the orders of recruitment exist,
but many young people do not want to be recruited into the army
despite of the efforts made by the press mercenaries or the officers
covered by SRI that instigate the youth to enlist in the army for
fighting in the war against the Russian Federation. The first reason
found is linked to the fact that the generation defined by Facebook,
fancy clubs, recreational drugs and multiplex cinema, despite the
Hollywood type American propaganda, knows (from parents/
relatives) the harsh conditions they would be confronted with and
does not intend to accept, especially given that the struggle for the
NATO/EU abstractions or the Anglo-American interests in Eastern
Europe, and not for the motherland.
1
Ionu ene,De ce nu vor tinerii romni s se nroleze i s lupte n viitorul rzboi cu
Rusia,02.2015, http://www.napocanews.ro/2015/02/de-ce-nu-vor-tinerii-romani-sa-
se-inroleze-si-sa-lupte-in-viitorul-razboi-cu-rusia.html
2
Tinerii romni refuz s lupte ntr-un posibil rzboi cu Rusia, 18.03.2016, http://
sputnik.md/moldova_romania_society/20160328/5540219.html
More than that, related to homeland, the informed young

people do not want to fight for corrupt politicians that are sold to the
great Firefly. Another reason is linked to the fear of the Russian
army, which was not defeated considering that the Anglo-Americans
were not able to beat the Vietnamese, the Iraqis or the Afghans. For
this (the confrontation with the Russians) the Americans want to use
the armies in Eastern Europe as cannon fodder.
The posting ends with the invocation of an ultimate spiritual
reason: the Romanian young people feel closer to the Russian
people, Christian Orthodox, than to German the gay parades or
manifestations of racism.
Part of the same category is other material found on the
same portal media, but written by a different author, called The US
Department wants a rainbow Romania, and not a tricolored one3. In the
first place, the title itself is extremely enlightening. The article starts
with some criticisms of the US Department of State towards Romania
and France (related to specific policies),in order to attack by means
of a series of racist or homophobic remarks, as Obama the first
Muslim who moved into the Oval Office or the clown John Kerry,
the man who cannot do two things in the same day as an attempt to
characterize the American culture as decadent and clearly inferior to
that of France or Romania, which it has the nerve to criticize upon.
A second method implies invoking some recent or historical
events in which Romania or the Romanians who have suffered as a
result of the US actions. An example is a story that shows how a visit
of the American Ambassador to the theatre in Lugoj led to the
discontinuation of a piano competition (which was taking place in the
theatre building) because4, for security reasons, the building/room
3
Bogdan Calehari, Departamentul american vrea o Romnie curcubeu, i nu una tricolor,
20.04.2016; http://www.napocanews.ro/2016/04/departamentul-american-vrea-o-
romanie-curcubeu-si-nu-una-tricolora.html
4
JENANT. Am ajuns sa fim scosi din propriile teatre pentru ca vine ambasadorul american
in vizita, 24.04.2016, http://www.bzi.ro/jenant-am-ajuns-sa-fim-scosi-din-propriile-
teatre-pentru-ca-vine-ambasadorul-american-in-vizita-551332
must have been released at least one hour

and a half before the arrival of the US
official. Notable here would be some
postings on social networks, such as a
reference to World War II. The posting,
which came a day after the NATO Day in
Romania, presents in detail the aftermath
of a US bombardment on Bucharest5. On
one hand, the destruction descriptions and
the human losses seek to create resentment against the US, and, on the
other, the bombardment date (April the 4th) coincides with the date of
signing the North Atlantic Treaty.
Another method is simply criticizing the US policies at the
global level, especially denouncing the US aggressiveness in the
international relations. From the interventions in Iraq or Afghanistan
to the wars that led to Yugoslavias dissolution, any US involvement
abroad is presented as having a negative effect. The news in this
category range from general presentations6 to specific incidents that
occurred during some clashes, including incidents connected with the
recent cooling of relations between NATO and Russia (after Ukraine)7.
This category of materials suggests that the US is leading a globally
aggressive policy and tries to impose its views by force. Although it is
based on real events, these are presented so as to reinforce this message.
Romania slave to the US

Generally, this theme seeks to speculate the complaints
regarding the leadership of the country, or the general
5
04.04.2016, https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1030601113696
352&id=931675910255540&substory_index=1
6
AGRESIUNI AMERICANE N LUME DUPA 1848 (Lista incompleta), 23.04.2009, http://
www.justitiarul.ro/agresiuni-americane-in-lume-dupa-1848-lista-incompleta/
7
Congresul SUA folosete incidentul Donald Cook pentru a mri de patru ori cheltuielile
militare pentru campania anti-rus, 25.04.2016, http://acs-rss.ro/index.php/arhiva-
glasul/item/425-congresul-sua-foloseste-incidentul-donald-cook-pentru-a-mari-de-
patru-ori-cheltuielile-militare-pentru-campania-anti-rusa
dissatisfaction, in order to provide an alternative, the Russian one.

This kind of messages do not appear, or at least not directly or often,
on the official information portals (such as the site of the Russian
Embassy in Bucharest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs et cetera),
but do appear in the information portals indirectly related to the
Kremlin, from where the various news agencies in Romania taken
them over, either for propaganda purposes (deliberately), or seeking
the sensational (unintentionally).
Two manners have been identified regarding the sending of
this message. On one hand, as a result of some investigations,
certain views are argued by the presentation of different facts, often
false, about the US involvement in the Romanian leadership. Here,
some kind of obsession with Soro should be noted, who is seen as
one of the main threats to Romanias sovereignty. On the other hand,
interviews with various experts are used, who make assertions to
support the hypothesis of Romania's exploitation by Washington.
In the first category usually enter not only news but the
editorials/posts on various blogs as well, such as Romania poor
colony, exploited and destroyed by the US and the EU8 , which take
fragments from a similar larger post, argues that the Atlanticist
Empire doesnt have permanent interests in Romania. It will exploit
the countrys resources and will remain here as long as they have an
interest and then they will withdraw and leave behind a scorched
earth that will be a buffer zone with Russia.
On the other hand, Russia knows that NATO will withdraw
from Romania and has an interest to invest long-term in Romania
because, anyways, on the long term, towards that we will go (to
them). The argumentation is quite well done and can convince a
less informed person. Also, the impact of the Western inf luence on
certain institutions is analysed. For example, an analysis9 related
8
omnia colonie srac, exploatat i distrus de ctre SUA i UE, 16.02.2016, http://
R
www.dzr.org.ro/romania-colonie-saraca-exploatata-si-distrusa-de-catre-sua-si-ue/#
9
Aderarea la NATO a distrus armata Romniei! S-au fcut restructurri i schimbri de
legislaie, 25.03.2016, http://infoalert.ro/2016/03/25/aderarea-la-nato-distrus-
to the modernization and professionalization of the Romanian

Army, necessary to join NATO, states that the measure resulting
in reducing the forces and equipments, put the army in the state of
being incapable to defend the territory of the country.
What is worse is that this kind of messages, that stress the
negative effects of the US involvement in Romania, began to be
used in politics by quite popular persons, especially to reject some
criticism coming from the Washington Embassy10.
Also, at the part concerning opinions, there are some articles
obviously targeting the people in the administration and make
speculations about the interests they serve. Here, the preferred enemy
is Soro and any NGO which had the smallest connection with him.
NGOs such as FDSC are described as wallet organizations where
Soro, the Norwegians and other world billionaires who finance
the network of Mondialist NGOs put their money11.
Also, some news insinuates doubtful links between Soro and
important people in the countrys administration. Such an example is
the news that binds Soro to the Prime Minister Ciolo only because
Ciolo is a member of the organization Friends of Europe, which is
funded among others by Soro. There are no other accusations brought
armata-romaniei-s-au-facut-restructurari-si-schimbari-de-legislatie/?utm_
source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
10
Ioana Hurdea, Lia Olguta Vasilescu, de acord: Oamenii s-au saturat de occidentalismele
voastre goale, aleg PSD, 9.06.2016, http://www.aktual24.ro/lia-olguta-vasilescu-de-
acord-oamenii-s-au-saturat-de-occidentalismele-voastre-goale-aleg-psd/
11
Fluierul, Nicuor Dan:Am fost pltit cu 300 - 400 de euro de Fundaia Soros ca s merg
la o conferin. Numai cu 300-400 de euro, Nicuor? Dar cei peste 120.000 de euro luai
doar n ultimul timp de la FDSC.ro, puculia lui Soros i a Norvegienilor?, 24.04.2016,
http://fluierul.ro/mobile/article/indexDisplayArticleMobile.jsp;jsessionid=8286EB9
FEF71A73CB323C8D3CD5FBC24?artid=709805&title=nicusor-dan-am-fost-platit-
cu-300-400-de-euro-de-fundatia-soros-ca-sa-merg-la-o-conferinta-numai-cu-300-
400-de-euro-nicusor-dar-cei-peste-120-000-de-euro-luati-doar-in-ultimul-timp-
de-la-fdsc-ro-pusculita-lui-soros-si-a-norvegienilor-; https://www.facebook.com/
permalink.php?story_fbid=1030601113696352&id=931675910255540&substo
ry_index=1
against him, but some question marks are raised related to his cabinet
(without making any factual link between its members and Soro)12.
The second method of conveying this message (that the US
is actually exploiting Romania) is related to the quoting of various
experts or personalities describing Romanias vassal role in the
relation with the US. Here most of the news were taken from the
Sputnik portal (which belongs to Russia Today) and retransmitted
by various portals in Romania, in some cases without the original
source being mentioned. News like Romania, the facile vassal of the
Americans in the imaginary fight against Russia!13 and Alexander
Neu, German deputy: the US wants the maintaining of tensions
with Russia and have submissive vassals as Romania and Bulgaria14
are only news takeovers (from the Sputnik portal) presenting an
interview given by Alexander Neu, an extreme left German deputy15.
In the interview Neu said the United States are trying to create
the impression of a threat coming from Russia to supplement the
military presence in Eastern Europe, and in this respect (and for
supplementing the troops, and for maintaining the state of conf lict)
they need submissive vassals as the Romanians and the Bulgarians.
According to him, Russia is kept away from the US because it does
not accept the vision of the Western world.
Another example is represented by the news: CIA Expert:
Romania is a vassal state to the US, and Ion Iliescu approved the CIA
12
De ce a ascuns Dacian Ciolo relaia sa cu George Soros?, 27.11.2015, http://ziarero.
antena3.ro/article/view/id/152724
13
Romnia, vasalul facil al americanilor n lupta imaginar cu Rusia!, 10.04.2016, http://
anonimus.ro/2016/04/romania-vasalul-facil-al-americanilor-lupta-imaginara-cu-
rusia/
14
Tudor Matei, Alexander Neu, deputat german: SUA vor meninerea tensiunilor cu Rusia
i au vasali docili precum Romnia i Bulgaria, 01.04.2016, http://www.activenews.
ro/externe/Alexander-Neu-deputat-german-SUA-vor-mentinerea-tensiunilor-cu-
Rusia-si-au-vasali-docili-precum-Romania-si-Bulgaria-131793
15
Forget Russian Aggression! Why Pentagon Wants More Troops in Europe, 02.04.2016,
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160402/1037363377/russia-us-pentagon-nato.
html
prisons in exchange of a bribe16 and former CIA analyst: Romania,

vassal state to the US. Iliescu, a home and accounts in Switzerland17
are all takeovers of the news published on the Sputnik news portal
presenting an interview given by Raymond McGovern, former
CIA employee18. During the interview, McGovern says that the
relationship between Romania and the United States is one of (what
Putin would call) vassalage and Iliescu allegedly received bribe for
establishing the CIA prisons in Romania, prisons where torture was
practiced without bringing results on the information collected.
In conclusion, we can say that this message, the anti-
Americanism, is present in the Romanian media, both with and
without the help of the Kremlin. Generally, it appears as part of
manifesting an exaggerated nationalism or misunderstanding,
but also as a result of medias unprofessionalism, which chasing the
sensational, takes over some news and information from sources
close to Moscow. However, whatever the source, these materials
(news, editorials, analyses, shares) help Russias propaganda efforts,
Russia seeing the presence of the US in Eastern Europe and NATOs
expansion as existential threats.
2. Propaganda and anti-NATO attacks

Alexandru Voicu
NATO represents one of the main actors targeted by the

Russian informational war. Obviously, the countries from NATOs
Eastern Flank represent a constant target, but talking about
collective actors, we can say that NATO has primacy in the Russian
16
E xpert CIA: Romnia e stat vasal SUA, iar Ion Iliescu a aprobat inchisorile CIA contra spaga,
01.05.2015, http://www.ziuanews.ro/dezvaluiri-investigatii/expert-cia-romania-e-
stat-vasal-sua-iar-ion-iliescu-a-aprobat-inchisorile-cia-contra-spaga-207737
17
Florin Puca, Fost analist CIA: Romnia, stat vasal al SUA. Iliescu, cas i conturi n
Elveia, 01.05.2015, http://www.stiripesurse.ro/fost-analist-cia-romania-stat-vasal-
al-sua-iliescu-casa-si-conturi-in-elvetia_954568.html
18
Romania Is a US Vassal State - Former CIA Analyst, 30.04.2015, http://sputniknews.
com/politics/20150430/1021547516.html#ixzz46ygCYqG8
undertakings. The European Union is another important collective

actor, but Russia treated this subject with a certain caution. Instead,
NATO, also the undermining of its cohesion and effectiveness, was
an indisputable priority.
Not infrequently, the Russian information related to NATO
portray the alliance as hostile and offensive. For example, Russias
new security strategy from 2016, document supported by President
Vladimir Putin, stresses that the mobilization of NATO troops and
weapons that close to Russias borders represents a challenge. And
the policies by which the US and its allies are trying to exercise the
global domination are likely to generate political, economic, military
and informational pressures on Russia19.
According to Russias National Security Strategy, The
enlargement of NATO, the proximity of the Alliance to the Russian
borders create a threat against its national security. The accumulation
of military potential by the North Atlantic Alliance and assuming
positions with global character by violating the international law,
intensifying the military activities in the member states and the
further expansion of NATO's military infrastructure near Russias
borders represent a threat to Russia20 .
As it can be seen from the passages contained in Russias
National Security Strategy, NATO is viewed in the light of three
components. Firstly, the augmentation of NATOs preparedness
and response capabilities represent hostile capabilities to Russia.
Although NATO is a defensive alliance par excellence, as defined
by the Treaty and focused on the reinsurance and deterring the
attacks actions, Russia continues to claim the opposite. For Moscow,
NATO is a hostile and offensive player. Precisely promoting such a
19
Rusia i-a actualizat strategia de securitate. Cele mai mari temeri ale Kremlinului,
Digi24, 02/01/2016, accessed on 27/05/2016, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/
Extern/Europa/RUSIA+STRATEGIE+SECURITATE+AMENINTARI.
20
Mihai Draghici, Principalele ameninri de securitate identificate de Rusia n noua
strategie de aprare, Gndul.info, 01/01/2016, accessed on: 27/05/2016, http://
www.gandul.info/international/principalele-amenintari-de-securitate-identificate-
de-rusia-in-noua-strategie-de-aparare-14948920.
rhetoric legitimizes the unfriendly actions of Russia in its western

neighbourhood.
Basically, Russia invokes a nonexistent security dilemma 21.
Moscow officials are using a rhetoric similar, to some extent, to the
principles outlined in the reflexive control theory. They presume
NATOs aggressiveness and the attempts to strengthen its security
as providing enough reasons to Russia to act more firmly in its
neighbourhood.
A second NATO-related component in Russias National
Security Strategy refers to the anti-missile shield that NATO wants to
finalize in the coming period. This issue was mentioned on numerous
occasions, both by Russian officials, as well as by NATO officials.
According to a NATO press release, Vladimir Putin uses antagonistic
rhetoric regarding the missile shield for internal politics reasons22 .
The shield is not directed towards Russia. However, Vladimir Putin
uses these arguments to attract votes and popular support. Similarly,
advancing such a perspective helps the efforts in motivating the
overwhelming arming. A declaration of President Putin reflects this
strategy: The geopolitical situation is not changing for the better.
Unfortunately, it is getting worse, considering the installation of US
antiballistic elements in Romania. Installing the anti-missile elements
in Europe represents an additional threat to Russia23 .
A third component of Russias National Security Strategy
related to NATO refers to the characteristics of the transatlantic
alliance. This is portrayed in imperial terms at the global level. Also,
21
The security dilemma refers to theinsecurity spiral generated by the efforts of a
state to increase its capabilities. Thus, the more the state wants more to increase
its security by arming, the more it generates insecurity in the system, because it
determines the other states to emulate a similar demeanor.
22
How Putin uses missile defence in Europe to distract Russian voters, NATO, accessed
on: 12/04/2016, http://www.nato.int/docu/Review/2015/Russia/Ballistic-Missile-
Defence-Putin/EN/index.htm.
23
Mihai Draghici, Vladimir Putin: Sistemul antirachet din Romnia, o ameninare.
Rusia va lua msuri de aprare, Mediafax, 13/05/2016, accessed on: 12/06/2016,
http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/vladimir-putin-sistemul-antiracheta-din-romania-
o-amenintare-rusia-va-lua-masuri-de-aparare-15319691.
Russia represents the status quo power, loyal to the systemic rules,
while NATO is an imperial power that violates the international
law. By conveying this perspective, the relationship between the two
entities can only be antagonistic.
Moreover, portraying NATO in these terms offers Russia both
the internal support, as well as arguments for bellicose actions in
the external space. Vladimir Putin highlighted these informational
warfare guidelines through numerous declarations. For example,
he said, at the beginning of 2016, NATO and the US wanted a
total victory over the Soviet Union. They wanted to sit alone on the
throne of Europe. Currently they are sitting there, and we are talking
about all these crises (Ukraine) that, otherwise, we would not have
discussed about 24 .
The assumptions presented in the National Security Strategy
of Russia, from 2016, regarding NATO, represents an attempt of
informational war by presenting distorted facts and concepts that do
not ref lect the real situations. For example, insinuating some global
pretensions of NATO by violating the international law. Of course,
such items, characteristic to the informational war, can be identified
also in the speeches of President Vladimir Putin.
During an interview offered exclusively to the German daily
Bild, President Putin issued specific misinformation about NATO.
According to him, NATO leaders pledged, after the Cold War, not
to expand the alliance eastwards25. In this way, President Putin
continues the informational war against NATO, portraying the
alliance as hostile and as unable to meet its commitments.
24
Vladimir Putin, declaraii sfidtoare la adresa NATO i sanciunilor impuse de UE,
Antena 3, 11/01/2016, accessed on: 24/04/2016, http://www.antena3.ro/externe/
vladimir-putin-declaratii-sfidatoare-la-adresa-nato-si-sanctiunilor-impuse-de-
ue-334348.html.
25
Gorbaciov l contrazice pe Putin: NATO nu i-a promis c nu se va extinde dup
reunificarea Germaniei, Economica.net, 10/11/2014,, accessed on: 24/04/2016,
http://www.economica.net/gorbaciov-il-contrazice-pe-putin-nato-nu-i-a-promis-
ca-nu-se-va-extinde-dupa-reunificarea-germaniei_91143.html#n.
The misinformation attempted by President Putin was brought

to light even by Mikhail Gorbachev, who declared that no such
promises were made between Russia and NATO. Thus, President Putin
is in agreement with the assumptions set out in the National Security
Strategy, in which NATO must be identified as an actor which violates
the promises and the commitment to the international law.
The Kremlin leader also seeks to undermine NATOs ability
to be unitary and to give preference to the collective security
commitment by certain statements delivered at the beginning of
this year. His statements refer to the crisis that emerged after the
knocking-down of the Russian fighter aircraft by Turkey. According
to him, Turkey is part of NATO, but was not attacked. Therefore,
NATO is not compelled to protect Turkey, and our problems with
Turkey have nothing to do with the membership of this country to
NATO26 . The goal is to isolate the events to Turkey and Russia and,
in the alternative, to exclude NATO. This can be categorized as an
attempt of the Russian President to create certain cleavages, a divide
et impera tactic. Therefore, no wonder that many officials within the
Western politicalmilitary structures observe that Vladimir Putin
wants the destruction of NATO27. Such a desideratum is presented in
the Romanian press via an interview with Jnis Kaoci, the former
head of the Latvian intelligence. He says: Russia wants the breaking
of NATO and to occupy the Baltic states28 .
In his turn, the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev uses
a similar rhetoric to that presented in the National Security Strategy.
26
Ioana Bojan, Vladimir Putin: Dac Turcia atac Rusia, nu este nevoie ca NATO s
se implice. Ar face bine s-i cear scuze pentru doborrea avionului, Mediafax,
12/01/2016, accessed on: 24/04/2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/vladimir-
putin-daca-turcia-ataca-rusia-nu-este-nevoie-ca-nato-sa-se-implice-ar-face-bine-
sa-si-ceara-scuze-pentru-doborarea-avionului-14962514.
27
Alexandra Iancu, Putin vrea s DISTRUG NATO. Ce pregtete Rusia, Evenimentul
Zilei, 11/11/2015, accessed on: 24/04/2016, http://www.evz.ro/putin-vrea-sa-
distruga-nato-ce-pregateste-rusia.html.
28
Fost ef al spionajului: Rusia ar putea rupe NATO, Gazeta Cluj, 01/06/2015, accessed
on: 24/04/2016, http://gazetadecluj.ro/fost-sef-al-spionajului-rusia-ar-putea-rupe-
nato/.
According to him, the confrontation is avoidable and undesirable,

but NATO is responsible for the current tense situation.
Many statements that strengthen the position promoted by
Prime Minister Medvedev can be identified. According to him, the
situation slipped into a new Cold War. Furthermore, he stated at the
Munich Security Conference, that what remained is an unfriendly
and closed NATO policy towards Russia29.
Vladimir Putins speeches and those of Dmitry Medvedev
converge to one point, namely the bellicosity of NATO and its
willingness to have a hostile policy towards Russia.
Russias permanent representative to NATO, Alexander
Grushko, is another important actor that continues to emit, on
numerous occasions, Russias central signals to NATO. On a Romanian
website that promotes numerous pro-Russian positions a statement by
Alexander Grushko is highlighted. From Grushkos point of view, the
conflict in Ukraine is used by NATO to justify its own existence30.
The theme that claims NATOs aggression against Russia is
maintained. NATO is the bellicose actor, while Russia is the target of
its aggressive policy. At the same time, another pro-Russian website
consolidates this hypothesis, offering another statement belonging
to Alexander Grushko: NATO took these steps denouncing a
danger coming from Russia. Our opinion is known: in the Eastern
Europe regions there are no important military or political changes
to justify such actions by NATO. The Russian diplomat expressed
his concern about the impressive financial allocations of the North
29
Roxana Petre, Premierul Medvedev: Rusia i Occidentul, ntr-un nou rzboi rece,
Romnia Liber, 13/02/2016, accessed on: 12/05/2016, http://www.romanialibera.
ro/actualitate/international/premierul-medvedev--nato-are-o-politica-inaimicala-
si-inchisa-fata-de-rusia-407185.
30
Oficial rus: rile care permit sau cer trupe i armament NATO pe teritoriile lor, se
joac cu focul, russiatoday.ro, 12/09/2015, accessed on: 13/05/2016, http://news.
russiatoday.ro/oficial-rus-tarile-care-permit-sau-cer-trupe-si-armament-nato-pe-
teritoriile-lor-se-joaca-cu-focul/.
Atlantic Alliance dedicated to the development of military facilities

near the borders of Russia. It is a road leading nowhere. 31
Another Russian representative is Dmitri Peskov, who is promoting
the same rhetoric, through which NATO is portrayed as aggressive and
provocative. He is walking on the footsteps made by other Russian
high-ranking decision makers, giving a negative image to NATO, as an
aggressive and retrograde alliance: The recent actions of NATO confirm
that the North Atlantic Alliance did not adapt to the modern conditions,
while maintaining the original purpose countering the Russian
Federation and the confrontation with the Russian Federation32.
Dmitri Peskov also considers that NATOs enlargement is an
aggressive act and provocative to Russia. This position could be
observed once with Montenegros accession to the North Atlantic
Alliance. According to him, Moscow stressed at all possible levels
that NATOs continuous expansion, of NATOs infrastructure to the
East, cannot avoid causing the appearance of countermeasures from
the East, meaning from the Russian side, in order to ensure the security
interests and support the parity of interests33 .
Peskov also issued this statement: NATO is a tool created for
confrontation. NATOs contribution to the stability and security of
Europe is questionable. We continue to express concern about the
expansion of NATO towards Russias borders34 .
31
Oleg Cojocaru, RT: NATO merge pe un drum spre nicieri, paginaderusia.ro,
04/12/2014, accessed on: 13/05/2016, http://www.paginaderusia.ro/grushko-nato-
merge-pe-un-drum-spre-nicaieri/.
32
Mihai Draghici, Kremlin: NATO vrea confruntarea cu Rusia. Relaiile NATO - Rusia sunt
la nivelul de nencredere total, Mediafax, 19/04/2016, accessed on: 13/05/2016,
http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/kremlin-nato-vrea-confruntarea-cu-rusia-relatiile-
nato-rusia-sunt-la-nivelul-de-neincredere-totala-15265197.
33
Ana-Maria Anioiu, AVERTISMENT. Peskov: Invitarea Muntenegrului n NATO va
atrage represalii din partea Rusiei, Romnia Liber, 02/12/2015, accessed on:
14/05/2016, http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/international/avertisment-
-peskov--invitarea-muntenegrului-in-nato-va-atrage-represalii-din-partea-
rusiei-401124.
34
tefania Brndu, Rusia, un nou atac la adresa expansiunii NATO: Aliana este
un instrument de confruntare militar, Active News, 23/05/2016, accessed on:
Russias rhetoric regarding NATO is clear. Firstly, it wishes

to stress the offensive character of NATO. Moscows informational
war against NATO is limited to redefining NATOs identity from a
purely defensive alliance into an offensive and aggressive alliance.
Thus, we are dealing with a struggle over meanings and identities.
Secondly, Russia strives to provide a new dimension to NATOs
extension efforts. It wants to portray the enlargement of NATO as a
hostile process targeting Russia and its interests. As it was possible to
observe, the decision makers from Moscow do not consider NATOs
expansion as an attempt to proliferate security and stability in
Europe, but as an action exclusively tailored to undermine Russias
security. Thus, defining NATO as an aggressive actor represents one
of Russias informational war central goals. Of course, promoting
such rhetoric is convenient to Moscow because it offers a broader
space of maneuver in its neighbourhood, especially by employing
unfriendly and aggressive actions.
Regarding Romania, it is sometimes portrayed as a chess piece
interposed between the two great sides. According to an article
in the Romanian press, entitled NATO vs. RUSSIA a conflict
of huge INTERESTS. Romania, a piece on the GREAT POWERS
chessboard, the forces of NATO and Russia are underlined.
Regarding Romania, it is pointed out that it stands somewhere in
the middle, throughout this affair. Geopolitically attractive to both
sides35. Such an interpretation can be observed in other sources as
well, in which it is stated that NATO turns Romania into a theatre
of WAR 36.
14/05/2016, http://www.activenews.ro/externe/Rusia-un-nou-atac-la-expansiunea-
NATO-Alianta-este-un-instrument-de-confruntare-militara-133469.
35
NATO vs. RUSIA - un conflict al INTERESELOR uriae. Romnia, o pies pe tabla de
ah a MARILOR FORE, Antena 3, 03/04/2015, accessed on: 14/05/2016, http://
www.antena3.ro/externe/nato-vs-rusia-un-conflict-al-intereselor-uriase-romania-o-
piesa-pe-tabla-de-sah-a-marilor-forte-289320.html.
36
Cristi elaru, NATO face din Romnia teatru de RZBOI: Trimite 5.000 de soldai
pentru un CONFLICT cu Rusia, stiripesurse.ro, 14/06/2016, accessed on 14/06/2016,
3. The missile shield as a vector of the informational

war triggered by the Russian Federation
Narciz Bloiu
The missile shield is one of the highly sensitive military

projects regarding the NATORussia relation. Starting with tactical
reasons/considerations and ending with the ones of political/
geopolitical principles, the ballistic project from Deveselu, Olt
County, has generated one of the most heated reactions from the
Kremlin often the communication degree being employed at its
highest level, respectively President Vladimir Putin.
As a general thesis, it should be noted that Moscow perceives
this purely defensive project as an insidious formula to annul the
strategic balance, to cancel its tactical capabilities and which,
according to a particular circumstance, may become an offensive
instrument. Through the voice of some emissaries, Russia assesses
inclusively the possibility that a projectile loaded on a ballistic
missile from Deveselu could strike the town of Sochi at a precise
time when President could be at the resort in question (!!).
Such accusations were not based on solid arguments,
legitimate, and a simple counterargument that may be brought into
discussion considers the number of warheads and vectors that the
Russian Federation disposes of hundreds, while the Deveselu
facility houses only 24 missiles. Therefore, it is absolutely implausible
to accredit the idea that in a nuclear confrontation event, a country
like Russia, possessing the nuclear triad, would be cancelled, or
reduced to a simple conventional army.
However, the subject was fully fuelled, with no complex that
may accompany the detachment from the truth, on channels more or
less traditionally frequented by the Russian propaganda.
http://www.stiripesurse.ro/nato-face-din-romania-teatru-de-razboi-trimite-5-000-
de-solda-i-pentru-un-conflict-cu-rusia_1138147.html.
The central theme, that became a quasi-corollary of the

missile shield issue, can be subsumed under the idea that The
missile shield is drawing Romania towards a geopolitical adversity,
fact that calls into question the judgment of Bucharests rallying
to the ballistic defence project.
The theme is generously vented in the articles circulated
on television and newspapers websites, and in numerous cases
asperities in the approach manner cannot be distinguished. In such
context, one can clearly see the representation of the Russian thesis
concerning the role and place of the missile defence shield in the
Western security architecture.
Although it may be presumed that the subject is revolute,
in that the facility has already been put into operation, so that the
pressure can no longer produce a robust effect, the subject kept the
same expansion, both through the choreography of the thinking, and
the cadence with which the thesis is brought back forward. There is
a famous witticism that circulated the virtual environment, which is
perfect opposable to the current theme: Stop feeding fears!
Illustrative titles:
- Russia will attack Romania on Christmas: The missile shield
violates the international norms
- RUSSIA warns NATO about the missile shield in Romania -
The Russian army is preoccupied with the installation of NATOs
missile defence systems in Romania, Poland and other European
countries, and it is planning to take steps to counter these threats
- The missile system will be implemented in Romania. NATO:
The antiballistic elements do not threaten Russia
- MISSILE SHIELD: Russia warns NATO The agreements
with Iran change the current geopolitical situation and there should be
logical changes from NATO regarding the plans on the missile defence
deployment in Europe
The threats were launched at the highest level and even the
declarations of the Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev can
be brought into discussion, who stated that He will equip the
army with the necessary weapons to destroy it. He warned that the
threats could become reality, if the Americans will not set down at
the negotiating table Antena 3, 2012.
A related theme, which devolves upon the same type of
rhetoric concerns the outstanding capabilities of the Russian army,
described in a triumphant way, emphatic, threatening, and which
if necessary could shatter the facility in Romania.
Ziare.com takes over a statement made by General Karagaiev
Russia has missiles that can destroy any antiballistic element
installed by the United States, the Russian general gives notice,
the head of the Russian Strategic Forces, with reference to the
anti-missile systems installed by NATO in Romania and Poland.
- the expert assessments show that the US anti-missile systems, that
are being installed, will not be able to withstand an intense attack
carried out by the Russian strategic units Ziare.com, 2015.
EXCLUSIVELY EVZ. The shield from Deveselu CAN NOT
DEFEND Romania in case of a NUCLEAR ATTACK. Russia
has a secret weapon of which the Americans are afraid to talk |
ANALYSIS
In its turn, Evenimentul Zilei disseminates under a journalist
title the threats made by the Russian officials. This time we are
talking about Mikhail Ulyanov, director of the Department for non-
proliferation and arms control within the Russian Foreign Ministry:
These systems represent (MK41, respectively Aegis) violations
of The Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), demanding
Romania and the US to be aware of the responsibility for
installing these elements and to give up the plan until it is not too
late. (The Intermediate Nuclear Forces Agreement signed by the US
and USSR in 1987 and entered into force on June 1st , 1988, obliges
both sides to destroy all the ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges
between 500 and 5,500 kilometres To emphasize the imposture
of Moscow, it became notorious the episode of the missiles used by
Russia, when it fired from the Baltic Sea to Syria, earlier this year).
Realitatea TV takes over, without any filter being applied, the

threats of another Russian official, the Chief of the General Staff for
the Strategic Rocket Forces, Colonel-General Viktor Esin. - It seems
to me as a forecasted reaction, the one to include this base in the list
of the items likely to be primarily attacked in the case of an American
aggression against Russia. The title of the article is: Russia threatens
Romania: The first target will be Deveselu! What is the plan(July 2015)
In a recent article published on Cuvantul Ortodox website we
find another formula approach, as clearly as possible even from title
of the article - The SHIELD FROM DEVESELU WAS OFFICIALLY
INAUGURATED (Video). Triumphalism versus realism and the
only question that matters: to which amount will the bill raise?
(December 2015)
This panoply could not lack the threatening profile of President
Vladimir Putin who does not limit to lamenting the decision of the
Westerners to coagulate around such a project, but also offers clues,
even details, about how the project in question will dismantle -
We will work on an attack system able to counteract any missile
defence system- DIGI 24 (November 2015).
Vladimir Putin approaches a new strategy to win broad
support for stopping the defensive ballistic project. In an article
publicized by DIGI 24, entitled Putin insists: No missile shield
- The cause which determined our US partners to build a missile
defence system no longer exists and we had every right to believe
that all these efforts made by the US to build this system will be
stopped, in reality this fact did not happen.
One way of treating the subject, by means of almost traditional
propaganda, aims at blaming the West for triggering a new arming
spiral. This theme is found in various forms and packaging. For
example, it is suitable to mention a title taken over by PRO TV, a
television with a significant impact in Romania: Russia will
initiate countermeasures in order to strengthen the potential of its
strategic nuclear forces, given that the US is deploying their missile
defence system.
The same title can be found on the Ziare.com portal: We will

develop nuclear systems that will cancel the missile shield.
Not only the forums hum when it comes to the missile shield,
but also some statements made by experts in the field come to strike
our eyes. The Romanian journalist Armand Gou (October 2015)
declares for the quality publication Gandul.info that - It would
be better if the Romanian officials talked less on this subject,
because you notice that whenever somebody from our side makes a
statement, a reply from Moscow follows.
In terms of comments posted on the related forums, the same
clichs can be easily identified: The Americans are the masters,
the Romanians the vassals. The Russian Federation is a military
superpower, and Bucharest does not understand what it is getting
involved into, antagonizing, irritating Russia with such a useless/
aberrant project.
For example, the following comments might be considered:The
understanding between the Russians and the Americans, after the
dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, was that the Americans and NATO
should not expand in the former socialist countries. By integrating
the Eastern countries in NATO, and by installing bases, shields et
cetera, up to Russias border, why the hell do we blame the Russians
for being irritated??? Anyone put in the Russians shoes would have
done the same. The provokers were the amerlocks. Wherever they
went, behind were left destroyed countries, chaos and tears. (John
Muntean, logged on the site with his FB account):
- Silviu Costea - Stupid Romanias... you become targets for
the sake of slavery... And you rightfully deserve it!
- Comment of Escatologico-sfertodoct, Marian Ghergu
A missile launched from Russia arrives in Romania in 15
minutes!!! For the fools who mock Russia and blindly believe in
the propaganda of uncle Sam, I have a question!?... Where will the
radioactive cloud coming from the explosions spread considering
the air currents?!!!!- (A thorough check of the FB account reveals a
real character, who speaks out of conviction!)
4. The division/disintegration of the European Union

Diana Brbuceanu
After the annexation of the Crimea, the relations between

the European Union and the West with the Russian Federation
have generally become extremely complicated and tense. Moscows
defiance regarding the most elementary rules of the international
law right on the border of the EU has led to a discursive and factual
escalation of the EU-Russia bilateral relations. In this context, the
concept of solidarity received a specific gravity being the main
attribute put under pressure by the Eastern neighbourhood. If the
hybrid war manifested by means of the little green men in Ukraine,
behold, todays entire Europe is the victim of an informational
aggression coming from the Kremlin. Among the topics obsessively
circulated we include the idea of the European Union as an obsolete
project, close to collapsing.
It is known that the EU foreign policy is not unitary and the
members of the community club do not have a uniform approach in
relation to the Russian Federation. The thesis, according to which
the European Union is currently in a pivotal moment, resulted from
a vivid identity crisis amid the immigrants influx and the leadership
polarization continues to be a reality. Nevertheless, such elements
come transplanted on the Kremlins destabilizing actions, that divide,
managing to transform certain states in ambassadors of good relations.
The continuous undermining of the Union and contouring
Russia as an alternative remains at the present time a thesis
encountered abundantly in the Romanian press, either lucidly
assumed, or due to the lack of knowledge or dilettantism. More than
this, the diffusion with no filter applied of such issues has lately
taken nuances, drawn from the arsenal of the Russian machinery of
informational war.
A first illustrative article in this regard is the one found on
the online news platform stiripesurse.ro, that headlines without
compassion on its first pages Russia is dividing the EU: Donald

Tusk recognizes the division. On the substance ground, the article
addresses the problem of conflicting approaches to the extension, or
not, of the sanctions applied to the Russian Federation. Although the
ad literam text is written in an objective manner, its title is presented
in a triumphant way against the Russian Federation.
The same site continues with a series of bombastic headlines:
France announces the collapse of the European Union: The
following months are decisive. The article is based on the statement
made by the French Prime Minister, Manuel Vallas, at the World
Economic Forum in Davos. It is true that the official from Paris spoke
about the amount of hazards that may lead to the disintegration of
the European project in the next period, but the titrated form of the
message that was spread is much misplaced and inappropriate. In
his speech, Vallas certainly does not announce the breakup of the
EU, on the contrary, he calls for cohesion in effectively managing
the combating of the crises series, which the European Union is
currently experiencing.
The Evenimentul Zilei newspaper takes over a declaration
made by the German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier,
recommending the European Union to undertake unitary actions
in order to manage the refugee crisis, otherwise it might risk to fall
apart. Of course, the message is in itself a necessary warning and
a recommendation that Steinmaier forwards to the member states,
but its delivery by evz.ro to the readers under the bombastic title
Germanys SIGNAL: The European Union is FALLING APART
must be, however, safely taken over.
We do not expect nuanced approaches and camouflaged
messages from the online platform The Voice of Russia. When it
comes to the European Union enemy, the information spread are very
clear and tough and the emotional charge reveals a nostalgia and a
vigorous revenge desire. Under the headline the EU will fall apart
just as the Soviet Union disintegrated, the author of the article
gracefully spreads the messages of the aggressive euroscepticism of
the French National Front leader Marine Le Pen. Furthermore, the

article does not mention a thing about the collapse of the USSR, as
the title might suggest, and the subliminal message of the author
does not even stumble against the objective content of the statements
set forth.
In their turn, the comments to this article reveal the type of
messages propagated in the public space by various trolls:
- The user Marian Radulescu: Naturally, the EU will fall
apart; more specifically, it will die before actually being born! There is
no point of comparison with the USSR, far from it! First of all, Brussels
will not be able to form a common army, a common police! All the
more, if these two structures will be created, they will not reach the
level of the Red Army and the KGB! The bad thing is that the old
lady with 12 stars will make our life bitter, destroying our olfactory
sense with its shabby clothes odor!
- The user Constantin un moldovean: Every beginning has an
end, no matter how centralized it might be, the internal tensions will
amplify. Basically, the EU is more a project for the underworld.
- The user SORIN adds: Dont you think it is high time that a
nationalist and eurosceptic party to appear at us as well? Among the
latter, by virtue of the good habit, but better later than never.
The website Agerpres circulates an article entitled Mark
Rutte: The European Union is likely to collapse as the Roman Empire
did. The Dutch Prime Minister talks about the current challenges
the European Union is facing, at the basis of which the first being
the immigrants crisis. The official forwards as recommendation
the need to ensure and secure the borders, otherwise as we all
know, the Roman Empire, the great empires fall if the borders are not
well protected. Although Ruttes message is not a comforting one,
however, the article embedded in the above mentioned entitling is
hyper inf lated, designed to capture the readers attention, who is
easily removed from the background thesis of the author.
It appears that the revisionist and aggressive policy of the
Russian President Vladimir Putin won sympathy even in Europe,
and this is not limited to the Russian speakers but it transcends to

nationalists of all colours who see the Russian leader as a strong
and determined individual. This is a true fact especially in his own
country where, after the military campaigns in Ukraine and Syria,
Putin came to achieve a rating of 80%.
Seducing the masses is not a handy thing to do, therefore
Moscow put at its own disposal an army of journalists on the
online media dimension, responsible to propagate more or less
veiled messages supporting the President, both in Russia and
within the European Union. The Internet is currently the strategic
manipulation source of the Kremlin, along with the pure players,
that are responsibly engaged in the clash of the informational war
by means of the media online channels, and Russia also relies on its
army of trolls. For example, in the height of the crisis in Ukraine, the
British newspaper The Guardian revealed that its moderators had to
deal with more than 40,000 daily comments based on pro-Kremlin
messages.
In its turn, the European Union should not limit its efforts
only to the campaigns for dismantling the influence of the Russian
informational war but to create its own narrative mechanism.
Rather than playing by Moscows rules, Europe must make its
narrative heard, based on the European values, highlighting its place
and role in the world. The information targeting the European Union
should not be reduced only to overlapping the poorly managed crises.
The European Union must become once again the main model for
supporting the human rights, the rule of law, freedom and equality
in Europe and worldwide.
However, Moscow has exploited as much as was able to
the principle of rights granted by the European Union to the
immigrants wave, so it became notorious that the current refugee
crisis has become for the Kremlin a central instrument for
manipulating the media at the international level. By means of it,
Russia managed to destabilize the internal political landscapes to an
unprecedented level.
In this respect, the Russian press fuels the tensions with a series
of false stories, like the one according to which a group of migrants
raped a young woman of Russian origins, aged 13, coming from
a family established in Germany. In reality, it turned out that the
child had run away from home for reasons completely independent to
the context delivered publicly. In order to cause as much excitement
and consternation as possible, the news presented at the Russian
state television included even a womans testimony, stating that her
daughter is terrified by the refugees. In reality, the woman is not
the mother of the alleged victim and not even a close relative, but
the material suggested that. More than this, the news included an
audio recording of a citizen of Arab origins boasting about the fact
that he had violated a young woman from Germany together with
other immigrants. Afterwards, it was proved that the registration in
question dated from year 2010 and had nothing to do with the subject
the Russian propaganda was referring to. Although the invention
developed by Moscow was subsequently argued against, it still
managed to bring out to the street a few hundred Russians established
in Germany, and a similar number of extremist party members. The
case of the little girl raped by immigrants was avidly taken over by
the Romanian press as well. Various online media platforms have
consistently drafted the developments of the alleged incident.
At the same time, due to the need for audience, the stiripesurse.ro
website titrated, in September last year, a striking article CRAZINESS
in Germany: A wave of rapes committed by immigrants. The author
speaks of a growing number of women and girls in Germany, both
locals and from the refugee shelters, who are being raped, sexually
assaulted and the refugee women even forced into prostitution by
the male asylum seekers. The article covers, without verifying the
veracity of the presented facts, the information conveyed and seeks
rather to produce impact and audience, the scandalous information
not being subsequently confirmed by the mainstream press.
As we can observe, the Russian informational war launched
in Romania has taken a distinctive and assumed role in our media
space. Messages like the cleavage of Europe are more visible

and rising. Although, until now, its impact did not generate major
reverberations, the fact that it exists and manifests publicly has
turned into a real challenge to the national security of our country.
Although Moscows informational war in Romania takes a more
veiled form, the ambition of the Russian propagandist machinery
aimed to achieve considerable quotas in the future. Europes
decomposition, seen through the eyes of different categories of
Romanian journalists, has not made place yet in the collective mind
of the people, who consider the European Union as the favourable
instrument to promote the rights and freedoms. However, in time,
things could significantly change, given that the European leadership
will demonstrate its limits together with the inability to manage the
main conf licting dossiers that took it by surprise.
It is certain that some elements have an objective reality as
background. But Russia strives to reflect the events in question, in
colours as bright as possible, some phenomena being exaggerated,
while others are outright invented. In the light of these approaches,
we can easily observe that the Romanian press is incapable of
filtering the information, circulating with exuberance any title that
can generate audience.
As expected, the subject has aroused ample feedback from
readers of both sides of the approach. In this sense, there are
messages of support encouraging the EU to remain united and to face
the challenges it is subjected to, such example being the following
comment:
Maties Alexandru: Sir, Europe will not fall apart, but it will be
more united and stronger. It is true that the right policy broke down, it
truly does not want to promote the true values and decent freedom of
action, thought and property, but only the libertinism. But Europe will
progress through its simple Citizens, for each of them will do their job
with wisdom, competence and true faith in God the Father, the right
to work and to a decent living, for every person will be respected, and
Europe will escape the capitalist and communist imbecilities!
On the other hand, there are opinions according to which the

collapse the EU remains only a matter of time.
Alexandru KAvaleru says: There is nothing serious, it is
normal for the 4th Reich to collapse before our eyes. And the only thing
needed for the EU to collapse was the immigrant crisis. Indeed, the
giant with cardboard feet barely stands up.
5. Turkey (Erdoan) equal of Russia (Putin)

Adriana Sauliuc
The incident in November 2015, when a fighter aircraft

belonging to the Russian Air Force was shot down by Turkey, put the
two countries face to face in a dangerous situation. Once rivals and
enemies (in the XVIthXXth centuries), the protagonists of some wars
that represent one of the longest series of military conflicts in the
history of the European continent, the two countries have witnessed
a reconciliation in their relations especially after 1991, becoming
major trading partners, the Russian Federation becoming the largest
energy supplier for the Turkish state, while Turkey, a country with a
great potential for tourism, became the preferred destination for the
Russian tourists.
Moscows decision to intervene in Syria, intervention that
began on September 30 th, 201537, has however created the conditions
for a deterioration of the relations between Ankara and Moscow,
due to the actions of the Russian Federation near the borders of
the Turkish state. The Russian military presence in Syria and their
actions represented a cause for concern and have been reported by
Turkey since the beginning of October 2015, Moscow being accused
of deliberate violations of the Turkish airspace38.
37
***Russia carries aut first air strike in Syria, Aljazeera, September 30th, http://www.
aljazeera.com/news/2015/09/russian-carries-air-strikes-syria-150930133155190.
html, accessed
38
Kareem Shaheen and agencies, Turkey cannot endure Russian violation of airspace,
president says, theguardian, October 6th, 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/
On this background and following the request from Ankara

for external support to ensure the sovereignty of Turkeys airspace,
six F-15C Eagles have landed at the Incirlik air base, as a sign of
support from the allies, but primarily of the United States America
to Ankara 39. Neither NATO, a structure Turkey belongs to, did not
overlook Russias actions, which materialized in several cases of
deliberate violation of the Turkish airspace, the Alliance criticizing
what NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has described as
unacceptable breaches of the Turkish air space and following
which the Russian Federation warned the Turkish state that it will
generate a response40.
All these warnings coming from Turkey, as a state directly
affected by the actions of the Russians pilots, but also from NATO
and the United States, were reticently regarded by Moscow, that
the regime in Ankara will pass from words to actions. This is why,
despite the formal requirements in this respect, the Kremlin did
not deal with the warnings sent by the Turkish state regarding the
measures that Ankara will take if similar incidents repeated, and
even admitted that on October 4th, 2015,an aircraft type SU-30
entered the airspace of Turkey for several seconds, as stated by the
Russian Defence Minister, the Russian official blaming the adverse
weather conditions and ensuring that the Russian Federation has
taken steps so that other incidents like this did not happen again41.
This game of cat and mouse practiced by the Russians caused
an increase regarding the tensions between Ankara and Moscow
world/2015/oct/06/nato-chief-jens-stoltenberg-russia-turkish-airspace-violations-
syria.
39
F-15Cs Arrive at Incirlik Air Base, USAFE-AFAFRICA, November 6th, 2015, http://www.
usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123462805.
40
US, NATO condemn Russias violations of Turkish airspace, EurActiv, October 6th, 2015,
http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-nato-condemn-russia-s-
violations-of-turkish-airspace/.
41
Kareem Shahenn, NATO condemns Russia over violations of Turkeys airspace,
theguardian, October 6th, 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/05/
turkey-says-russian-warplane-violated-airspace.
and which ended on November 24th, 2015, with the shooting down,
by Turkey, of a Russian fighter aircraft, incident that led to a major
diplomatic crisis between Turkey and the Russian Federation. Even
though both states agreed that the Russian fighter plane Su-24 was
shot down by an air-air missile, pulled by a F-16s plane belonging to
the Turkish Air Force, there are significant discrepancies between
the two sides regarding the exact place the Russian plane was at
when it got hit by the missile which took down42 .
Russias reactions
As expected, Turkeys decision to shoot down a Russian
fighter aircraft generated reactions in the Kremlin, where the leader
Vadimir Putin has been the most vocal in accusing and threatening
the Turkish state for the boldness it had demonstrated. Hands tied
regarding the possibility to react, given the fact that a military
confrontation between Russia Turkey could not have been taken
into account, Putin remained with the only option to start a war of
statements, part of Russias informational war against the Turkish
state, the leader in Moscow using all the negative elements that could
have invoked against Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Thus, the latter was
named accomplice of the terrorists and warned about the serious
consequences that the regime in Ankara will have to face as result of
this incident.
At the same time, to give even more drama to the situation,
Putin invoked the proximity of the two countries, in an attempt to
put even more pressure on Turkey: we have always treated Turkey
as a friendly state. We do not know who had interests in the events
that happened today, certainly not us43, said Putin in the context
42
Turkeys downing of Russian warplane what we know, BBC News, December 1st, 2015,
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34912581.
43
Kareem Shaheen, Shaun Walker, Julian Borger, David Smith, Putin condemns Turkey
after Russian warplane downed near Syria border, theguardian, November 24th, 2015,
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/24/turkey-shoots-down-jet-near-
border-with-syria.
of the incident from November 2015. In the period that followed

the Kremlin leader brought back into discussion the consequences
that Turkey will have to deal with: if someone thought that after
committing a treacherous war crime killing our people it would
be possible to get away with simple restrictions on trade with
tomatoes or other restrictions... they are majorly mistaken. And
that because we will recall them many times what they did and they
will regret for a long time what they did44 , ensured the Kremlin
leader. A predictable attitude, given that we are talking about the
Russian Federation, known for its way to perceive things, manner
that is based on the idea that Moscow can afford to do anything,
even if it violates the international norms, and even when it does,
those who react, in this case Turkey, are considered the only culprits.
The shooting down of a Russian fighter aircraft by the Turkish
military was one of the most controversial and debated incidents since
late last year, being presented extensively, both in the international
media, as well as in the press in Romania.
Regarding the media institutions in Romania, the incident,
that made Turkey and the Russian Federation deal with an extreme
situation, was approached according to the specificity of each news
agency. Thus, Digi24 treated the subject in a comprehensive manner,
some news about the incident being complex, with information
taken from external sources (e.g. Reuters) and updated according
to the developments 45. Regarding Mediafax, the incident was
broadly presented, the information being updated according to the
evolutions, including, at the same time, the positions of the countries
involved, and also the one of the structure the Turkish state is part
44
J ason Hanna, Alla Eshchenko andTim Hume, Putin: Turkey will regret warplane downing
for a long time, CNN, December 3rd, 2015, http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/03/world/
russia-turkey-syria-warplane-tensions/.
45
Avion rusesc dobott de Turcia. NATO cheam Turcia i Rusia la dialog i la detensionarea
situaiei, Digi24, November 25th 2015, http://www.digi24.ro/Stiri/Digi24/Extern/
International/Turcia+a+doborat+un+avion+militar+neidentificat
of NATO, and the one of Turkeys ally, the United States 46. Similarly,
regarding the other news agencies in Romania, the subject of the
incident that caused a major diplomatic crisis between the Russian
Federation and Turkey, was treated generously, being found in
extensive articles, which present the updates of the events according
to official declarations of the involved countries and the subsequent
developments.
The bunch of problems in Eastern Europe and the military
involvement in Syria, elements to which we add the economic
difficulties that the Russian Federation is currently facing, cancelled
any intention that Moscow might have had to aggravate the situation,
so that it excluded the option of a conflict with Turkey, on the
military dimension, which did not mean, however, that the Kremlin
leadership would easily forgive what Putin called a stab in the
back from the terrorists accomplices47. Thus, Russia has launched,
against the regime in Ankara, a war that it knows very well how to
wage the informational war, the official statements, the positions
of regime in the Kremlin and other elements as well being used
against Turkey in order to damage its image by creating the profile
of an enemy state. Moreover, the incident in November 2015 brought
to Moscow positive aspects as well, in the sense that it helped Russia
to change its status, from the aggressor, acquired after the illegal
annexation of Crimea, to the victim role, one that it is more than ever
determined to play, the purpose being to obtain all the benefits that
46
Valentin Vidu, Mihai Drghici, INCIDENT Turcia - Rusia: Un avion rus de vntoare,
dobort la frontiera cu Siria. Cei doi piloi, mpucai mortal de rebelii sirieni. Un militar
rus, ucis n operaiunile de cutare. REACIA dur a lui Vladimir Putin, Mediafax.
ro, November 24th, 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/incident-turcia-rusia-
avion-rus-vanatoare-doborat-frontiera-siria-cei-doi-piloti-impuscati-mortal-rebelii-
sirieni-militar-rus-ucis-operatiunile-cautare-reactia-dura-vladimir-putin-foto-
video-14897298.
47
Vladimir Putin, declaraii dure la adresa Turciei, dar nici o decizie de retorsiune:
Doborrea avionului rusesc, o lovitur de cuit n spate care ne-a fost dat de complicii
teroritilor, HotNews.ro, November 24th, 2015, http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-
international-20618572-vladimir-putin-doborarea-avionului-rusesc-injunghiere-
spate-din-partea-complicilor-teroristilor.htm.
may result from such a situation. But for such an outcome, Russia
cannot use only its actions, for a much greater gain the supplement
with external elements being required, therefore any anti-Turkey
positions, which are either supplied and/or induced by Moscows
position, or independent to the Kremlins actions, especially if they
find supporters, come to the benefit of the Russian state.
In Romania, in addition to the press that treated the subject
of the incident related to the shooting down of the plane by Turkey
in a professional manner, without trying to tip the scales in favour
of an involved side, there are a number of articles dealing with
this subject in a more passionate manner, using arguments that
do not necessarily have equivalent in reality, or at least not at the
level shown by them. Thus, the incident that occurred in November
2015 brings Turkey in the foreground, but not only due to the fact
that it acted according to its security interests, theory favoured by
those who consider that the regime in Ankara acted properly to the
repeated challenges of the Russian Federation, but also as a state
that, characterized by an impulsive regime, takes decisions of hard
power type.
The incident which occurred in November 2015 (re)brought
into discussion the subject regarding Turkey in the Romanian
press, but not as a state with which our country has a strategic
partnership, or being treated as a NATO member that complies with
the international rules, but as the opposite of such image, a situation
which inevitably acted in favour of the Russian Federation, which,
since November 2015, uses informational war techniques against the
regime in Ankara as sole response option, along with the restrictive
measures imposed to the Turkish state.
Thus, in the domestic media, the subject regarding Turkey
has aroused, in the recent years, a series of reactions, which do not
necessarily have a direct connection to the incident in November
2015, but present the Ankara regime as a leadership acting tough,
applying measures of censorship and maintaining a closed system,
characteristics that might be treated in connection to Erdogans
decision to shoot down a Russian military plane, assuming all

the consequences that might result after such an action. And
considering that we are talking about the Russian Federation, it is
clear to everyone, as it was clear to the Turkish leader since the time
of the incident, that the Russia Turkey relation will be difficult to
manage after such a development, a situation that Erdogan probably
felt strong enough to handle.
Thus, in an article published by the local press, a photography
of Turkeys President was placed next to those of Hitler, under
a suggestive title: The system of Erdogan and of Hitler. The
article starts from the answer given by the Turkish leader, after
returning from an official visit to Saudi Arabia, to the question of
journalists about the possibility to establish a presidential system
by maintaining the unitary structure of the state, question to which
Erdogan replied: there already are examples in the world. You can
see this if you analyse Hitlers Germany. A statement like this made
in a tense period following the decision of Turkey to respond to the
military actions of the Russians, accused by Ankara of violating
its airspace, has been interpreted by one part of the public opinion
as proof that the Turkish leader, through the domestic politics and
external practiced, gets close to Hitlers vision, the one responsible
for triggering the greatest war of all time. If the parallel between
Erdogan and Hitler seems to lead us thinking rather to the Turkish
foreign policy, the article brings into discussion domestic issues as
well, such as the provisions of the Penal Laws (art. 301), which provide
prison sentences for those who denigrate the Turkish identity,
while the conclusion found in this article, on the statement made by
the leader in Ankara, is eloquent to understand the kind of President
the leader in Ankara is: like Hitler, Erdogan wants absolute control
over the state: political party, Government, Presidency, services. The
article ends with the danger warning regarding the existence of a
leader for whom Hitler represents a source of inspiration, for which
negations is a state policy and who negotiates with the European

leaders for Turkeys EU membership 48.
Another article talks about the press in Turkey and the
problems it faces as a result of the fact that the freedoms in this
country are only at the theoretical level and not the practical one. But
the Turkish journalists are not the only ones subjected to pressures
coming from the regime in Ankara, but also the foreign ones, who,
according to the article, if considered inconvenient, are expelled
from Turkey. Neither the case of the comedian Bohmermann
has been forgotten, who was accused with the dissemination of a
satirical poem that had the Turkish leader as topic, it was subject of
discussions in Germany, that culminated with the intervention of
Chancellor Angela Merkel and the authorities decision regarding
the possibility to open a trial against him. The article makes also
an overview of the situation of the Turkish media, bringing into
discussion arrests of journalists, takeovers of media companies by
the Government, layoffs of a large number of people who worked
there, as well as the aggression against journalists, noting that the
participation of opposition journalists was banned on all the events
organized by the Government in Ankara49.
Inevitably, starting from these elements and considering
the incident that led to the diplomatic crisis between the Russian
Federation and Turkey, in the press appeared the subject of the
similarities between the two leaders previously friends, but now
turned into declared enemies. The subject of the similarity between
the two presidents of the state was under discussion in the Romanian
press in several articles. Thus, in an article published shortly after
the incident in November 2015 by the Business24 site, the similarities
between the two state leaders, who previously developed close
48
Ionu Cojocaru, Sistemul lui Erdogan & sistemul lui Hitler, adevrul.ro, January 4th,
2016, http://adevarul.ro/cultura/istorie/sistemul-erdogan--sistemul-luihitler-
1_568a60b737115986c61efa83/index.html.
49
Ionu Cojocaru, Jurnalist n Turcia, adevarul.ro, April 26th, 2016, http://adevarul.ro/
international/in-lume/jurnalist-turcia-1_571fa10d5ab6550cb85f0782/index.html.
relationships, however damaged by the recent developments, are

addressed. Starting from Ivan Krastevs allegations, the chairman
of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia, the article talks about
the fact that, in the case of Erdoan and Putin, we are dealing with
two leaders aware of their strength, both of them having preferences
towards increasing the stake of the game and unwilling to show
their weaknesses. The similarities between the two: combative,
nationalists and authoritarian, with a political trajectory exhibiting
blatant similarities, make them look like twins.
Indeed, based on their psychological profiles, we identify
common characteristics, both in terms of their ambitions, as well
as regarding the fact that both are leading players, willing to take a
high risk when making decisions involving the countries they lead.
And the best example for this is the shooting down of the Russian
fighter aircraft, in the case of Turkey, and the illegal annexation of
the Crimean Peninsula, regarding Russia.
At least from this point of view, the similarity between the two
presidents is evident. At the same time, in both cases, it is obvious
that we are not talking about people who would show their weakness,
who would be disposed in a dispute to take a step back thus showing
inferiority to the rival, or to assume mistakes for which to express
feelings of guilt, or regret. And these characteristics can be identified
in each statement, response, position expressed by Erdogan, or
Putin, in the context of the November 2015 incident. Another aspect
which speaks about the flagrant resemblance between the two is the
manner in which they arranged things in their countries to ensure
the status they enjoyed, somewhat similar, changing positions (from
premier to president), being indicative to achieving a profile of the
two and identify the similarities50.
50
Marius Jianu, Prieteni sau rivali? Asemanarile periculoase dintre Putin si Erdogan,
Business24, December 1st, 2015, http://www.business24.ro/vladimir-putin/
presedintele-rusiei/prieteni-sau-rivali-asemanarile-periculoase-dintre-putin-si-
erdogan-1566422
In an article published on the Radio Free Europe website,

a few days before the above mentioned article, the similarities
between the Kremlin leader and the one in Ankara are deciphered
in an interesting key, the reason why the two leaders cannot reach a
compromise being considered. The article starts from a narration of
Charles Recknagel, the Free Europe correspondent, and talks about
the similarities between the two, whose identical images betray the
characteristics of powerful authoritarian nationalist leaders, features
that hinder reaching a compromise, regarding the incident from
2015. The article begins in an original manner, with the following
phrase: he came to power promising the return of his country to
the past greatness and to the traditional values. He is authoritarian
and does not tolerate easily the opposition. And became the face of
the nation par excellence, transforming the leadership of his country
into a deeply personal thing sentence followed by the reply options
the Russian President Vladimir Putin? or the Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan?. Starting from invoking the common
features found in the psychological profiles of the two and found
in the article Five Things That Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip
Erdogan Have in Common: both of them had a precarious childhood,
being poor, and played sports; both of them counted on political
careers based on the great nation rhetoric and the humiliation
of the West; both of them have palaces; both of them took tough
measures against the protests of the population and none of them
will win the prize for the feminist of the year51, the article mentions
these as impediments to reaching a compromise. Citing the imperial
nostalgia that underlies their characters, related to the USSR, in the
case Putin, and the Ottoman Empire, in the case of Erdogan, the two
leaders are shown as carriers of messages that bring into discussion a
certain moral certainty according to which the way in which they see
the world is approved by higher courts. At the same time, perceived
51
Daisy Sindelar, Five Things That Vladimir Putin And Recep Tayyip Erdogan Have In
Common, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, December 1st, 2015, http://www.rferl.
org/content/russia-turkey-erdogan-putin-five-things-in-common/26718978.html
as leaders with absolutist visions, they became increasingly powerful

over the years in which they held power (in Putins case, for 16 years,
and Erdogan, for 12 years), they analyse their options and play at
the international level to a point, a zero-sum game specific to the
nineteenth century, in which one wins and the other loses, so that a
resumption of good relations is far from being possible52 .
Another article published by the online media environment in
Romania puts the two rivals state leaders in the position of what we
might call a relationship like the one between two brothers, however
not twins, citing both the similarities and the similar developments.
Thus, the article talks about the many similarities between the
two and the relatively few differences. Available in pairs, they
bring evidence to indicate obvious similarities: Vladimir Putin is a
former KGB, while Erdogan was the leader of the Milli Gr Islamic
brotherhood the Turkish sister of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Then, after leaving KGB, Putin became Leningrads deputy mayor and
Erdogan the mayor of Istanbul, Putin was elected in 2000 President
of the Russian Federation and Erdogan Turkeys Prime Minister, three
years later. Among the similarities, we can came the one discovered in
the other articles as well the greatness of the two highlighted by the
grandeur of their owned palaces, indicating Putins intention to play
the role of the Eurasian empire tsar, while Erdogan wants to be the
sultan of the future neo-Ottoman empire53.
Similarities in terms of political systems as well?

If before the incident in November 2015 the international
public opinion and the one in Romania approached the subject
of the links between Turkey and the Russian Federation based on
the proximity and good relations between the two countries, their
52
Lucian tefnescu, n oglind: sunt Putin i cu Erdogan att de asemntori nct s
nu poat ajunge la un compromis, Radio Europa Liber, November 28th, 2015, http://
www.europalibera.org/a/27395362.html.
53
Bogdan Calehari, Frai ntre ei: Putin vs Erdogn, November 27th, 2015, https://
bogdancalehari.wordpress.com/2015/11/27/fratii-intre-ei-putin-vs-erdogan/.
deterioration was followed not only by presenting the developments

caused by the downing of the Russian plane, in November last year,
but also by a particular attention paid to the similarities between
the two leaders, once close friends, now current enemies. There is
no doubt that there are similarities between Putin and Erdogan
based on their life, from childhood, to their political developments
profoundly marked by the history and the present of the countries
they lead, as the elements that can be easily identified in their
psychological profiles and those of presidents of the states cannot
be ignored. Based on these elements, the natural question arises
regarding how similar the regimes, that the two leaders lead, are
and on which they have inevitably put their imprint? To answer this
question, however, it is necessary to analyse in parallel the systems
of both countries. Thus, as stipulated by the Constitution, Russia
is a federal semi-presidential republic, the President is the head of
state and the Prime Minister the head of the Government. Without
presenting the evolution of the current Russian leader, relevant to
understand the manner in which Putins Russia is headed, indicating
some classifications, becomes appropriate. Thus, in 2007, based on
the internal situation, Freedom in the World calculated a 5.5 rating
for the Russian Federation, while the status for this country was Not
Free54 . In 2005, two years before, a report issued by the institution
of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe,
warned about the internal problems of the Russian state in the terms
of guaranteeing democracy 55, while in 2014 it was ranked 132 out of
the 167 surveyed countries, with a score of 3.39 out of a maximum
of 10 in the Democracy Index, where, based on the characteristics of
its political system, Russia has been classified as an authoritarian
54
Russia, Freedom in the World, Freedom House, 2007, https://freedomhouse.org/
report/freedom-world/2007/russia?page=22&year=2007&country=7258.
55
Gil-Robles, Alvaro. Report by Mr Alvaro Gil-Robles, Commissioner for Human
Rights, on his visits to the Russian Federation, Council of Europe, Commissioner
for Human Rights, Strasbourg, April 20th, 2005, https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.
jsp?p=&id=846655&direct=true
systems56. Brief ly, the political system in Russia is controlled by the

Kremlin leader, the one that raises the issues to the press in this
country, a report by Reporters Without Borders, in 2006, allocated
the Russian Federation the number 147 out of 16857, while in 2008 it
was ranked number 14158.At the same time, in Russia, there is a list
of inconvenient journalists, who were supposedly killed, with the
suspicion that the killings were demanded by the state structures.
The same iron hand policy is used in other important areas as
well: justice, business, arrests of people for various reasons, while the
legal system is frequently used to suppress the political opposition in
Russia, and there is no doubt about who commands such actions.
On the other side, Turkey is a parliamentary republic that is
based on a parliamentary representative democracy, but the system
of Erdogan is criticized, both by a part of the states population, as
well as by the public opinion and the international media for abuses
in important domains such as the respecting of the human rights,
media freedom, justice et cetera. The same index which classed the
Russian Federation in 2014 on the 131 place, with a score of 3.30,
and indicated the type of political regime as falling into the category
of the authoritarian ones, put Turkey on the 97 place, with a score
of 5.12,and in the category of hybrid regimes, figure that indicates
a major difference to the Russian state59.Regarding the hierarchy
made by Reporters without Borders, as shown in the Worldwide
Press Freedom Index 2006, Turkey shared the same place, 98, with
Bhutan and the Ivory Coast, with a score of 25.00 60, while, in 2008,
56
emocracy Index 2015. Democracy I an age of anxiety, A report by the Economist
D
Intelligence Unit, The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2016, http://www.
yabiladi.com/img/content/EIU-Democracy-Index-2015.pdf
57
Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006, Reporters without Borders for Press Freedom,
http://web.archive.org/web/20090306210631/http://www.rsf.org:80/rubrique.
php3?id_rubrique=639.
58
Press Freedom Index 2008, http://web.archive.org/web/20090225083714/http://
www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=29031.
59
Democracy Index 2015. Democracy I an age of anxiety.
60
Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006.
the Turkish state shared the place 102with Armenia, with a score
of 22.7561.However, if in the case of the Russian Federation we are
talking about a very long list of journalists who lost their lives in
more or less suspicious conditions, Turkey has, in turn, issues that
include less legal actions against certain segments of the population,
being among the 10 countries whose situation is analysed in the
report Annual Review 2011-2012 Freedom from Torture, conducted
by the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture. The
report brings into discussion the problems that the society in Turkey
is facing as a result of the state policies against the journalists and
the hundreds of Kurd political activists, while, according to the
document, the definition of terrorism, the same that has blocked
the removal of EU visas for the Turkish citizens, is used to justify a
so-called arbitrary arrest of those considered suspicious, even where
there is little evidence 62 .
Regarding the mass media, the things in this area are far from
what the freedom of press actually means, and in the Romanian
press there are sufficient articles which were found talking about the
manner in which Erdoan does politics, the journalists considered
uncomfortable being removed from the public space, however, not
after the Russian model, ensuring their definitive exit from the
stage, but through action involving mostly their arrest or blocking
their access to events organized by the leadership in Ankara, while
the foreign journalists are also under pressure, some of whom were
expelled from Turkey.
Regarding the relationship between the political system and

the legal system, it is obvious that, in both countries, we are dealing
with situations in which the full demarcation of the two domains
is impossible, due to the interference of the Russian leader and the
61
ress Freedom Index 2008.
P
62
Annual Review 2011-2012, Freedom from Torture, Medical Foundation for the Care
of Victims of Torture, 2012, p. 9, https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/sites/default/
files/documents/FFT_Ann.Rev-2011-f.pdf.
Turkish one. This could be considered a resemblance, but there is a

difference between the level of dependence of the judicial system in
Russia and the one in Turkey to the leaders in power. Thus, in the
case of the Russian Federation, sufficient examples, including the
notorious ones the cases of the rich people in Russia, indicate that,
if the tsar, Putin, considers someone as inconvenient, then the legal
system in this country is not an option for the target to get out of the
mess. And the cases of oligarchs such as Vladimir Gusinsky, Boris
Berezovsky and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, removed from the scene by
Putin represent a benchmark, are being considered examples of the
Kremlin leaders policies to ensure its control over the important
areas, including Justice. Neither did the second mandate of Vladimir
Putin pass unnoticed, in terms of its interference in the legal system,
famous arrests, as those of the Pussy Riot feminists, or the measures
taken against those who protested against the regime, from fines, to
arrests and ordering the NGOs that received funding from abroad
to declare themselves as foreign agents, all of these are actions
supported by the laws adopted by a system controlled entirely by
Vladimir Putin63.Regarding Turkey, discussions and statements
indicating an involvement of the regime in this area existed and
still exists, but the situation is different from that of the Russian
Federation. In 2014, an article that appeared in the international press
was talking about Turkeys Constitutional Court as the last castle of
free justice, the court being presented as a reliable body in respect
to justice, two famous cases Can Dndar and Erdem Gl, two
important journalists from Cumhuriyet newspaper, who were under
preventive arrest, were released following the aforementioned court
response to their requests. The decision sparked a real controversy
in Turkey, inclusively the leader Erdoan harshly criticized the
decision of the Constitutional Court, accusing that it was a violation
of the Constitution, fact that suggests some kind of autonomy in
63
Andrew B. Wachtel, Russia, Encyclopdia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com/
place/Russia/The-Putin-presidency.
its relation to the leadership in Ankara64 .Such cataloguing of the

superior court comes at a time when the Turkish leader is accused
by those who question its interference policies in the legal system,
its involvement being real, but not to the same extent in which the
Russian leader dictates the way justice is made and the legislative
changes so that his interests are served at best, and those of the
opposition as effectively as possible eliminated.
Turkeys desire alone to become part of the great European

family represents an indication that the system in Turkey and the
general domestic policy cannot be put on the same footing with the
system and the domestic politics in Russia, meaning that, despite the
f lagrant resemblances between the two leaders, the type of regime
they lead, the historical and present characteristics of their countries,
as well as the current ambitions and the long-term strategies,
alienate the two leaders from the point of a common path, which
is based on the similarities that characterize them and that leads
them towards individual developments. It is not excluded for them
to meat at some point, as it happened in the case of the incident from
November 2015, when, faced with a limit situation, the decisions
were taken for their states, based on the same resemblance, hence the
almost identical positions, characterized by pragmatism, intolerance
and intransigence towards the decisions of the rival, the perfect
ingredients for what it might be called a relationship between two
strong rocks. Precisely these similarities will cause the maintaining
of cold relationships between Ankara and Moscow, the incident in
November 2015 is and will remain an event that will forever mark
the relations between the two countries, while a reheating of the
relations would only be possible in the situation of major changes
(regime, leaders, regional status quo et cetera)
64
Serkan Demirta, Erdogans fight against top cort weakens judicial system, Daily News,
March 5th, 2016, http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogans-fight-against-top-
court-weakens-judicial-system.aspx?PageID=238&NID=96070&NewsCatID=429.
Chapter 6. Distinguishing the patterns of Russias
informational war
Iulian Chifu
After carrying out the project financed by the Black Sea Trust
of the German Marshall Fund, we agreed to propose a categorization
of the informational war based on levels of influence, as follows:
Level 0: normal level of news access in an open space, with

freedom of the press and freedom of the Internet, free movement
of ideas, a place for confronting ideas and the presence of the
commented news or reflecting for affirmations, and also against, not
only nude stories of the positions of the Russian officials.
Level 1: the influence upon the public space is reduced,

even if it is subject to the informational war. The access is at the
level of the war of trolls, meant to mark the presence of the pro-
Russian options or to contest it in comments, but also the presence
of favourable news and comments to Russia, nevertheless the public
space is a balanced one. Recruiting is employed for supporting and
pressure group, and influence groups.
Level 2: major influence on the public space, the investment

in the war of trolls is meant to win victories and to direct debates, in
the media space there are visible levers of influence and open message
carriers of the Russian interests. The inf luence in the political area
is only the one coming from pressuring the media space, not a direct
one, at the political actors. The decision is not inf luenced. There is
an active support base for sustaining the Russian interests.
Level 3: The carriers of messages between the opinion

formers and the political space. This time the battle for influence
and directing ideas in the public space is obviously waged, and, in
this public space, the message carriers for the interests of the Russian
Federation are already settling down, but also politicians promoting
the viewpoints and the positions of the Russian authorities. The
decision is not yet altered but it is influenced by the penetration of
the pro-Russian ideas in the political space. Visible civic structures
and inf luential groups in the civil society.
Level 4: A strong pro-Russian current in the public space.

Major influence in the political space. Ability to influence and to
alter decisions. Pro-Russian parties defending the interests of the
Russian Federation. Opinion formers and political parties, others
than in pro-Russian parties, that defend the positions of Moscow.
Level 5. Dominance of the pro-Russian current in the public

space. Major influence in the political space. Absolute dominance
in the civil society and in the space of ideas and major influence
in the decision space.
At a first glance, based on this scale, according to the research,

Romania is supposedly at level 1, although it is worth observing if
it has elements from space 2 and 3. The Republic of Moldova could
be at level 4, but with the possibility of slipping further, to level
5, in the future, if the most influential political party, the Socialist
party, pro-Russian, reaches Governance and the second round of the
presidential elections, dated November 13th, 2016, shall be conducted
between two pro Russian candidates.
Conclusions
1. The informational war of the Russian Federation reaches
all the levels of the social, political life, targeting, in particular,
the inf luencing formulas of the decision at the political, strategic,
military and security level, directly at the level of the decision
makers, by means of the public space and the mass media, by
creating groups of alternative opinion and of public pressure. We
identified inf luences, at the political level, up to political parties and
personalities openly assuming the Russian agenda, political figures
in pro-European parties (RM), who assume this agenda, the Russian
mass media, opinion formers and journalists, representatives of the
academic and cultural area, who embrace the agenda of Russias
informational war through direct grants or responsively, genuine,
and retrospectively remunerated in indirect formulas, organizations
of the civil society resulted from designing in a certain space such
centers of debate and assumed pro-Russian opinion, or through
projects within genuine organizations of the civil society which
assume the Russian projects and opinions to be promoted, going to
the inf luences below the radar, the trolls warfare, the psychological
operations, pressure or influence over the mass media, the public
space or the decision makers on agendas indirectly favourable to
Russia, fulfilling objectives of the Russian informational war.
2. The trolls operations and the ones influencing the media

space are directed from Moscow, however the most insidious aim
at the internal resources from the target area. Russia seems to have
made an important mapping of resources and of the opinions of the
decision makers, and opinion formers and approaches each objective
in a nuanced and targeted manner.It uses equally groups of opinion
favourable to Russia, peacekeepers in favor of avoiding a conflict, as
well asnationalists, Orthodox, anti-immigrationists, Islamophobes,
xenophobes of Europe, together with forces of the left or statalists that
oppose the passing of powers to the supranational institutions the
EU, NATO; it also uses the people who believe in conspiracy, all the
anarchists, the anti-capitalist left structures, as well as the anti-system
people-structures. Most importantly, it tries to engage in blind persons
who, genuinely, take a position that leads to achieving a goal of its
informational warfare, exploits the person in blind, involving him in
such operations or proceeds with the direct recruitment, employing him
in his own operations, without apparently constraining him in any way.
3. At the war of trolls level, Russia seems to have employed

the development of the capabilities on Internet during the
presidential campaign in 2014, when they identified individuals,
groups, bloggers, trolls, opinion formers useful for this war and,
after the campaign ended, it provided financing for continuing
the genuine business, for creating independent platforms for the
people employed, at the local level, subsequently intervening with
themes, obligations, intervention descriptions in groups of three to
determine the arguments and direct the speech and debate in the
right direction, in order to achieve the goal. It is aimed at spaces
of intense debate, of audience, where they intervene methodically
and planned, sometimes outside the starting topic and directing the
discussion towards the area of interest.
4. The sudden activation of a large number of conserves was

recorded, persons left in the space of interest to develop their own
personalities and positions, and suddenly reactivated by using them
on certain themes in the informational war. Opinion makers, decision
makers, journalists, bloggers having their own personality, formed
in time, suddenly embrace strange positions, previously difficult to
identify, promoting one or another theme, one or another sequence
of the psychological operation. It is hard to discern if it is about an
objective exploited in blind, at call, or paid through a clear financial
scheme, in order to develop the respective activity. It is the task of the
specialized agencies to determine the traceability. Instead, what we
can say is that, at the level of the activity conducted, of the trolls and
bloggers, many of those affected make a living from it, and use too
much time in such activities to be mere genuine impulses or natural
individual concerns, but rather appear to be source complementary
source to the income. In the conserves case, the family ties and
kinship of some young people that appeared overnight and the old
abandoned and reactivated Soviet conserves are to be identified.
5. Russia seems to develop types of themes for each country

in particular, outside the general topics of interest and the specific
objectives. They go from underlying Russias strength and position in
the international scaffolding, the role and place that it deserves, the
need for a big bargain with it in the East, a new Yalta, to painting the
West in black colours, passing the blame for all the ills in the world to
the US, NATO, the EU, the West, cleaving the transatlantic relation and
attracting Europe into a deal with Russia then, the cleavage of Europe,
supporting the anti-EU nationalisms, going to specific topics in each
country. The action is calibrated to each country and each interesting
media instrument and used as vector, or to each employed group.
The credible denial of its actions is the most present, intermediaries
for these operations being multiple, as the appearance of lawfulness,
freedom of expression, free flow of ideas, etcetera.
As for Romania, the preliminary conclusions are:

1. The mass media institutions are fully aware of the existence
of the Informational War. They promote articles that describe or
present the matter in individual cases.
2. There are formulas to counteract the influence of the war of
trolls, increasingly elaborated, from the mediation of messages and
comments to their elimination, the enrolment based on identity elements
and existing profiles or on the email addresses of the commentators, or
even the completely blocking of access to other posts.
3. The taste for scandal, outbidding, exceptionalism and
magnification of the news relevance, the cheap sensational, by choice,
fundamentally affects the counteracting capability. On the contrary,

this habit allows the full spread of the informational war messages,
and even amplifies the results of the psychological operations.
4. Also, the informational war is favoured by the indiscriminate
resuming of all statements of the Russian officials or any Russian
sources that create audiences, without having a realistic assessment
of the message in the news, a counter message, an appreciation of the
message made by a genuine expert to decrypt it to the public, or at least
a comment from the reserves of the editorial board. This procedure
makes that all the news from official Russian sources to be amplified
and distributed regardless of their relevance, or the aberrations, the
excesses and the interpretations they induce. Instead, when it comes
to reactions, the original messages are attached to them as well, so
the presentation is balanced. This procedure must be eliminated by
applying the promoting rules accepted at the electronic journalism
level, respectively avoiding publishing a declaration without a
counter-opinion, a commentary of an expert or of the editors
editorial board.
5. It is necessary to establish an integrative institution for the
defence-action in the informational war. We have it at the level of the
National Security Strategy (called for Defence), and the SCND must
designate the integrative institution for the efforts of all the other
institutional actors, to establish and designate the informational
war strategy, to designate the instrumentation to counter it, that
should include the demystification of the promoted elements and the
exposure of lies, forgeries, interpretations in the informational war;
the exposure of the opinion makers and the themes included in the
informational war; the exposure of procedures and components in
the psychological operations and to dispose their counteraction. To
determine the allocation of resources for the internal war to support
the effort for public diplomacy and the use of resources for the
informational war waged by Russia against Romania in third spaces,
particularly in the Republic of Moldova.
Part two
Romania and Russias under the radar

informational war. Narratives and media tools
Chapter 1
Media content analysis

PRO TV and Antena 1
Adriana Sauliuc
Short presentation of media sources covered PRO TV and

Antena1:
- in both cases, only news have been analysed;
- the period covered is between November 2014 (the Vilnius
Summit) and March 2016;
News mentioning the subject of the informational war of
Russia against Romania: PRO TV - 12 in 2014, 22 in 2015, three 2016;
Antena 1 two in 2015.
I. The informational war theoretical

considerations
The warfare, which over time was seen by states as a conventional

mean of adjusting the international relations, represents a violence
organized by a political unity against another, with the mention that
violence is not war unless is committed on behalf of a political entity.
1
Over the years the war known multiple modes of conducting, taking
from every stage of mankind elements that offered it more multiple
and diverse possibilities of manifestation. If the passage of time and
the evolutions in the technology sphere made the areas where the
confrontations are carried out to be more and more diversified, anterior,
in the days of the Clausewitz type of wars, conflicts were carried out
in the classic style of military confrontations. But things have changed
afterward as the countries identified new sphere in which the rivalry
between them, previously consumed in theatres of war, could be
carried out, sometimes with lower costs and higher greater gains. Thus,
identifying these areas has made states to exceed the strict level of armed
confrontation and to exert their violence through other means, such as
political, economic, media, psychological and informational ones, but
the purpose is always the same: the domination of the enemy. And,
being naturally the war to metamorphose depending on the stage it is
carried out, the technological level reached and how the international
actors choose to confront themselves, indicates a propensity towards
conducting wars in areas such as economic, cyber and informational.
If in the case of the other dimensions, the way of confronting
or an action of an international actor against an enemy can be easily
identified, being able to link them with the respective domains
(political, economic, cyber), in the case of informational warfare
the things are different. This is because the informational war has
been demonstrated to be one of the most dynamic formulas, more
sophisticated and more difficult to understand of the future war,
features determined by the fact that mankind, in the current stage
of its evolution, reached a threshold of informational confrontation
from which it cannot turn back. 2
The specialty literature refers to informational warfare as being
part of modern warfare category, belonging to the sphere of the
1
Hedley Bull, The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics, tiina Publishing
House, Chisinau, 1998, p. 174.
2
Teodor Frunzeti, Mircea Murean, Gheorghe Vduva, Rzboi i haos, Army Technical-
Editorial Center, Bucharest, 2009, p. 193.
asymmetric ones because of the way of its manifestation, it is related

to controlling the information vectors and it is seen as a type of war
through which, the actor who initiates it, based on techniques such
as intoxication and black propaganda, aims to achieve gains by using
weapons less classical. First used in 1976 by Thomas P. Rome to
explain the invisible war during the Cold War, further evolutions but
especially the recent ones have brought this concept to the fore both
because of its uses by states and awareness that informational warfare,
by its characteristics, will entail a preference of the international actors
regarding the confrontation with the enemies in this fluid, complex and
difficult to manage space. Unavoidable considering that we live in the
information era and the technological revolution in the communication
sector which is offering multiple and bidder opportunities from this
point of view, makes the informational warfare to become as important
as the confrontation in the four classic dimensions (land, sea, air,
space), to which we add the fifth dimension the cyber one.
The preference for this type of confrontation, which at the
first glance could be perceived as much less dangerous that the
classic war is determined by the specific mode of such a dimension,
but also the costs it involved. More precisely, difficult to perceive at
certain times and less costly than conducting a war in the dimensions
mentioned above, the informational warfare can be considered as
referring to the attacks on which an opponent (usually a country)
can initiate against the civilian and military population, using
propaganda and misinformation in order to achieve political and
military objectives3, mentioning that most of the opponents in this
case are also belong to the category of the state international actors.
3
Alexander Svitych, Information Wars in the Post-Modern World, ISIS Europe blog,
Issues of International and European Security, https://isiseurope.wordpress.
com/2014/04/10/information-wars-in-the-post-modern-world/.
II. The informational warfare against Romania

The tense regional situation as a result of the developments in
Ukraine and Romanias position within the geographical boundaries
which delineate the comfort space determined by the affiliation to
the European-Atlantic structures, to which is added the increasing
of the Russian Federations aggression both in relation with the
direct neighbours and the furthest away ones once part of its area of
inf luence, inevitably draws attention to the Romanian state, target of
the informational warfare conducted by Moscow. As for Romania its
entrance into Kremlins attention in such a way i.e. the recipient of
the actions of such a way of conducting the warfare, it comes with the
membership to NATO and the European Union, while the Russian
Federation rhetoric indicates sensitivity to the subject Romania
from several points of view.
Even if the Russian Federation is not a novice in conducting
such a warfare, taking as a milestone the Summit in Vilnius
(November 2013) is more than enough, being unnecessary to analyze
the evolutions prior to this event and not for the reason that such
practices had not been used previously by Moscow, but only because
the current developments and the informational warfare conducted
by the Russian Federation against the Western countries and
against Romania are related to the pro-European vision developed
by Ukraine lately, the Ukrainians desire to be part of the European
family, along with the 28 EU member states representing for Kremlin
a daring that could not be accepted. And the illegal annexation of
the Crimean Peninsula (March 2014), represents a clear evidence
that the Russian Federation is far from accepting the exit of other
countries from its traditional area of inf luence, including Ukraine,
reason for which Moscow has acted accordingly. The territorial
rapt in the eastern neighbourhood of Romania represented also the
moment which sparked a series of developments who brought into
discussion concepts that the specialty literature had used them more
or less in the previous period, expressions such as hybrid warfare
or informational warfare occurring during the past years with a

frequency that betrays developments in this direction.
Coming back to Romania, its current situation has made
inevitable its entry into the group of countries against which Moscow
uses its non-military means of combat, the use of asymmetric warfare
specific actions, like those of informational warfare being more and
more often identified in the public space. And to better understand
Kremlins action against Romania is sufficient to pay attention to the
way the high-ranking Russian officials are positioned regarding the
Romanian state, to the rhetoric in many cases aggressive they foster
lately, and to Russian propaganda, part of the informational warfare
carried out by Moscow against countries and non-state international
actors considered by Kremlin troublesome because of the actions
they undertake.
Also, Moscows relatively large number of official statements
related to Romania, both directly and indirectly, enables dividing
them into categories, thus providing a better picture on how the
Russian Federation is acting in this domain so subtly and sometimes
so obvious of the informational warfare.
The outbreak of the crisis in Ukraine and the highlight of the
opposing positions between the Russian Federation and Romania
If foregoing, the events in the eastern neighbourhood of
Romania did not offered a moment which to produce developments
of the kind generated by Moscows decision to reward Ukraine
for daring to look towards the West, the illegal annexation of the
Crimean peninsula opened a stage of confrontation in Eastern
Europe that has spread its effects far beyond Kremlins effective space
of action. This because, the crisis in Ukraine initiated the Russian
Federation into a war not only with the neighbouring country, but
with the whole Europe (meaning the UE) held responsible for the
intention to extend well beyond the limit that Moscow can accept.
Thus, the hybrid warfare practiced in eastern Ukraine was seconded
by the informational one that targets countries such as Romania as
a result of its belonging to the structures considered by the Russian
Federation inconvenient both for itself but also related to the

countries considered de facto under its influence.
The crisis in Ukraine represents also the element which
makes more than visible the position Russia is using in relation
to the Romanian state in the current regional context. Moreover
Bucharest official reaction regarding Kremlins actions represents an
incentive that Moscow is using in order to make known its position
regarding the relations with Romania. The message sent by Kremlin
to the Romanian state after President Traian Basescu accused Russia
of aggression against Ukraine is more than eloquent, and may be
enclose in the category of those which indicates the conducting of an
informational warfare against Romania.
Based on Bucharest regimes position regarding Kremlins
actions in Ukraine, the theme of Romanias anti-Russian rhetoric is
used by Moscow to answer in its characteristic style to the Romanian
official position regarding the regional developments in the context
of the declarations made by President Traian Basescu. Thereby,
Russia warns of the risk to which Romania would expose in the
case of such an approach, more precisely Moscow informed through
an official statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry that the
continuation of the anti-Russian rhetoric at Bucharest potentiates
the deterioration of the bilateral relations Russia Romania that
would not benefit anyone. The article appeared on the PROTV
website which treats this subject presents also the position of the
MFA in Bucharest, more precisely its reaction to the way Moscow
perceived and expressed regarding the statement of the President of
Romania. The Russian MFA statement indicates an intention to cast
a less favourable light on Romanian state and represents a threat
more or less direct for Bucharest (there is a risk of the deterioration
of the bilateral relations, which is not in anyones interest) 4 .
4
riza din Ucraina. Rusia a cerut Romniei s o lase mai uor cu retorica anti-rus.
C
Rspunsul oferit de Bucureti / The crisis in Ukraine. Russia asked Romania to take it
easier with the anti-Russian rhetoric. Bucharests answer, ProTV, 5 April 2014, http://
Also in the context of the crisis in Ukraine is highlighted the

theme regarding Romanias intention to retrieve the lost territories,
which even if is not mentioned by the Kremlin leader, the title of the
article appeared on the PROTV website and the way it is written,
mislead the reader in this regard. The statement belongs to the
Russian ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, which points
out that Romania, Hungary and Poland could annex Ukrainian
territories that belonged to them. Regarding Romania, it would
target Chernivtsi and Bukovina. According to the Russian official,
our country would be guilty of intentions less legal in accordance
with the rules of the International law, the declaration itself being
seen as a message trying to divert the attention from Russias
actions, indicating European countries as potential aggressors, with
Romania among them. 5
Russia, regardless of the historical moment we are referring
(the Tsarist Empire, the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation),
represents a clear example of a country for which the classical type
of pure Realism, has never set. Whence the cutting desire not to give
up the territorial gains in the Second World War and kept during
the Cold War, but whose subsequent loss has forced Russia to recoil
into a formula greatly reduced and in a context that has brought
major changes. Keeping the sphere of influence in the territorial
delineations of the heyday of the Soviet Union was impossible, the
entering itself of some countries, once under Moscows inf luence,
in structures such as the European Union and NATO, indicating
regional developments difficult to foretell prior to 1991. And if for
Romania the integration in the Euro-Atlantic structures as a member
with full rights and obligations represented an historic opportunity
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/criza-din-ucraina-rusia-a-cerut-romaniei-sa-o-lase-
mai-usor-cu-retorica-antirusa-raspunsul-oferit-de-bucuresti.html.
5
Lider rus: Romania poate profita de instabilitatea din Ucraina pentru a anexa teritorii care
i-au apartinut / Russian leader: Romania can take advantage of instability in Ukraine
to annex territories which belonged to it ProTV, 17 November 2014, http://stirileprotv.
ro/stiri/international/lider-rus-romania-poate-profita-de-instabilitatea-din-ucraina-
pentru-a-anexa-teritorii-care-i-au-apartinut.html.
that could not be refused, for the Russian Federation, the de jure
and de facto heiress of the Soviet Union, represented a loss analysed
in relation with the pragmatic rule of the zero-sum game but in
connection with which Kremlin had no leverage of action in order
to reverse the progression of Romanias European path.
Based on Romanias NATO membership and the developments
in the region, the topics identified are the following as indicated
below.
Romania an important link of the US strategy of creating

an anti-Russian sanitary corridor
Romania is perceived in the Russian Federation as an important
regional pawn for the pro-Western policy, therefore, as indicated by
the Russian news agency Sputnik, now all eyes are directed towards
Romania, which would be a basic piece in the implementation by
the US of the strategy Lead from behind, with the purpose to create
an anti-Russian sanitary cordon. The idea is approached in an
article entitled Comment of Kremlin Sputnik News Agency: Now
all eyes are directing to Romania. The scenario described by author
of the article, Andrew Korybko, puts Romania in a position to be
nominated as an important component of the US strategy, a link
that its success may depend on, and hence shifting the focus towards
Bucharest and how it chooses to act. 6
Romania and its role in the region as a NATO member

For the Russian Federation, Romanias NATO membership
and thus implicitly the presence of the Euro-Atlantic structure
near its western borders has always been a problem, while with
the onset of the crisis in Ukraine and the necessity to carry on an
6
omentariul agentiei pro-Kremlin Sputnik News: Acum toate privirile se indreapta catre
C
Romania. Scenariul descris de rusi / The Comment of the Pro-Kremlin Sputnik News
Agency: Now all eyes are turning to Romania. The scenario described by the Russians,
PROTV, 17 April 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/comentariul-agentiei-
pro-kremlin-sputnik-news-acum-toate-privirile-se-indreapta-catre-romania-
scenariul-descris-de-rusi.html.
informational warfare, a subject that directly targeted Romania. So,

the topic regarding the affiliation of our country to NATO appears
in many articles, mostly message bearer of the Russian authorities,
who are against the way the Romanian state understands to act in
the tense current regional context.
Moreover, the messages that refer to Romania as a member
of the Alliance, status which implies the presence of the American
troops on Romanian territory or of a part of the missile shield
installed in Europe (at Deveselu), represent subjects that Moscow
uses to maintain an aggressive rhetoric in relation to Romania and
its foreign policy options.
Thus, since 2014, the Russian Federation, amid increasing
tensions between Moscow and the West, chose to use threatening
messages. The article published by PROTV and entitled Russia
vows to take action against placing US missile shield in Romania,
opens the series of articles dedicated to this subject, which includes
Moscows position reported to this topic, position transmitted by
the Russian representative at NATO. According to him, western
countries must recognize their political mistakes and stop repeating
them mechanically in order to improve the relations with Russia and
the security situation generally, the US being accuse of undermining
the regional security while Romania is a part of its strategy through
its active participation in the missile shield project implementation.
7
Linking this subject by the Romanian state is inevitable given the
fact that Alexander Grushkos statements were made shortly after
the US Army announced that it took command of the ballistic base
at Deveselu at 10 October 2014.
Through such statements is wanted that the targeted countries,
in this case Romania, to understand Russias position regarding the
7
usia promite c va lua msuri fa de amplasarea scutului american antiracheta n
R
Romania/ Russia vows to take action against placing the US missile defense shield in
Romania, PROTV, 14 November 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rusia-
promite-ca-va-lua-masuri-dupa-ce-armata-americana-a-preluat-comanda-asupra-
unei-baze-militare-din-romania.html.
subject in question, while the use of such clear messages, as part of

the informational warfare, to put pressure on the Bucharest regime,
eventually with the help of the component called population, in case
it can be drawn in this war by Moscow, through the statements made.
The same asymmetric warfare conducted through the messages
sent by the Russian officials includes Russias position regarding
the fact that the shield at Deveselu, more precisely its installation,
represents a violation of the existing treaties, as claimed by the
Russian MFA in public interventions. Thus, according to Sergei
Ryabkov, theDeputy Foreign Ministerof the RussianFederation, the
anti-ballistic missile systems which will be deployed in Romania
and Poland, represent violations of the Intermediate-RangeNuclear
Forces Treaty (INF), statement transmitted by the Sputnik news
site. The target element of the message the population, is invoked
here directly, but not in the sense usually used by Russia in the
informational warfare conducted, namely as target of its messages,
but as component affected by the way the countries hosting
elements of the missile shield are acting: everyone who is interested
not only experts but also ordinary people who watch the foreign
policy news is updated regarding the recent mutual accusations,
including those made public. Mainly, we have concerns about some
aspects of the behaviour of the United States regarding the situation
of the Intermediate nuclear forces treaty (INF) Ryabkov mentioned8
in the same context.
The missile defence system deployment in Romania represents
one of the favourite topics preferred by Kremlin in its rhetoric
sustained and practiced against Romania, while the messages go
beyond the simple expression of its position regarding Bucharest
regimes decision to host such technology. Also, invoking the
8
usia consider scutul de la Deveselu o nclcare a tratatelor. Acuzaii dure ale Moscovei
R
privind baza din Romania / Russia considers the shield at Deveselu a violation of the
treaties. Moscows harsh accusations against the basis in Romania, PROTV 2 March
2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rusia-considera-scutul-de-la-deveselu-
o-incalcare-a-tratatelor-acuzatii-dure-ale-moscovei-privind-baza-din-romania.html.
violation of the international law in force, more precisely the Treaty

regarding short and medium range missiles, completes the elements
used by Kremlin in its informational warfare against the West, using
some explanations that are based on legal invocations being
a common tactic of Kremlin, inclusive the illegal annexation of
Crimea finding a justification, according to Moscow, in the current
legislation. Based on this, invoking the Treaty that would be violated
by the set up of the anti-missile shield in Romania, aims to indicate
the Romanian state as guilty of the failure to comply some important
documents conceived specifically to ensure peace and stability at
international level, situation that puts Romania in the dock for less
peaceful intentions. In other words, the Romanian state, through the
decision to accept on its territory Mk 41 universal launching systems
that are used on Navy ships of the US military-maritime, both for
launching interceptor missiles and Tomahawk missile medium-
range, gives us reasons to consider their emergence on land a direct
violation by the US of the provisions of the short-range and medium-
range missiles Treaty, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson,
Maria Zakharova, claims9, situation possible with the help of the
Romanian leadership.
The fact that the Russian Federation, at least declaratively, has
always considered NATO a threat which had to cope with, can be
found in the documents issued by the Kremlin in the security field,
so that its anti-NATO rhetoric and implicitly against the member
states does not represents a surprise. In Romanias case, the problem
is amplified due to the fact that our country is situated at the eastern
border of the Euro-Atlantic space, so the Alliance closeness of the
Russias borders is perceived as a threat in Moscow. Given this fact,
the Russian Federation, as Vladimir Putin repeatedly affirmed, is
9
usia acuz: Desfurarea sistemului antirachet n Romania, o nclcare a Tratatului
R
privind rachetele cu raz mic i medie / Russia accuses: The deployment of the missile
defense system in Romania, a violation of the Treaty on low and medium range missiles,
PROTV, 24 December 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rusia-acuza-
desfasurarea-sistemului-antiracheta-in-romania-o-incalcare-a-tratatului-privind-
rachetele-cu-raza-mica-si-medie.html.
worried regarding NATO moving closer to our borders, a topic

found in the articles which presents the Kremlins view regarding
NATO enlargement up to Romania. Thus, the foreign policy of the
Romanian state inevitably becomes a concern for Kremlin, Romania
becoming the target of its aggressive rhetoric against NATO. In
the article What Vladimir Putin says about the anti-missile shield
in Romania. We are worried about the NATO closeness to our
borders published on the PROTV website, the messages coming
from Russia seem more than clear, Vladimir Putin signalling the
danger generated by the proximity of the Alliance. The article
indicates the position of the leader in Kremlin, who in an attempt
to denigrate NATO and the purposes for which it was created, talks
about its negative effects: do you imagine we could be opposed
tohaving democracy onour borders? What is it you call democracy
here? Are you referring to NATOs move towards our borders? Is
that what you mean bydemocracy? NATO is amilitary alliance. We
are worried not about democracy onour borders, but about military
infrastructure coming ever closer toour borders 10
This kind of approach is part of how the Russian Federation acts
against the West and against NATO, generally, while sending of such
messages aimed at distracting public opinion from the real purpose
for which the Alliance was created, classifying it a threat with the
goal to help winning the war against the Euro-Atlantic structure,
but not through a classic confrontation, but by using propaganda
and the techniques of denigration / misinformation. As a country
located at the Euro-Atlantic space border, Romania inevitable part of
this confrontation, even if is not always a direct target of the Russian
10
e spune Vladimir Putin despre scutul antirachet din Romania. Suntem ngrijorai
C
de apropierea NATO de graniele noastre / What Vladimir Putin says about the
missile shield in Romania. We are concerned about the proximity of NATO at our
borders PROTV, 22 October 2015, https://www.google.ro/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esr
c=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwifqJD68PTLAhUnYpoKHVfBAvAQFggbMA
A&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstirileprotv.ro%2Fstiri%2Finternational%2Fputin-bazele-
antibalistice-din-estul-europei-pot-gazdui-sisteme-militare-ofensive-liderul-rus-
se-declara-ingrijorat.html&usg=AFQjCNFBta6dqZ3CLzZMP_Fal4s5IF8wqQ&sig2=-
OoMZFXIrMKcwDzoQurT8g&cad=rjt.
rhetoric, especially due to the fact that, as stated by Vladimir Putin,

expanding the US missile defence system represents a threat to the
Russian nuclear capabilities, following the fact that the antimissile
bases in Eastern Europe can also accommodate offensive military
systems.11
Considering the aggressive attitude of Russia in Eastern
Europe, NATOs presence on the European continent implies actions
which include, inter alia, the supplementation of the Alliance forces
in the region, so the decision to increase the military presence of
NATO in Eastern Europe, brought again in Moscows attention, our
countrys position. In this context, the Russian Foreign Ministrys
approach is clear: Bucharest sacrifices the regional stability because
NATOs plans to deploy military forces in Romania are inadequate
and conf licting, according to Aleksandr Lukashevich, the Russian
Foreign Ministry spokesman. Such a situation puts Romania at the
forefront of the informational warfare carried out by Russia, as a
result of its position besides our countrys status in the region.
Basically, it is about a gradual transformation of this country into
a support column for the US and NATO adjacent to the borders of
Russia. We have repeatedly commented the measures taken by the
NATO member states, observing the confrontational attitude and
highlighting the inadequate and redundant character, both militarily
and financially, declared Lukashevich for the sputnik news agency,
statements appeared also in the Romanian media, including on the
PROTV site, Kremlin representative statements being subject of an
article. 12
The use of such messages on the subject of Romania and its
foreign policy options indicates the Russian Federations intention
11
Ibidem.
12
Rusia condamn suplimentarea forelor NATO n Romnia: Bucuretiul sacrific
stabilitatea regional. Reacia Alianei / Russia condemns the supplementation of NATO
forces in Romania: Bucharest sacrifices regional stability. The Alliances reaction, PROTV,
8 April 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/rusia-condamna-suplimentarea-
fortelor-nato-in-romania-bucurestiul-sacrifica-stabilitatea-regionala.html.
to blame the Romanian state for the less positive developments in

the region, a tactic that aims to increase the pressure both at the
level of the political class and at the population level regarding the
regime in Bucharests less rational way of acting in a situation where
is obvious that Russia does not represents a threat for Romania or
other country. So the hypothesis of the purely defensive character
of these manoeuvres and the so-called threat coming from the East
are not valid, said the Russian official. Victor Pontas position, the
Prime Minister of Romania, who pointed out that Romania is a
NATO member and its decisions are considered appropriate, Russias
actions in the region are considered aggressive while the Russian
diplomacy rhetoric does not represent an element of fear, is part of
the more or less direct Romanian states answer at the informational
warfare conducted by Russia against Romania. 13
Romania the direct target of the Russian threats

Regarding Moscows direct threats against the Romanian
state, they can be found in a relatively large number of articles on
the PROTV website and a smaller proportion on the Antena1 site,
where the subject is treated in two articles. The use of the messages
that represent a direct threat against the Romanian state is part of
the same strategy of Moscow to put Romania under pressure for the
decisions it took / will take in the future, no occasion to highlight
the fact that the foreign policy of the Romanian state is at odds with
the one of Moscows being missed.
According to an article appeared in the press in Germany,
Romania was, as Petro Poroenko mentioned, on the list of the
countries that could be attacked by Russia, a threat about which the
Ukrainian leader informed the European Commission President
Jose Manuel Barroso. If I want the Russian troops could reach in
two days not only in Kyiv but also in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw
or Bucharest, would have told Putin to Poroshenko, according
13
Ibidem.
to German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitun quoting a European Union

document. The German newspaper did not specify the date when
such a statement was made, so it is difficult to estimate the exact time,
a fact that does not reduce its impact if it was really made. The article
which indicated the existence of such a discussion presents also the
reaction of Putins spokesman, who stated: I do not comment about
signs of mass psychosis being also indicated the Brussels refuse to
comment on the information. 14
Also, as stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman in the
same context in which Kremlin accused NATO of supplementing
the military forces in Eastern Europe, Romania must be aware of the
responsibility and the consequences of supplementing NATOs
effectives on its territory, classifying as dangerous the Alliances
actions due to the fact that strengthening NATO forces in Eastern
Europe is an unprecedented step which violates all the existing
agreements. 15
Also in response to the announcement regarding the
establishment of NATOs command and control centres in Romania,
Moscow, as part of the actions that support the information
war unleashed against the Romanian state, announced the use
of an adequate response, in the military field, according to
Russian representative to NATO, who declared in the context of
the announcement made by the Alliance (the creation of six new
command and control centres Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Poland, Romania) that the serious changes in the political and
military situation along the Russian border will lead naturally to
14
resa germana: Putin ar fi amenintat ca poate trimite trupe in ROMANIA: Daca vreau,
P
pot sa ajunga in doua zile / German press: Putin had threatened he can send troops
in ROMANIA: If I want I can reach in two days, PROTV, 18 September 2014, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/putin-ar-fi-amenintat-ca-trimite-trupe-in-romania-
daca-vreau-pot-sa-ajunga-in-doua-zile.html.
15
Ibidem.
changes in Russias military plans, in order to guarantee the security

of the country. 16
Threats that target the Romanian state are found also in
the discussions related to Vladimir Putins approval of the plan to
build a military air base in Belarus, in response to how NATO acts
in the region. Thus, based on the threat that Russia claims it feels,
the Romanian state is mentioned as a target in the title of an article
appeared on the PROTV website, at the base to be built in the centre
of the country mentioned above, near Babruisk, a squadron of Su-27
SM3 aircraft will be stationed, whose range without refuelling is of
1,500 kilometres which means that they can reach targets in all
countries where NATO commanders have been installed, inclusive
from Romania and Bulgaria. 17 The nomination of the Romanian
state in this regard was made in October 2014 by the Russian Air
Force Commander and completes the list of the statements made by
some Russian officials who indicates that Romania is in danger of
facing a limit situation as a result of Russias actions.
Another article appeared in the Romanian press, namely
on the PROTV site, regarding Russias position concerning the
regional developments is the one that mentions about Moscows
warning and the prioritization of the targets the countries hosting
the anti-missile systems, Romania being directly targeted by
such a position in Kremlin. The article begins with the Alliances
reaction which strongly indicates that NATOs actions are directly
related to the outcome of those undertaken by Russia in the region.
16
eacia Rusiei, dup ce NATO a anunat c va nfiina centre de comand i control n
R
Romnia. Vom oferi un rspuns adecvat / Russias reaction after NATO announced it
will establish command and control centers in Romania. We will provide an adequate
response, PROTV, 6 February 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/reactia-
rusiei-dupa-ce-nato-a-anuntat-ca-va-infiinta-centre-de-comanda-si-control-in-
romania-vom-oferi-un-raspuns-adecvat.html.
17
Vladimir Putin a aprobat planul pentru construirea unei baze ruseti n Belarus. Romnia,
printre rile ameninate Vladimir Putin approved the plan to build a Russian bases
in Belarus. Romania among the countries threatened, PROTV, 20 September 2015,
http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/vladimir-putin-a-aprobat-planul-pentru-
construirea-unei-baze-rusesti-in-belarus-romania-printre-tarile-amenintate.html.
Simultaneously, the Alliance insists that the military installations

in Romania and Bulgaria will not have the technical capability
to shoot down Russian intercontinental missiles, something that
Moscow doesnt understand it in the same manner, and this is seen
in the way the regime in Kremlin perceives the situation. The article
presents Valery Gerasimovs position regarding the fact that non-
nuclear powers that will host the anti-missile elements became key
objectives of Russias military response, because systems like those
installed in Romania poses a threat to Russia. 18 The article offers
a right of reply for the Romanian state in the sense that it presents
the Prime Minister Victor Pontas point of view mentioning that
Romania rejects the threats and criticisms of the Russian officials,
which doesnt intimidate the regime in Bucharest and doesnt change
Romanias strategy. 19
Russias informational warfare against the Romanian state
passed to another level when Russian officials began using the
nuclear component of a possible attack of Moscow against our
country. Such a statement is transposed in an article published
on the PROTV website which mentions that Romania will
automatically become the target of the Russian nuclear missiles,
as a consequence of hosting on its territory the anti-missile shield
at Deveselu. This was a message that was meant to have a strong
impact on the population of Romania, given the fact that it brings
into question the nuclear component. Also the site that posted the
news is helping (most likely) involuntary Russia by formulating a
title that attracts readers attention, but also by indicating as source
of this statement in the person of Russian Security Council Deputy
Secretary Yevgeny Lukyanov, thus giving weight to this article. In
18
vertismentul Moscovei: Rusia va considera inte prioritare rile care vor gzdui sisteme
A
antirachet. Reacia NATO / Moscows warning: Russia will consider priority targets the
countries which will host the anti-missile systems. NATOs reaction, 17 April 2015, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/amenintarea-rusiei-adresata-inclusiv-romaniei-
tarile-europene-care-vor-gazdui-sisteme-antiracheta-ale-nato-vor-fi-tinte.html.
19
Ibidem.
such a possible war, the countries are caught in the middle in a

conf lict that no one can win, situation explained by the Russian
official through the fact that Americans actions (heavy weapons
in Central and Eastern Europe), is an unhealthy restlessness and
claiming that Russia doesnt represents a threat for the region. 20
The threat to Romania, even of it wasnt directly nominated it
was approached by the Antena 1 website, which published an article
about the fact that non-nuclear countries which have on their territory
or will deploy anti-missile shield elements represent possible targets
of Russias attacks in Russia due to the fact that they are perceived as
a threat by Moscow. The article indicated that NATO will most likely
offer an answer following the fact that Russias previous threats were
followed by a prompt response from NATO21, but it doesnt step into
further details on this subject.
Moscows bellicose rhetoric goes even further the statements
already made by officials from Kremlin with Putins intervention
who affirming that the US antimissile system in Europe is a threat
for the Russian Federation and invoking the disappearance of the
Iranian threat, the one that would be at the basis of the decision to
install the defence system in Europe, intimate that Moscow doesnt
exclude an action: 50 years ago I learned something in the streets
of St. Petersburg... If the fight is inevitable, you must strike first. 22
20
ficial rus: Romnia va deveni automat inta pentru rachete NUCLEARE. Armele de
O
care scutul american nu ne poate apra / Russian official: Romania will automatically
become the target for the nuclear missiles. The weapons the US sheld can not defends
us from, PROTV, 24 June 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/oficial-rus-
romania-va-deveni-automat-tinta-pentru-rachete-nucleare-armele-de-care-scutul-
american-nu-ne-poate-apara.html.
21
Rusia amenin Romnia cu atacul / Russia threatens to attack Romania, antena1,
16 April 2015, http://observator.a1.ro/extern/rusia-amenina-romania-cu-
atacul-150288.html.
22
Putin: Dac lupta este inevitabil, trebuie s loveti primul. Ce spune liderul de la
Kremlin despre scutul anti-rachet / Putin: If the fight is inevitable, you must strike
first. What the Kremlins leader says about the missile shield, PROTV, 23 October 2015,
http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/putin-daca-lupta-este-inevitabila-trebuie-
sa-lovesti-primul-declaratia-controversata-a-liderului-rus-despre-nato.html.
The idea regarding the strengthening of the Russian strategic

forces, invoked by Putin, as a response to the antimissile shield,
is on the same list of topics of official propaganda against the
Romanian state, with the aim to produce a high level of concern
among the population and thus putting pressure on the authorities
in Bucharest. Speaking about the countermeasures announced by
Vladimir Putin as a result of the US and Romania refusal regarding
the cease of the initiatives linked to the antimissile defence system,
the article which tackles this subject presents also the position of
the US Ambassador to Romania, Hans Klemm, who guarantee that
Washingtons efforts in the antimissile defence field are not intended
to affect the strategic balance with Russia. 23
The threat to Romania, as part of the informational
warfare against it, is tackled also in an article published on the
Antena1website, news that mentions Vladimir Putins statement on
reinforcing strategic nuclear as a response to the US defence systems
installed in Eastern Europe, this article including the indication
that ]n the last three years, the Russian military companies have
developed and successfully tested several advanced systems capable
to fulfil tasks in an evolved antiballistic environment. The Russian
military forces began to receive this system from this year, an
assertion of Vladimir Putin for Sputnik news agency. The article
also includes the Russian leader explanation regarding Washingtons
pretext for installing these systems (Iran and North Korea), pretexts
that would hide its true intentions. 24 Such statements are specific
23
utin, mesaj care vizeaz i Romnia. Rusia i va ntri forele strategice nucleare,
P
ca rspuns la scutul antirachet / Putin, message targeting Romania. Russia will
strengthen its strategic nuclear forces in response to the missile shield, PROTV, 11
November 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/putin-mesaj-care-vizeaza-
si-romania-rusia-isi-va-intari-fortele-strategice-nucleare-ca-raspuns-la-scutul-
antiracheta.html.
24
Alert fr precedent. Rusia are armament care poate distruge orice instalaie
antibalistic! / Warning without precedent. Russia has weapons that can destroy
any antimissile system!, antena1, 11 November 2015, http://a1.ro/news/extern/
alerta-fara-precedent-rusia-are-armament-care-poate-distruge-orice-instalatie-
antibalistica-id419064.html.
for the Russian Federation, which escapes no opportunity to find

culprits for the regional developments, this strategy being meant to
draw out Moscows actions from the responsibility of Russia and put
them at the expense of other countries.
Neither the antimissile shield capability is ignored by the
Russian officials, who sent to the US allies a warning. More
specifically, Romania, as the recipient of this message, is warned it
cannot resist in the situation of an attack, as considers the commander
of the Strategic Missile Forces, Colonel-General Sergei Karakayev.
The Russian military official explained his opinion stating that an
expert analyzes show that the missile systems deployed currently
cannot withstand the combined use of strategic missile forces of
Russia. 25 As in the case of the previous official statements, Russian
military position completes the list of more or less direct threats
on the subject of Romania as part of the informational warfare
conducted by Kremlin against the Romanian state and other NATO
countries, in generally the situation indicating Moscows preference
for using strong messages aimed at increasing the pressure on the
political class in Bucharest and the concern at the society level
within the borders of the Romanian state.
The announcement made by Russia in 2016 regarding the
response that Moscow will use as a consequence of NATOs actions
in its geographical proximity, indicates Moscows consistency
regarding the use of such messages, especially as they show
Kremlins inclination towards a hard power type foreign policy.
In an article published on the PROTV website is also mentioned
Romanias request addressed to the Alliance on building a fleet in
the Black Sea, to all this issues Russias envoy to NATO responding
in the specific expression language used by Moscow: NATO has shot
25
eful forelor de rachete ruseti susine c scutul de la Deveselu nu e eficient. Nu poate
rezista / Russian missile forces chief claims that the antimissile shield at Deveselu is not
effective. It cannot resist, 16 December 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/
seful-fortelor-de-rachete-rusesti-sustine-ca-scutul-de-la-deveselu-nu-e-eficient-
znu-poate-rezista.html.
itself in the foot, indicating Brussels need to change its attitude if it

intends to have a dialogue with Russia, dialogue required because of
the perception that NATO is a security threat to the Russian state. 26
The unification of Romania and the Republic of Moldova

Is found in several articles appearing on the PROTV website
during the period covered (November 2013 March 2016), being a
subject that has given Moscow an additional element in conducting
the informational warfare against the Romanian state. For Moscow,
this approach comes with the indication of the less legal way of acting
of the Romanian state, its intention being linked to a rather revisionist
attitude, contrary to international norms currently in force.
Debating this subject should be addressed taking into account
that the Russian Federation does not intend to change the status quo
in the region from this point of view, thus any statements that indicate
Romanias intention to extend its territory to the East therefore comes
in contradiction with Moscows interests in the region. Thus, Russias
options are clear: we welcome the victory of the forces which in the
current Republic of Moldova claim maintaining friendly relations
with Russia. We hope that the politicians who are against losing
sovereignty and against the unification with Romania, who do not
rush to jump into the arms of a political-military bloc and have a
realistic view of the world, will play a greater role in politics in the
Republic of Moldova. That would help at a more active cooperation
with Chisinau. We want to develop relations with the Republic of
Moldova. This statement was made by Russian Deputy Foreign
Minister, Grigory Karasin, in the context of the elections for the post
of governor (Baschkan) of the autonomous region of Gagauzia. 27
26
usia riposteaza dur la ntrirea forelor NATO n Romnia i n rile baltice. V-ai
R
mpucat singuri n picior / Russia fights back hard to the strengthening of NATO forces
in Romania and the Baltics. Have you shot yourself in the foot, 9 February 2016, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rusia-riposteaza-dur-la-intarirea-fortelor-nato-in-
romania-si-tarile-baltice-v-ati-impuscat-singuri-in-picior.html.
27
Un nalt oficial rus a vorbit despre unirea Moldovei cu Romnia. Nu avem n agenda
schimbri de regim, / A senior Russian official spoke about the unification of Moldova
The subject is not approached only by Moscow, an example

being the Executive Committee of the Autonomous Territorial Unit
ofGagauziawhich warned regarding this issue, through the initiative
which, according to local press, the members of the Executive have
proposed to the Peoples Assembly (the Parliament) from Comrat, to
present to the Parliament in Chisinau a legislative initiative to amend
the Criminal Code of the Republic of Moldova which to provide fines
and imprisonment of up to three years for public urges and actions
with unionist character or the spread of materials containing such
exhortations. Also the legislative initiative stated fines for those
who are found responsible for supporting unionist actions and for
statements in the media on this subject considered dangerous, so
that people who say we have to liquidate the Moldavian state and
to annealed it to Romania must stay in jail, Mihal Formuzal, the
Governor ofAutonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. 28
The Russian anti union rhetoric is used also to put the
Romanian officials in a less favorable light, the Russian MFA reacting
to a statement made by Victor Ponta, prime minister at that time,
regarding the future of the Republic of Moldova. As evidenced by
the clear calls made by the candidate in the presidential elections in
Romania towards completion of the second major union up to 2018,
some political circles in Bucharest continue to plan the annexation
of a sovereign neighboring state. Russia considers irresponsible and
unacceptable statements like those made outside, in the context of
the electoral campaign in the Republic of Moldova, stated the MFA
in Moscow.
with Romania. We do not have on the agenda a regime change PROTV, 8 April 2015,
http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/un-inalt-oficial-rus-a-vorbit-despre-unirea-
moldovei-cu-romania-nu-avem-in-agenda-schimbari-de-regim.html.
28
Gguzia propune pedepse cu nchisoarea pentru promovarea unirii R.Moldova cu
Romnia / Gagauzia proposes prison sentences for promoting Moldovas union with
Romania, PROTV, 19 June 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/gagauzia-
propune-pedepse-cu-inchisoarea-pentru-promovarea-unirii-r-moldova-cu-
romania.html.
We expect the authorities in Chisinau to adequately analyze these

statements. We also hope that there will be an adequate response from
Brussels and the capitals of European countries, added the Russian
Foreign Ministry. A response was requested, according to an article
appeared on the PROTV website PROTV, from the EU, the Russian
Foreign Ministry considering irresponsible and unacceptable the
statements of Victor Ponta, the Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta
on whether Moldovas union with Romania, regarding the possible
union between the Republic of Moldova and Romania. 29
Transnistria could not be left out of the informational war
conducted by the Russian Federation against Romania and as it is
known that the existing frozen conflicts in the former Soviet space
are artificially maintained by Moscow to be used as tools to serve
its security interests, the use of Transnistria as a factor of threat
in relation to Romania represents a natural thing, given that we
are talking about Moscow. Thus, the statement made by Dmitry
Rogozin, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, is part of the same
less friendly rhetoric used by Kremlin, saying that if the Republic
of Moldova, with a Constitutional Court where the majority judges
are Romanian citizens, will choose the path to unite with Romania,
Transnistria will not choose the same path and will become a
completely independent state. 30
Transnistrias situation is also used by the Russian media
which supports Moscows informational warfare against Romania,
29
usia: Afirmaiile lui Ponta privind unirea cu Moldova sunt iresponsabile i inacceptabile.
R
Cerem o reacie din partea UE, / Russia: Pontas statements regarding the union with
Moldova are irresponsible and unacceptable. We demand a response from the EU,
PROTV, 16 September 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rusia-afirmatiile-
lui-ponta-privind-unirea-cu-moldova-sunt-iresponsabile-si-inacceptabile-cerem-o-
reactie-din-partea-ue.html.
30
Moscova amenin R. Moldova n privina unirii cu Romnia: Transnistria va deveni
un stat absolut independent/ Moscow threatens the Republic of Moldova regarding
the union with Romania: Transnistria will become a completely independent state,
PROTV, 22 July 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/moscova-ameninta-
r-moldova-in-privinta-unirii-cu-romania-transnistria-va-deveni-un-stat-absolut-
indepedent.html.
as it appears in an article on the PROTV site, indicating that the

official post of the Russian Army, Zvezda TV, talks about a possible
Romanian attack across the Prut River, citing media: attacking
the unrecognized Transnistrian republic is seriously discussed in
Romania, claims Zvezda TV, the official station of the Russian
Army, quoting the political analyst Ernest Vardanian, who made
the statement for the Politnavigator site.
He goes even further with the statements concerning such
intentions of Romania. In the Romanian leadership are two views
on the possibility of intervention in the Republic of Moldova and
Transnistria, says Vardanyan. Prime Minister Ponta is downright
impatient to find a challenge to allow him to send troops in the
Republic of Moldova. President Klaus Johannis is more moderate,
since Angela Merkel personally persuaded him not to do anything
yet. The key word is yet. 31
The issue of Russian-speaking children in the Republic of
Moldova is also treated by Moscow officials in the same way, in the
sense that Romania, even if not accused directly, is associated with
the topic regarding their Romanization, a fact that is signalled by
Kremlin and seen as a threat to its interests. The allegations come
from one of the most vocal critics of Romania Deputy Prime
Minister Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian official drawing the attention
regarding the Romanization of the Russian speakers across the
Prut, as a result of the regime in Chisinau. 32
31
T eleviziunea armatei ruse: Romnia pregtete o ofensiv mpotriva Transnistriei. Care
este riscul unui rzboi / The Russian Army Televsion: Romania is preparing an offensive
against Transnistria. What is the risk of war, PROTV, 3 June 2015, https://www.google.
ro/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwi6p-m8mPXLAh
XlO5oKHS5iDt4QFggeMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstirileprotv.ro%2Fstiri%2Finter
national%2Fteleviziunea-armatei-ruse-romania-pregateste-o-ofensiva-impotriva-
transnistriei-care-este-riscul-unui-razboi.html&usg=AFQjCNGc9gMyZd23pxW61Ln
xukx6iVFdnw&sig2=2fny8PHY4VbqoUxLHxesuw&cad=rjt.
32
Vicepremierul Rogozin: Copii vorbitori de rus din Moldova sunt transformai n
romni/ Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin: Russian-speaking children in Moldova
are converted into Romanians, PROTV, 9 July 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/
But the Russian Federation doesnt limit its actions only to

convey messages regarding the actions the Romanian state would
take in the Republic of Moldova, in order to stir the waters in favour
of Romania and the so-called intention of Bucharest to unite with the
neighbouring state, but it also use direct threats in relation with our
country. Thus, the union of Romania and the Republic of Moldova
would entail, according to Moscow, recognition of Transnistrias
independence. In this case, as Rogozin stated, Romania will be put
in a position to feel Moscows strong arm, expression indicating that
the Russian Federation is far from being willing to let the Republic
of Moldova out of its sphere of influence: regarding the situation in
Transnistria, the Russian official gave assurances that the population
on the left bank of Dniester River will feel Russias strong arm,
and our peacekeeping forces will not leave Transnistriain the
lurch, Novostipmr.ru, the news agency in Tiraspol reported. 33
The denigration of the Romanian officials and of Romania

The foreign policy of the regime in Bucharest (the anti-missile
shield at Deveselu, the US military presence, Romanias alleged
intention to unite with the Republic of Moldova) is not the only one
that fuels the less friendly attitude of Russia in relation to our country,
mocking some officials or insulting others while representing also
ways used by Kremlin to decrease our countrys political profile with
a regional impact, but especially a national one. Thus, Romania, as
if it were under someones command (indicating that the Bucharest
regime is a puppet), is intensifying its anti-Russian rhetoric, an
allegation made by Alexander Lukashevich, the spokesperson of the
Russian MFA. According to him, as if be at command, the Romanian
international/vicepremierul-rogozin-copii-vorbitori-de-rusa-din-moldova-sunt-
transformati-in-romani.html.
33
Vicepremierul rus a vorbit despre posibilitatea unirii Romniei cu Moldova. Vor simti
braul puternic al Rusiei/ Russian Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the possibility of
union of Romania with Moldova. They will feel Russias strong arm, PROTV, 13 July
2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/vicepremierul-rus-a-vorbit-despre-
posibilitatea-unirii-romaniei-cu-moldova-vor-simti-bratul-puternic-al-rusiei.html.
leadership, including the President, is stepping up its anti-Russian

rhetoric. The latest public statements insulting the Russian president
are absolutely outrageous and unacceptable. I think is hard to expect
that bilateral relations to continue to develop in a constructive way,
in the same spirit and the same pace, said the Russian official. 34
The statement was made in a tense climate of bilateral relations
Romania Russia, shortly after a less diplomatic exchange of words
between President Traian Basescu and Deputy Prime Minister
Dmitry Rogozin, regarding the alcohol consumption that would
have stayed at the basis of these statements coming from Rogozin
and at the basis of Basescus courage to make certain affirmations.
The incident that led to an exchange of words less diplomatic was
reported by the PROTV site. The Russian Deputy Prime Minister
Dmitry Rogozin announced that Romania didnt allowed him to
transit its airspace, threatening subsequently that the Romanians
will soon learn who they are and what Russians think about them.
Traian Basescu reacted to Russian official messages.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozins provocative
messages were reported by the PROTV site as they were formulated
by the official. Well, Sirs from Romania, well soon explain it all
to you - who you are and what we think of you, Rogozin warned
in a message posted on a social network. The dissatisfaction of the
Russian official came amid the fact that its aircraft did not receive
f light rights from the Romanian authorities, so Rogozin threatened
that next time will fly over Romania - and Ukraine in a bomber.
In this war of threats triggered by Rogozin, the reaction of
the Romanian officials came with no delay. The Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in Bucharest described as very serious Rogozins statement
regarding the f light in a strategic bomber over Romania and asked
34
AE din Rusia: Ca i cum ar fi la comand, conducerea Romaniei i intensific
M
retorica antiruseasc / Russian MFA: Like being on command, Romanian leadership is
intensifying its anti-Russian rhetoric, PROTV, 16 May 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/
international/mae-din-rusia-ca-si-cum-ar-fi-la-comanda-conducerea-romaniei-isi-
intensifica-retorica-antiruseasca.html.
Moscow to clarify whether it is the official position of Russia. The

article also contains the chronology of events involving the aircraft
of the Russian official and the Rogozins warnings. 35
The statements made by the Romanian leader determined an
even more aggressive rhetoric of the Russian official, which continued
to make insulting affirmations regarding the Romanian head of state.
I wonder how many glasses Basescu himself emptied for courage
before closing Romanian sky for our plane? Russian Deputy Prime
Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in a Twitter post. It was a response to
the comment made by Traian Basescu on the high official statements
from Moscow. Article brings into discussion other less diplomatic
messages exchanged by officials of the two countries. 36
On the same day Russian Deputy Prime Minister attacked
the leadership of the Government, namely Victor Ponta, Dmitry
Rogozin demanding a harsh reaction to a statement made by the
Romanian Prime Minister, who said he may request the interception
of the Russian planes in the airspace of Romania. I do not have
to talk with them after this. Russian Foreign Ministry will prepare
and develop an official response. One is to impose sanctions against
individuals, so that they cannot apply for visas, but to force to land a
plane with members of the Russian government on board, by means
of military aviation, is beyond a joke (...). The reaction must be one
of the toughest, Rogozin said. 37
35
T raian Bsescu, despre vicepremierul rus Rogozin: Trebuie aflat ct vodca a consumat
nainte s fac aceste declaraii / Traian Basescu about Russian Deputy Prime
Minister Rogozin: We must find out how much vodka he consumed before making
such statements, PROTV, 11 May 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/
vicepremierul-rusiei-dmitri-rogozin-avertizeaza-republica-moldova-transnistria-se-
afla-sub-patronajul-rusiei.html
36
Rspunsul lui Rogozin pentru Bsescu. Preedintele Romniei, acuzat c bea ca s
prind curaj / Rogozins answer to Basescu. Romanian President accused of drink to take
courage, PROTV, 12 mai 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/raspunsul-lui-
rogozin-pentru-basescu-presedintele-romaniei-acuzat-ca-bea-ca-sa-si-faca-curaj.
html.
37
Vocea Rusiei: Rogozin vrea o reacie dur la declaraiile lui Ponta. Premierul romn a
cerut interceptarea avioanelor ruseti / Voice of Russia: Rogozin wants a sharp reaction
for Pontas statements. Romanian Prime Minister requested the interception of Russian
The offending statements against Romania were followed

a few days later by the position expressed by Dmitri Rogozin, the
same character through its allegations supports Russias information
war against Romania. Thus, Rogozin pushed things further and
declared: I propose to Mr. Basescu and Mr. Ponta to celebrate on
August 31, 70 years since this city was liberated from the Romanian
fascists. Rogozin refers to an article which critics the Russophobe
and belligerent attitude of Romania, article published on the www.
inosmi.ru website, affiliated to the official agency RIA Novosti. The
article was originally published on the Terra.md website and claims
that Romanian politicians brought the country to the brink of a mass
psychosis to divert the attention from economic problems and in the
context that the population doesnt believe in the bright European
future of the country.38
At the same time, the emergence of the list containing the
names of 80 people, of which 5 Romanian citizens who have fallen
into Moscows disfavor, so they became subject of an entry ban on
Russian territory, completes the topics that indicate how Moscow is
positioned in relation with Romania. A response to some European
countries who ask to explain why these names were put on the
list of persons to whom was forbidden to enter to Russia is quite
simple this was done as a response to a campaign of sanctions
imposed on Russia by some countries in the European Union led
by Germany, declared a Russian official at the time, commenting
on media reports according to which the European capitals have
demanded explanations from Moscow regarding the personalities
planes, PROTV, 14 May 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/romania-ii-
raspunde-rusiei-rogozin-sa-stie-ca-suntem-o-natiune-care-a-trait-intre-3-imperii-
si-suntem-tot-aici.html.
38
Rogozin propune ca Romnia s srbatoreasc eliberarea de fascism pe 31 august,
odat cu intrarea sovieticilor n Capital / Rogozin proposes that Romania to celebrate
the liberation from fascism on August 31, with the entry of the Soviets in the Capital,
PROTV, 19 May 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rogozin-propune-ca-
romania-sa-sarbatoreasca-eliberarea-de-fascism-pe-31-august-odata-cu-intrarea-
sovieticilor-in-capitala.html.
blacklisted. The article doesnt include the official position of the

regime in Bucharest. 39
Another element related to Moscows intentions to put
Romania in a bad light as part of its informational warfare against
our country is related to the insinuation of the Russian diplomacy
that Romania would promote Nazism, one of the usual accusations
used by the Russians against the opponents of Kremlin policy. Such
an idea is explained by Moscow by the fact that Romanias alliance
with the Nazi Germany (during the Second World War), should be
a matter that the Romanian state should remember, especially the
leader in Bucharest, Klaus Johannis.
In this context, according to the spokeswoman of the Russian
Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, Russia would be concerned
with the Romanian states attempts to rewrite / retouch the history
of the Second World War, indicated in this respect being the anti-
Russian rhetoric that the Romanian state would promote.
In the opening ceremony at the exhibition said not a word to
condemn the Holocaust or commiserate with the fate of Romanian
Jews. The historical truth about how the Romanian administration
in postwar Romania compiled lists of potential German exiles has
been condemned to oblivion.
In this way, said Zaharova, Bucharest ensured reducing the
weight of the German and Hungarian (Szekely) communities
in Transylvania in favour of the Romanian population. Who
should know his countrys recent history better than its current
president, Klaus Iohannis, an ethnic German? asked rhetorically
Maria Zakharova, according to the website of the Russian Foreign
Ministry. Finally, she added that these days when the capitulation of
39
Este un show politic. Reacia Rusiei cu privire la lista celor 80 de persoane interzise,
printre care se afl i 5 romni / Its a political show. Russias reaction on the prohibited
list of 80 people, among whom are 5 Romanians, PROTV, 31 May 2015, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/zeste-un-show-politic-reactia-rusiei-cu-privire-la-
lista-celor-80-de-persoane-intezise-printre-care-se-afla-si-5-romani.html.
the Nazis at Stalingrad is marked, Russia has not forgotten on whose

side the Romanian Army fought those days. 40
Impact on the society in Romania

How the Russian Federation positions itself towards the
Romanian state, both in direct relationship with the Bucharest
regime and indirectly, as a result of the membership of Romania
to the Euro-Atlantic structures, as shown in news published on the
PROTV website, drew pro and against reactions from the various
international actors, states and non-states (Russia, Romania, US,
NATO), in some cases triggering a conflict of opinions on the topics.
Thus, in the case of all topics identified and described above, the
news readers published on this site reacted according to their own
choices, emphasizing broadly two categories of comments: the pro-
West ones, which lists favorable comments regarding Romania, the
US and / or NATO and thus anti-Russian Federation, and the pro-
Russia ones, which automatically position themselves into the anti-
Western comments category.
Mostly, the news topics are those that trigger the readers
reactions, but there are situations where they engage in an exchange
of opinions with other readers which post comments, and thus
triggered a war of replicas in which the most virulent readers
express their opinions. In many situations people can be identified
using the same type of message which indicates a sustained action of
their activity which involves posting comments on the stories related
to the Russian Federation, Romania, the US, NATO, messages that
can be classified in both categories, including mutual accusations of
using on demand a type of message, the biggest number of comments
being found at the articles related directly to Romania, with its
40
inisterul de externe rus ne aduce aminte c am fost aliai cu Hitler. Germanul Klaus
M
Iohannis ar trebui s tie asta / Russian Foreign Ministry reminds us that we were
allied with Hitler. The German Klaus Johannis should know this, PROTV, 5 February
2016, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/ministerul-de-externe-rus-ne-aduce-
aminte-ca-am-fost-aliati-cu-hitler-germanul-klaus-iohannis-ar-trebui-sa-stie-asta.
html.
political class and security situation. In such a context, although

most of the comments are against Moscows actions / positions /
statements, indicating a lower penetration of the messages coming
from Kremlin, the public opinion in Romania showing some
resistance to the Russian propaganda and intoxication, the fact that
Moscows decisions and declarations find their supporters but also
objectors, indicates, at least, one effect of Kremlins actions of the
Kremlin, that of reaching the messages at the recipients.
Instead of conclusions
The way of acting in the region has brought the Russian
Federation to the fore, especially because, after the Vilnius moment
(November 2013), the developments offered sufficient opportunities
for Moscow to behave according to its interests, even if this involves
the international norms violation. And the illegal annexation of the
Crimean Peninsula represents an example in this respect, while the
international community pressure determined Moscow to (re) act to
defend itself. And how else if not by attacking those who reported
Kremlins aggression over Ukraine, but no by specific means used
in the territory of the neighboring country, but by supporting an
informational warfare meant to affect those countries through non-
military means, but efficient ones. Romania, as can be inferred
from the news published in local media, is one of the targets of the
informational warfare initiated by Russia, the messages conveyed
through official channels from Moscow being more than conclusive
in this regard. Thus, knowing very well the non-military techniques
used in a type of asymmetrical warfare, such as the informational
one, the Russian Federation has used every opportunity since the
crisis in Ukraine, so the Romanian state was denigrated and accused
by the Russian authorities to be responsible for destabilizing the
region, affecting the interests of the Russian Federation (by accepting
the antimissile shield on its territory, the American soldiers etc.), to
have a regime requested by others to use the anti-Russian rhetoric in
relation with Moscow etc. Also, Kremlins direct and indirect threats
are part of the Russias informational warfare against Romania, the

last period being marked by such bellicose initiatives of Moscow,
which in its anti-Romania, anti-US and anti-NATO rhetoric, pushed
the threats beyond the demarcation line which assumes a low
concern, by conveying the subject of the possible nuclear attacks it
could conduct, Romania being one of the targets.
Neither the less diplomatic attitude towards the leadership in
Bucharest indicates another intention of Kremlin besides the one
to put Romania in an unfavorable light, as part of its informational
warfare, given that the Bucharest authorities are improperly
treated, they are threatened not to insist in further damaging the
bilateral relations and are considered less bold, statements aimed at
denigrating the Romanian leadership.
Thus, the messages sent by the Russian officials, as well as
how they manage their relations with Bucharest indicates Moscows
intention to produce negative effects both at the political class and
the population level, one of the targets of the Russians actions, its
intoxication with messages more or less real, but always packed and
served in a version which leaves at sight Kremlins appetite for the
hard power component, being considered probably the best option of
war against incommode countries, as the case of Romania.
References
- Hedley Bull, The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in
World Politics, tiina Publishing House, Chisinau, 1998;
- Teodor Frunzeti, Mircea Murean, Gheorghe Vduva, Rzboi
i haos, Army Technical-Editorial Center, Bucharest, 2009;
-
Alexander Svitych, Information Wars in the Post-
Modern World, ISIS Europe blog, Issues of International and
European Security, https://isiseurope.wordpress.com/2014/04/10/
information-wars-in-the-post-modern-world/;
- Criza din Ucraina. Rusia a cerut Romniei s o lase mai

uor cu retorica anti-rus. Rspunsul oferit de Bucureti / The crisis
in Ukraine. Russia asked Romania to take it easier with the anti-
Russian rhetoric. Bucharests answer, ProTV, 5 April 2014, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/criza-din-ucraina-rusia-a-cerut-
romaniei-sa-o-lase-mai-usor-cu-retorica-antirusa-raspunsul-oferit-
de-bucuresti.html;
- Lider rus: Romania poate profita de instabilitatea din Ucraina
pentru a anexa teritorii care i-au apartinut / Russian leader: Romania
can take advantage of instability in Ukraine to annex territories which
belonged to it ProTV, 17 November 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/
international/lider-rus-romania-poate-profita-de-instabilitatea-
din-ucraina-pentru-a-anexa-teritorii-care-i-au-apartinut.html;
- Presa germana: Putin ar fi amenintat ca poate trimite trupe
in ROMANIA: Daca vreau, pot sa ajunga in doua zile / German
press: Putin had threatened he can send troops in ROMANIA: If I
want I can reach in two days, PROTV, 18 September 2014, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/putin-ar-fi-amenintat-ca-trimite-
trupe-in-romania-daca-vreau-pot-sa-ajunga-in-doua-zile.html;
- Comentariul agentiei pro-Kremlin Sputnik News: Acum
toate privirile se ndreapt ctre Romnia. Scenariul descris de rui
/ The Comment of the Pro-Kremlin Sputnik News Agency: Now all
eyes are turning to Romania. The scenario described by the Russians,
PROTV, 17 April 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/
comentariu l-agentiei-pro-k remlin-sputnik-news-acum-toate-
privirile-se-indreapta-catre-romania-scenariul-descris-de-rusi.
html;
- Rusia promite c va lua msuri fa de amplasarea scutului
american antiracheta n Romania/ Russia vows to take action
against placing the US missile defense shield in Romania, PROTV,
14 November 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rusia-
promite-ca-va-lua-masuri-dupa-ce-armata-americana-a-preluat-
comanda-asupra-unei-baze-militare-din-romania.html;
- Rusia consider scutul de la Deveselu o nclcare a
tratatelor. Acuzaii dure ale Moscovei privind baza din Romania /
Russia considers the shield at Deveselu a violation of the treaties.
Moscows harsh accusations against the basis in Romania, PROTV
2 March 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rusia-
considera-scutul-de-la-deveselu-o-incalcare-a-tratatelor-acuzatii-
dure-ale-moscovei-privind-baza-din-romania.html;
- Rusia acuz: Desfurarea sistemului antirachet n Romania,
o nclcare a Tratatului privind rachetele cu raz mic i medie / Russia
accuses: The deployment of the missile defense system in Romania, a
violation of the Treaty on low and medium range missiles, PROTV,
24 December 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rusia-
acuza-desfasurarea-sistemului-antiracheta-in-romania-o-incalcare-
a-tratatului-privind-rachetele-cu-raza-mica-si-medie.html;
- Ce spune Vladimir Putin despre scutul antirachet din
Romania. Suntem ngrijorai de apropierea NATO de graniele
noastre / What Vladimir Putin says about the missile shield in
Romania. We are concerned about the proximity of NATO at our
borders PROTV, 22 October 2015, https://www.google.ro/url?sa=
t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwifqJD68P
TLAhUnYpoKHVf BAvAQFggbMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstiril
eprotv.ro%2Fstiri%2Finternational%2Fputin-bazele-antibalistice-
din-estul-europei-pot-gazdui-sisteme-militare-ofensive-liderul-
rus-se-declara-ingrijorat.html&usg=AFQjCNFBta6dqZ3CLzZMP_
Fal4s5IF8wqQ&sig2=-OoMZFXIrMKcwDzoQurT8g&cad=rjt;
- Rusia condamn suplimentarea forelor NATO n Romnia:
Bucuretiul sacrific stabilitatea regional. Reacia Alianei / Russia
condemns the supplementation of NATO forces in Romania: Bucharest
sacrifices regional stability. The Alliances reaction, PROTV, 8
April 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/rusia-condamna-
suplimentarea-fortelor-nato-in-romania-bucurestiul-sacrifica-
stabilitatea-regionala.html;
- Reacia Rusiei, dup ce NATO a anunat c va nfiina centre
de comand i control n Romnia. Vom oferi un rspuns adecvat
/ Russias reaction after NATO announced it will establish command
and control centers in Romania. We will provide an adequate
response, PROTV, 6 February 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/
international/reactia-rusiei-dupa-ce-nato-a-anuntat-ca-va-infiinta-
centre-de-comanda-si-control-in-romania-vom-oferi-un-raspuns-
adecvat.html;
- Vladimir Putin a aprobat planul pentru construirea unei
baze ruseti n Belarus. Romnia, printre rile ameninate Vladimir
Putin approved the plan to build a Russian bases in Belarus. Romania
among the countries threatened, PROTV, 20 September 2015, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/vladimir-putin-a-aprobat-planul-
pentru-construirea-unei-baze-rusesti-in-belarus-romania-printre-
tarile-amenintate.html;
- Avertismentul Moscovei: Rusia va considera inte prioritare
rile care vor gzdui sisteme antirachet. Reacia NATO / Moscows
warning: Russia will consider priority targets the countries which will
host the anti-missile systems. NATOs reaction, 17 April 2015, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/amenintarea-rusiei-adresata-
i nclusiv-roma niei-ta r i le-eu ropene-ca re-vor-ga zdu i-sisteme-
antiracheta-ale-nato-vor-fi-tinte.html;
- Oficial rus: Romnia va deveni automat inta pentru rachete
NUCLEARE. Armele de care scutul american nu ne poate apra /
Russian official: Romania will automatically become the target for
the nuclear missiles. The weapons the US sheld can not defends us
from, PROTV, 24 June 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/
of icia l-rus-romania-va-deveni-automat-tinta-pentru-rachete-
nucleare-armele-de-care-scutul-american-nu-ne-poate-apara.html;
- Rusia amenin Romnia cu atacul / Russia threatens to

attack Romania, antena1, 16 April 2015, http://observator.a1.ro/
extern/rusia-amenina-romania-cu-atacul-150288.html;
- Putin: Dac lupta este inevitabil, trebuie s loveti primul.
Ce spune liderul de la Kremlin despre scutul anti-rachet / Putin:
If the fight is inevitable, you must strike first. What the Kremlins
leader says about the missile shield, PROTV, 23 October 2015, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/putin-daca-lupta-este-inevitabila-
trebuie-sa-lovesti-primul-declaratia-controversata-a-liderului-rus-
despre-nato.html;
- Putin, mesaj care vizeaz i Romnia. Rusia i va ntri
forele strategice nucleare, ca rspuns la scutul antirachet / Putin,
message targeting Romania. Russia will strengthen its strategic
nuclear forces in response to the missile shield, PROTV, 11 November
2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/putin-mesaj-care-
vizeaza-si-romania-rusia-isi-va-intari-fortele-strategice-nucleare-
ca-raspuns-la-scutul-antiracheta.html;
- Alert fr precedent. Rusia are armament care poate
distruge orice instalaie antibalistic! / Warning without precedent.
Russia has weapons that can destroy any antimissile system!, antena1,
11 November 2015, http://a1.ro/news/extern/alerta-fara-precedent-
r u si a- a re - a r m a me nt- c a re -p o at e - d i s t r u ge - or ic e -i n s t a l at ie -
antibalistica-id419064.html;
- eful forelor de rachete ruseti susine c scutul de la Deveselu
nu e eficient. Nu poate rezista / Russian missile forces chief claims
that the antimissile shield at Deveselu is not effective. It cannot
resist, 16 December 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/
seful-fortelor-de-rachete-rusesti-sustine-ca-scutul-de-la-deveselu-
nu-e-eficient-znu-poate-rezista.html;
- Rusia riposteaza dur la ntrirea forelor NATO n Romnia
i n rile baltice. V-ai mpucat singuri n picior / Russia fights
back hard to the strengthening of NATO forces in Romania and the
Baltics. Have you shot yourself in the foot, 9 February 2016, http://
stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/rusia-riposteaza-dur-la-intarirea-
fortelor-nato-in-romania-si-tarile-baltice-v-ati-impuscat-singuri-
in-picior.html;
- Un nalt oficial rus a vorbit despre unirea Moldovei cu
Romnia. Nu avem n agenda schimbri de regim, / A senior Russian
official spoke about the unification of Moldova with Romania. We
do not have on the agenda a regime change PROTV, 8 April 2015,
http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/un-inalt-oficial-rus-a-
vorbit-despre-unirea-moldovei-cu-romania-nu-avem-in-agenda-
schimbari-de-regim.html;
- Gguzia propune pedepse cu nchisoarea pentru promovarea
unirii R.Moldova cu Romnia / Gagauzia proposes prison sentences
for promoting Moldovas union with Romania, PROTV, 19 June 2014,
http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/gagauzia-propune-pedepse-
cu-inchisoarea-pentru-promovarea-unirii-r-moldova-cu-romania.
html;
- Rusia: Afirmaiile lui Ponta privind unirea cu Moldova
sunt iresponsabile i inacceptabile. Cerem o reacie din partea UE,
/ Russia: Pontas statements regarding the union with Moldova are
irresponsible and unacceptable. We demand a response from the EU,
PROTV, 16 September 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/
rusia-af irmatii le-lui-ponta-priv ind-unirea-cu-moldova-sunt-
iresponsabile-si-inacceptabile-cerem-o-reactie-din-partea-ue.html;
- Moscova amenin R. Moldova n privina unirii cu Romnia:
Transnistria va deveni un stat absolut independent/ Moscow
threatens the Republic of Moldova regarding the union with Romania:
Transnistria will become a completely independent state, PROTV,
22 July 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/moscova-
ameninta-r-moldova-in-privinta-unirii-cu-romania-transnistria-
va-deveni-un-stat-absolut-indepedent.html;
- Televiziunea armatei ruse: Romnia pregtete o ofensiv

mpotriva Transnistriei. Care este riscul unui rzboi / The Russian
Army Televsion: Romania is preparing an offensive against
Transnistria. What is the risk of war, PROTV, 3 June 2015, https://
www.google.ro/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&v
ed=0ahUKEwi6p-m8mPXLAhXlO5oKHS5iDt4QFggeMAA&url=
http%3A%2F%2Fstirileprotv.ro%2Fstiri%2Finternational%2Ftele
viziunea-armatei-ruse-romania-pregateste-o-ofensiva-impotriva-
transnistriei-care-este-riscul-unui-razboi.html&usg=AFQjCNGc9g
MyZd23pxW61Lnxukx6iVFdnw&sig2=2fny8PHY4VbqoUxLHxesu
w&cad=rjt;
-
Vicepremierul Rogozin: Copii vorbitori de rus din
Moldova sunt transformai n romni/ Deputy Prime Minister
Rogozin: Russian-speaking children in Moldova are converted
into Romanians, PROTV, 9 July 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/
international/vicepremierul-rogozin-copii-vorbitori-de-rusa-din-
moldova-sunt-transformati-in-romani.html;
- Vicepremierul rus a vorbit despre posibilitatea unirii Romniei
cu Moldova. Vor simti braul puternic al Rusiei/ Russian Deputy
Prime Minister spoke about the possibility of union of Romania with
Moldova. They will feel Russias strong arm, PROTV, 13 July 2015,
http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/vicepremierul-rus-a-vorbit-
despre-posibilitatea-unirii-romaniei-cu-moldova-vor-simti-bratul-
puternic-al-rusiei.html;
- MAE din Rusia: Ca i cum ar fi la comand, conducerea
Romaniei i intensific retorica antiruseasc / Russian MFA: Like
being on command, Romanian leadership is intensifying its anti-
Russian rhetoric, PROTV, 16 May 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/
stiri/international/mae-din-rusia-ca-si-cum-ar-fi-la-comanda-
conducerea-romaniei-isi-intensifica-retorica-antiruseasca.html;
- Traian Bsescu, despre vicepremierul rus Rogozin: Trebuie
aflat ct vodca a consumat nainte s fac aceste declaraii / Traian
Basescu about Russian Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin: We must find

out how much vodka he consumed before making such statements,
PROTV, 11 May 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/
v iceprem ier u l-r usiei-d m it r i-rogozi n-aver t i z ea z a-republ ic a-
moldova-transnistria-se-afla-sub-patronajul-rusiei.html;
- Rspunsul lui Rogozin pentru Bsescu. Preedintele Romniei,
acuzat c bea ca s prind curaj / Rogozins answer to Basescu.
Romanian President accused of drink to take courage, PROTV, 12
mai 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/raspunsul-lui-
rogozin-pentru-basescu-presedintele-romaniei-acuzat-ca-bea-ca-
sa-si-faca-curaj.html;
- Vocea Rusiei: Rogozin vrea o reacie dur la declaraiile lui
Ponta. Premierul romn a cerut interceptarea avioanelor ruseti /
Voice of Russia: Rogozin wants a sharp reaction for Pontas statements.
Romanian Prime Minister requested the interception of Russian
planes, PROTV, 14 May 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/
romania-ii-raspunde-rusiei-rogozin-sa-stie-ca-suntem-o-natiune-
care-a-trait-intre-3-imperii-si-suntem-tot-aici.html;
- Rogozin propune ca Romnia s srbatoreasc eliberarea
de fascism pe 31 august, odat cu intrarea sovieticilor n Capital
/ Rogozin proposes that Romania to celebrate the liberation from
fascism on August 31, with the entry of the Soviets in the Capital,
PROTV, 19 May 2014, http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/
rogozin-propune-ca-romania-sa-sarbatoreasca-eliberarea-de-
fascism-pe-31-august-odata-cu-intrarea-sovieticilor-in-capitala.
html;
- Este un show politic. Reacia Rusiei cu privire la lista celor 80
de persoane interzise, printre care se afl i 5 romni / Its a political
show. Russias reaction on the prohibited list of 80 people, among
whom are 5 Romanians, PROTV, 31 May 2015, http://stirileprotv.ro/
stiri/international/zeste-un-show-politic-reactia-rusiei-cu-privire-
la-lista-celor-80-de-persoane-intezise-printre-care-se-af la-si-5-
romani.html;
- Ministerul de externe rus ne aduce aminte c am fost aliai
cu Hitler. Germanul Klaus Iohannis ar trebui s tie asta / Russian
Foreign Ministry reminds us that we were allied with Hitler. The
German Klaus Johannis should know this, PROTV, 5 February 2016,
http://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/international/ministerul-de-externe-
rus-ne-aduce-aminte-ca-am-fost-aliati-cu-hitler-germanul-klaus-
iohannis-ar-trebui-sa-stie-asta.html.
Chapter 2

Antena 3
Alexandru Voicu
The report presents the evaluation of the source www.antena3.

ro and the main elements which could have some linkage with the
information war exerted on Romania.
Concerning Russia and its foreign policy actions in the regions
there could be identified approximately 3500 articles from 2013
until the present day. Most of the articles are taken form the news
agencies as AFP, AP, Reuters and Mediafax. There should be made
an observation that the news presents information from AFP and
AP with the exception of titles. Usually the titles are crafted in such
a way in which they should attract more visualizations and clicks.
Moreover there have been identified some news which have
taken some information from the Sputnik site. Within the analysed
source there have been identified approximately 230 news articles
from the Russian news agency Sputnik. Most of them give an
argumentation on something, but they are not balanced. Moreover,
the news articles presented in Sputnik are portraying Russia as the
dominant power without bringing other counter-arguments. From
the 230 news articles taken from Sputnik some of them point at the
fact that some of them might be propaganda messages.
In addition to Sputnik, there are other news articles taken from
the news agency Russia Today. These news articles are taken wholly
from the Russia Today without presenting an alternative perspective.
Usually, the news articles presented from the Russia Today are
presenting themes like: the power of Russia, the sole responsibility of
the West for the situation from Ukraine. Moreover, within an article
there could be identified an eloquent disinformation. The article
enunciated that the president Ianukovici did not run in Russia.
The corpus of the articles presented within the analysed
source often lacks the presentation of a structure of argumentation
and counter-argumentation. Too often it is cited an argumentation
without a balancing argument.
Regarding the comments of the users or readers of the
analysed source it can be said that these are made through Facebook.
Thus, in order to comment to a certain article it is compulsory to
have a Facebook profile. This type of posting comments offers the
possibility to reply to a certain comment. Therefore some articles
created a debate environment with multiples users engaging and
reacting to an article.
Also about the comments it is worth mentioning that they
are not moderated. Therefore the stances of the Facebook users are
inadequate very often. However the persons that have expressed
their positions on the subject treated in the articles offer some clues
on the information war carried on by Russia. These persons have a
consistent activity specially in commenting the news where other
users are engaged. The trolls engagement is not determined by
the importance of the news but by the number of users engaged in
commenting the news.
From the analysis there could have been observed 5-6 Facebook
users who are constantly engaged in different news linked to Russia
with the purpose of support the position of this state.
The themes and the positions are diverse. In the cases

that were treated bellow the main topic is linked to the hostility
between Russia and the United States. One of the participants at the
discussions regarding an article invokes the perpetual desire of the
West to destroy Russia. Therefore, this particular position of the
West legitimizes Moscow to employ a more aggressive foreign policy.
Another topic observed throughout the analysis is referring at
the pro-Russian comments on Crimea. According to the users that
support the Russian position, the annexation of Crimea is legitimate
because Ukraine has illegally entered in the possession of this
territory. Moreover, the acrimonious relation between Ukraine and
Russia are a direct result of Wests interference.
In another case the pro-Russian users were advancing the
hypothesis of the Russian ascendancy and the inexorable decline
of the United States. The information presents a statement of an
American official who underlines that Russia represents a threat
for the United States. Starting from this statement some pro-Russia
trolls have underlined that such a statement might be true because
Russia is very powerful and the United States is declining.
In some other case analysed the main topic consists of the
reaction of Russia towards Turkey after it shoot down Russian
fighter and in particular the statements of Vladimir Putin. Referring
to this news there were many comments of Facebook users with pro-
Russian leanings that interfere very often in conversations. They
have stressed the theme of Putins personality. They showed that
Vladimir Putin is the only true leader, while all the other European
leaders are just puppets of the United States.
Also this news discussion was not limited only to Vladimir
Putin. Some people who were engaged in discussions underlined the
courage of Viktor Orban. They resembled his leadership to that of
Vladimir Putin.
Another topic addressed in the analysis is related to the missile
shield at Deveselu. Facebook users engaged in discussions on this issue
had two dominant positions. First, they emphasized the purpose of this
shield. According to the users engaged in discussions, to the missile

shield at Deveselu represents a threat to Russia. It was built with the
sole purpose of combating Russia and its military capabilities.
A second approach to the missile shield from Deveselu is
related to its impact on Romania. According to people who have
commented on this subject, Romania is more fragile accepting this
shield on its territory. This shield is not increasing its security, but
rather diminishes it. The presence of the shield in Romania attracts
Russias attention and anger, so our state becomes more vulnerable.
Another theme refers to morality, especially the privileged
position of Russia and the Wests decadent status. This theme refers
to both the values of Western societies, but also the values promoted
by the leaders of these states. Often there are made correspondences
with the Obama presidency and the measures encouraged by him.
The responsibility for the events in Ukraine is another factor.
According to the articles from the analysed sources, the United States
is responsible for the civil war in Ukraine. Also cordial relations
between Russia and Ukraine have deteriorated decisively because of
the United States.
A common theme in the comments of those who engage in
the debate on Russia refers to Syria. According to the Facebook
users who take part in these discussions, the United States and the
European Union are fuelling instability in Syria. Moreover, they are
arming ISIS and their purpose is to fight against Al-Assad.
Informational war as a topic

In the site Antena 3 there have been identified 6 articles
containing references to information warfare. These include:
1. T
he President of Ukraine: The risk of war with Russia
increased - February 3, 2016 3:39 p.m.
Given that German officials fear that Moscow hopes to destabilize
Europe to create a power vacuum and increase its influence, Poroshenko
considers that the Moscow administration triggered an information

war against Germany. Now Vladimir Putin has triggered an
informational war against Germany, said the leader of Kiev.
2. H
undreds of civilians killed in Syria by Russian bombing -
December 23, 2015 9:24
Russian bombardments look like they have `targeted directly
civilians and civilian objectives through attacks on residential
zones in which there have not been military targets` Philip Luther,
programmes director of Amnesty. These types of attacks constitute
`war crimes`, Luther said. Moscow repeatedly denied that it might
have killed civilians saying that it is the target of an information war.
3. T
wo Russians were arrested after they broke into a military
base in Latvia - June 13, 2015 9:19
The Baltic States have significant Russian minorities and they
are on alert for an informational war conducted on their territory.
Russia has increased military activity in the region with warplanes
and submarines present above and the waters of northern Europe.
4. G eorge Maior: Russia intensifies informational war against

the West. Romania is also targeted - April 15, 2015 10:50 p.m.
Russia has intensified its information war against the West
by cyber-attacks and propaganda actions targeting many countries,
including Romania, says former SRI director George Maior in an
article published in the blog FT, pleading for a new security strategy
of EU and NATO.
Narratives
As can be seen from the above it can be listed a number of
relevant topics:
1. T he West wants the dismantling Russia therefore Moscows actions
in Georgia, Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea are legitimate.
2. T he United States is a declining power, while Russia is rising. In

case of conf lict, Russia could prevail.
3. V ladimir Putin is an authentic leader, compared with the leaders
of the West who are weak and easily manipulated.
4. T he supporting of leaders like Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban
at the expense of weak leaders such as Angela Merkel and Barack
Obama.
5. T he shield at Deveselu is an essential component of US efforts to
fight against Russia.
6. T he shield at Deveselu is not reinforcing the security of Romania,
but rather it makes it vulnerable because it becomes a target of
Russia.
7. Moral and axiological status of the West and Russia differ. West
is in a state of decadence, while Russia is the depositary authentic
values a nd traditions.
8. Romanias sovereignty is non-existent; it is totally subordinated to
the United States.
9. United States is responsible for the events in Ukraine. Without
negative inf luence of the United States, the conf lict between
Russia and Ukraine would not be held.
10. T he disasters in Syria are caused by the West, and Russia is able
to stabilize the situation in this state.
Cases studies
Case 1
A Russian official made grave accusations: US trying
dismantling Russian! - 26 IAN 2016 6:14 p.m.
- In the article are presented the antagonistic intentions of the
West towards Russia. Thus, the statements of the Russian Security
Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev are presented.
- According to Patrushev: They (Americans) want to weaken
to the maximum our country. It is not excluded that on the path to
this goal the dismemberment of the Russian Federation would be
the most important goal. This would allow the United States access
to rich resources, which, according to them, Russia holds unjustly.
- According to some Facebook users, this argument is true and
reasonable: Accusation is not serious. Its the truth.
Case 2
US, Russia on the list of threats to national security for the
first time in history - 02 IAN 2016 2:07 p.m.
- The article quotes Reuters: United States entered for the first
time in history, on the list of Russian threats to national security,
another sign of the sharp deterioration of the relationship between
the two great powers.
- Article stands by comments that are made with reference to
this issue. A pro-Russian commentator who considers that: The US
should be included in the list of dangers to national security of all
states in the world.
- Another participant in the discussion declares: This move
says implicitly that they made their accounts and that they are on the
plus in case of a confrontation... He further commented: Although
unofficially US have always been considered a threat, that now
officially considered denote so as I said that after their accounts can
face it and still come out well... In other words the Russians see their
work, and their media is doing the other work...
- This user of Facebook exhibited in numerous occasions pro-
Russian and anti-American positions. For example, commenting
on the news on his profile General Martin Dempsey: United
States could be involved in a conflict with Russia or China: he said
Correct. And continuing: Russia, China & co. US will be turned
into a wasteland...
Case 3
Russias warning to NATO: We can destroy missile defence in
Romania and Poland - 16 DEC 2015 4:16 p.m.
- The news presents one of the hostile positions of Russia

towards its neighbourhood. The body of the article is quoted from
Mediafax and alternatively, Russian General Sergei Karakaiev:
Russia has missiles that can destroy any antiballistic element
installed by the United States, warns the Russian General Sergei
Karakaiev, Head of the Russian strategic, referring to the missile
defence assets mounted by NATO in Romania and Poland.
- This article presents some quotes that belong to Vladimir
Putin: Russia would take retaliatory measures within the meaning
of capacity building nuclear forces. We will also develop our own
missile systems.
- The comments on this article are not many. The comment
of a Facebook user stands out. It can be said that from his profile
is one of the most fervent supporters of Russia. His comments are
frequent, especially when the subject is linked to Russia. Comments
are favourable to Russia and invariable hostile to the West. He states:
Are warnings for those with eyes to see, ears to hear and mind to
understand...
Case 4
News from Sputnik
Russia accused of spying in Sweden. Also serious allegations
against some media outlets - OF 18 MAR 2016 8:29
In this news item Sputnik is shown as a means of propaganda.
According to Wilhelm Unge, responsible for counterintelligence
within SAPO, which is among the authors of the report, Russia has
expanded its methods of influence on other countries amid the crisis
in Ukraine.
Russia itself speaks about a non-linear war. For us it is a good
term, because it shows that it is not just about military methods but
also economic, political, diplomatic and informational, said Unge
they report.
Aside from intelligence and security Russian observes
media outlets and intelligence agencies Russian possessing huge
resources and operating increasingly more as instruments fair state

administration. These groups of media, including Sputnik and
RT, are working both in Russia and abroad, the document says
Skerhetspolisen (SAPO, the Swedish state security police).
Case 5
Russia has a new weapon: It is a machine that can not be
destroyed - 08 FEB 2016 4:53 p.m.
The news presents the new tank of Russia as being unbeatable
and very strong. The news is showing only the items related to the
affirmation of the hypothesis. Russia is portrayed as strong and
dominant relative to its opponents.
Case 6
Vladimir Putin: US does not seek allies they want vassals - 16
APR 2015 5:22 p.m.
The news can be classified into two themes: the overwhelming
power of Russia compared with the West and Romania subordination
to the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the
United States will not develop partnerships, but are interested to
find vassals, while Russia is not interested in such relationships,
according to the website Sputnik Agency, according to Mediafax.
Some major powers, superpowers who claim exclusivity are
considered the only centre of power in the world. They do not need
allies but vassals. I mean the United States. Russia cannot exist
in such a system of relations Putin said in the annual session of
questions and answers with citizens.
Chapter 3

B1 TV
Diana Brbuceanu
The site B1Tv operates with updated news television for a

relatively short period. Text messaging is generally very concise,
without resorting to a contextualization of the event. The manner
of writing articles by editors is building descriptive and objective
general themes are taken from the international press.
In terms of its attractiveness, the site B1Tv shows an inability to
attract readers in a significant number. It can easily be identified such
a difficulty but this reality is not necessarily exceptional in relation
to the number of viewers. It is well known that the site of a television
broadcast brings fewer users than is actually in the audio-visual.
Such a reality is reflected by lack of appetite readers to comment
on news even with a relatively large impact. The situation is different
on the official Facebook page. Even there user comments are not
plentiful there, but they are found predominantly in approximately
90% of subsidiary news posted. Regarding the nature of the messages
sent by readers B1 TV, they fall into two divergent lines of approach.
On the one hand there is anti-Americanism. It is noteworthy
that the series of message texts attacking the US are written
grammatically incorrect, suggesting they could have been written
in another language and translated using automatic translation

programs.
On the other hand the anti-Russian rhetoric predominates,
being defined by a nationalist approach with references to history.
Truly relevant information about Russia and its politics is
missing from the news and often consists in tabloid newspaper
information.

Articles on the concept of information war are very few on
the B1TV site and are mostly short, with no analysis.
Former Finance Minister of Russia: The Russian government
is waging an informational war against its own citizens
Former head of SRI, George Maior, is sounding the alarm:
Russia is engaged in an intense informational war against the West.
Romania is also included in cyber attacks
Iulian Fota: Romania is part of an informational war. We are
already harassed by Russian military aircraft f lying over the border
ostentatiously
EU could launch a Russian-language television station to
counter Moscows propaganda in Europe
Narratives - explanations:
1. Russia as imperial power not to be provoked
The theme of Russia as imperial power not to be provoked is
legitimized during several articles such as: Article entitled Russian
Parliamentary counsellor: You need a Eurasian empire including
countries such as Romania and Hungary. In this context appears the
idea on the membership of Romania and Hungary to the Eurasian
Basin, to the detriment of the Western project, which is manifested
by defying fundamental American imperialism interests of the
shepherd member. Even if the drafting note seems objective, simple
showing Russophile fundamentalism is a question mark about the

main objective of this news.
Also, in an article entitled Vladimir Putin: Cold War ended,
but it was not signed the peace that establish rules of the game shows
the idea that the current system of global and regional security is
weak, divided and deformed.
Regarding readers comments, obvious Moscow policy
advocates spread messages like Russia can lose no more than
one battle but not the war... () The actual crisis in Russia actually
stimulates the Russians to develop their own industry and strengthens
the unity of the people in the Russian Federation.
2. The influence of the Russian Church on Kremlin policy

In a significant number of articles it appears the theme
according to which Russia cooperates closely with the Kremlin, such
as the patriarch and the president of Russia who are leading together
the citizens. Also, the articles are written in such a way that induces
the repetitive idea of Russian
Orthodox Church as a natural partner
of political power.
3. Attempts to legitimize the Russian revisionism

The theme is validated by a series of articles that reinforce
the idea that the West gradually approaches to a series of measures
designed to revive ties with Russia. Statements such as the one of the
German Foreign Minister, saying that Russia could return to G8 /
NATO in order to resume relations with Russia and the controversial
statement of the president of the European Commission in October
2015 which states that the EU should not let the US dictate and we
must have a practical relations with Moscow - round out such an
agenda.
Regarding such issues we have not identified messages in
support of the Kremlin, on the contrary. Reader comments here
take the form of profound contestation and are treated in such a
manner: Countries in Eastern Europe are still traumatized by the
Soviet bears embrace, which barely escaped. In these conditions, old

Juncker counsels us to make out with Putin. Either he is a senile old
man, or he is a pervert.
4. European Union - a failed project

A long row of articles on that consistent theme also revolve
around the idea that the EU risks becoming a failed utopian
experiment. Declaration of the Czech Prime Minister such as If the
UK leaves the EU the debate on withdrawal of the Czech Republic will
be expected in a few years or the Slovakian Prime Minister says the
EU will collapse if it does not bring under control migration this
year.
5. Vladimir Putin - the man of 2015

The theme is confirmed by the many articles that induce
repetitive idea that there is no doubt that Vladimir Putin is one of
the most expressive figures of international politics. Also, the image
of a strong and prosperous Russia is associated with the image of
Vladimir Putin that, according to a quote if Putin would not exist,
neither would Russia.
6. The intervention of Russia to Syria transforms Putin in

the number one fighter for world peace
The theme titled Russian intervention in Syria turns Putin
in the fighter number one for the world peace includes a series of
articles that take the form of justification on the military campaign
of Moscow in the Middle East, since Russia can not allow the collapse
of Syria because the alternative would be imposed by the Islamic
State caliphate. The theme is confirmed by presentation in the form
statements regarding security done by various EU leaders welcoming
the involvement of the Russian military in an offensive against Syria,
done by the Chief of German diplomacy or Angela Merkel, according
to the headline new The war in Syria may end only with the help of
the Russian Federation.
7. The EU lost the fight for the future of Moldova in the

favour of Russia
It is a theme confirmed in a series of articles analyzing the results
of various barometers of the public opinion regarding Bessarabia,
according to which Moldovan citizens area keen to return to Russia,
and the interest in the European Union is dropping. Moreover, the
idea that Romania loses the battle with Russia for Bessarabia: The
fancy visit of Johannis in Moldova has no effect. There were only words
from both sides. In this regard, the plan actions to promote unionist
project by the Romanian state is becoming more disinterested.
8. US / NATO getting weaker in front of Russia

Articles such as US fears to loose the arms race in the favour
of Russia and China, Juncker: EU should not let the US dictate.
We need to have practical relations with Moscow or Access of the
United States in the Black Sea is in danger because the military power
of Russia takes the form of an antithesis report US - Russia that
military power of the United States begins to become increasingly
questionable. The main trajectory of speech that is intended promotes
the thesis that reforming Russia under Putin administration leaves
behind the White House.
9. Eurasian Union - an eye to the future

Gathered around this issue are a series of articles that highlight
the idea that the Eurasian Union remains a project with great
perspectives. In this context, Russia announced plans for afterwards
in Syria, to start discussions for signing an association agreement
between Syria and the Eurasian Economic Union.
10. Pro-Western Ukraine - symptoms of a failed state

Theme gathers articles, according to which Ukraine shows the
symptoms a failed state with a decimated political class, a bankrupt
economy and the increased disinterest of the West for its reform.
Also it presents various studies showing that over 46% of Europeans
associate Ukraine with the war and throughout this period,

Ukrainian pro-Western coalition loses more ground.
Chapter 4

Realitatea
Adina-Elena Cincu
Within this report I will present the main characteristics

of the informational war led by the Russian Federation against
Romania/US/NATO/EU/Ukraine/The Republic of Moldova and
Syria, characteristics drawn from the analysis of the news and
commentaries found on the online news site, Realitatea.net and from
the analysis of the comments encountered on its Facebook page. On
the news website I introduced Russia and Russian Federation as
keywords and thus I got 133 pages with approximately 33 news per
page concerning Russia and I tried to open and analyze the contents
and also the reactions to those news that I considered could indicate
either positions favourable to the interests of Russia, its worldview
in various international dossiers, but I also looked at those news
presenting this time other actors approaches regarding Russia,
approaches such as those involving the sanctions regime and those
of blaming the illegitimate and illegal Russian behaviour in Crimea
and Ukraine in order to identify comments of possible support
towards Russian Federation`s actions in the world.
I consider that the general manner in which the news from
the site presented Russias position towards various topics was a
totally unbiased one. An important first element of the analysis of

this media instrument is that in most instances the news presented
both Kremlin and other Western actors opinions, thus a balanced
exposure or arguments, but that only a few news exposed only
Kremlin`s vision, only Russian officials statements, often in short
paragraphs, in the absence of the reaction of other actors involved
and in the absence of any objective analysis/interpretation on the
part of the news site`s journalists. Such a presentation of the Russian
leaders declarations can be tantamount to a direct promotion, even
if maybe unwanted, of the Russian Federations strategic thinking
and so can inoculate some false perceptions about Kremlin as a fair
and just actor in international politics, the victim of the aggressive
behaviour of the West.
A second element identified is that although the titles have
constantly ref lected the essence of the news information, thus not
using words or biased expressions, there were a few instances in
which the news headlines contained strong words/expressions with
the desire to capture attention and to obtain a wider range of views,
fact which can nevertheless contribute to enhancing the populations
fears related to national security, can undermine their confidence
in the decision makers capabilities of ensuring national safety in an
international and regional environment that is strongly portrayed in
the media as unsafe, and thus can indirectly contribute to the success
of the Kremlin`s informational war. Titles such as SHOCKING:
THE WAR IS COMING! RUSSIA HUMMILIATES THE WEST, may
have an impact at the psychological level and thus be considered part
of the informational war, because through such a presentation they
don`t do anything else than raise fears in the face of the Russian
power, portrayed as a state that can always attack, destabilize and
defeat the West.
The analyzed news were those contained in the period of
November 2013- January 2016, but it is however important to note
that on the website of the online news publication much of the
news could not be accessed instantly, the pages often requiring
countless refreshes and it is also important to underline that even

if at certain news there was presented the existence of a number
of comments, in many cases those comments could not be viewed,
thus extremely hampering the research process. As regards to the
manner of introduction of the comments and the discussions that
sometimes followed, it can be stated that it weren`t moderated by
an administrator so that each user could post any message after
completing three criteria: name and comment, followed by the
introduction of a verification code. It was specially interesting that
in the context in which as a reader you could only offer a like/dislike
to a comment, although there weren`t many trolls, the dislikes
offered for certain pro-Western positions were sometimes numerous,
suggesting thus that Kremlin`s supporters exist even if they dont
directly express their positions through postings.
With regard to the comments encountered, one can state
that certain users seemed to genuinely support Kremlin`s position
through often simplistic postings, a support that came more from
certain frustrations related to Romanian political leadership. On the
other hand, I have identified a few trolls, whose opinion of constant
defence of Russias actions and strongly blaming of the West,
sometimes by posting identical messages with powerful and nuanced
argumentations, appeared with a specific recurrence, both in
comments to various news on the online news site and on its Facebook
page. Some trolls have sometimes changed their username, but were
easily recognizable because they either only changed a few letters or
because their position of supporting the Russian Federation and of
strong criticism of the West was frequently entirely copied from one
news to another, even at some news which couldn`t be related directly
to events regarding the Kremlin, thus news discussing various
aspects of NATO/EU/US/West. With respect to the relevance of the
comments, there have been serious wars between the pro-Western
and pro-Russians trolls which brought into question elements of
nuance and not simple acknowledgments of a position or the other,
but in some instances, some trolls didn`t debate the real content of
the news in question but brought into the discussion various other
elements and arguments in support of Kremlin`s position.
In the next section I will present the identified main themes
of Kremlin`s informational war and for each theme I will expose a
short review of the content and essence of the news encountered,
followed by a presentation of the opinions of the different users/
trolls. I want to offer a clear image of the way in which the Russian
Federation tries to build its image on the international arena through
its official statements and well elaborated political rhetoric and also
to underline the way in which some users/trolls are supporting this
informational war by further promoting Kremlin`s agenda and
elaborating on its strict and well drawn directions.
On the online news site I have entered the keywords
informational war, propaganda and found 6 news depicting
important themes related to Kremlin`s informational war. One of
the news was actually a reprint of the information supplied by the
publication The Guardian describing the manner in which Russia
uses an army of IT specialists for its internet propaganda, Russian
bloggers being paid by Kremlin to promote online pro-Russian and
strongly anti-Western messages. Two of the bloggers presented the
manner in which they were working under Kremlin`s direction, the
rules of promoting pro-Russian messages after strict ideological
criteria, thus existing a veritable trolls factory. Then another
news argued that the US has asked some radio stations to combat
Russian propaganda in Ukraine and Moldova, to counter Moscow`s
disinformation and propaganda through analytical and investigative
journalism. Another article exposed Kremlin`s belief that NATO
is the one leading a propaganda against the Russian State, NATO`s
criticism regarding Russia`s nuclear rhetoric serving as nothing
more than attempts to outline a threatening image of the Russian
Federation, a state that according to its own strategy and world view
has no plan to convert its nuclear policy into an aggressive one.
An important news is the one that exposed Berlin`s new

identified assumptions that Moscow has returned to the techniques
of the Cold War era trying through its KGB verified methods to
provoke tensions in Europe. Active measures as it was this KGB
doctrine known during the Cold War, a doctrine that includes
misinformation, propaganda, repression and political subversion is
considered of being used by Russia to weaken the West, to create
misunderstandings between NATO members and to undermine
U.S. authority in the eyes of the international community. It is thus
believed that Russia, through its information agents, is influencing
the political debate in Germany.
Another article is actually published by Reuters, quoted by
another online news site and then promoted on the analysed website.
Here it is argued that Russia leads an informational war in Latvia,
led by Kremlin financed NGO`s that promote the official Russian
propaganda about a potential resurrection of the fascist ideology and
the persecution of the Russian minority in the Baltic State.
Narratives
1. NATOs eastward expansion/ building the anti-missile
shield/building a military base in Romania represent illegitimate
actions in breach of international rules, being a challenge to the
security of the Russian Federation;
2. The Kremlin considers that Romanian leaders are
Washington`s idiots, fully subjected to the United States; Romanias
military inferiority in front of Russia
3. Romania should get out of NATO and integrate into the
Eurasian Union based on a common Orthodox culture
4. The U.S. wishes to create a unipolar world
Russia lacks hegemonic aspirations, but wants to be the
defender of international law
5. The criticism of U.S. actions in the world- Criticism of the
American value system
6. Russia is not afraid of NATO-Russia is one of the largest

nuclear powers
7. Russia had the right to annex the Crimean Peninsula, the
referendum being a historic choice that must be respected
8. T he U.S. directly supported The Maidan which was nothing
more than a neofascist coup
9. T he sanctions against Russia will only have an economic
boomerang effect against the EU
10. T he Republic of Moldova prefers the Customs Union to
the detriment of the EU Russia does not intend to annex
Transnistria, however, Transnistria, Russian territory, will
return by right, to the Russian state
11. T he United States have created and are supporting ISIS
terrorism-Russia is the only power that can bring peace in
Syria
Analysis of the narratives:

THEME 1
NATOs eastward expansion/ building the anti-missile shield/
building a military base in Romania represent illegitimate actions in
breach of international rules, being a challenge to the security of the
Russian Federation
The news contained in this theme have strong titles VOICE

of RUSSIA: The anti-missile shield will turn Romania into the target
for Russian nuclear missiles; Russia`s tough Warning for NATO and
Romania, Russian Official: Romania the first target of Moscow if
the US will attack Russia- that can induce panic and fear among
the Romanian population by presenting Russia as a power that
can destroy both military and nuclear the Romanian state because
of its uncontested acceptance of directives from Washington for
constructing the anti-missile shield.
In most cases these news present almost exclusively the Russian

position that is strongly critic regarding Romanian leaders considered to
be thoroughly washed brains by the American propaganda, U.S. idiots,
hostages to the irresponsible American practices- without presenting
the approaches of the other actors involved, element that can provide
Kremlin with a psychological lever of power for dominance. In all
these news it is exposed the exclusive vision of Kremlin in accordance
with its strategies of national security and national defence, the anti-
missile shield construction in Romania being considered a movement
that undermines regional security by affecting Moscow`s security, a
movement contrary to a stable, peaceful and united Europe. This induces
the idea that Romania will become a target for Russian nuclear missiles
with the construction of the anti-missile shield. Kremlin is trying to
discredit in front of the Romanian people the idea that the US really
want to protect the Romanian State through such a strategy. Russia
solidly promotes the idea that the anti-missile shield in Romania affects
Russias military security and the US is doing nothing else but trying to
disturb the strategic balance. At the same time the Kremlin contradicted
itself, for although it claimed that the anti-missile shield is not a military
threat, but a political and economic one, it continued to declare that
Russia has developed the killer of the anti-missile shield, which would
ensure that no element of the shield will be able to neutralize the Russian
rocket before it penetrates the American system.
The Kremlin accuses NATO`s Eastward enlargement as a
breach of the commitments assumed under the NATO-Russia
Founding Treaty, being considered a big mistake, an irresponsible
policy, reiterating that unlike the US, Russia even intends to create
a unique security system in Europe. Russian leaders have also
warned of the negative consequences that such a move of NATOs
militarization of the region may have, blaming the Alliance for using
bellicose tactics specific to the Cold War era. Kremlin leaders are
thus trying to portray in their statements from the news encountered
on the news website that NATO and the West are the architects of the
new edition of the Cold War. Thus it stresses that Russia has every
right to adopt any retaliatory measures deemed necessary in order

to respond to essential security threats illustrated by enhancing
NATO availability and operational capability near its borders. Also,
considering NATO actions near Russian borders as a solid threat
to the security of the Russian Federation, the leaders in Kremlin
justify intimidating actions specific to the Cold War era applied to
the European countries as mere retaliation and defence actions.
Titles like Russia threatens Romania: U.S. Plan to bring heavy
weapons will have negative consequences! have used strong words,
potentially creating a state of panic among the population and trying
to illustrate once again the superiority of the Russian State in front of
the Romania. The content of the news titled MAXIMUM ALERT to
ROMANIA! Alert! The war is coming near us! Vladimir PUTIN and RUSSIA
are ATTACKING MOLDOVA!- had no connection with the title that
uses extremely strong words that may cause fear among the population.
A reader accused the news website of conducting war propaganda.
THEME 2
The Kremlin considers that Romanian leaders are US`s
idiots- fully subject to Washingtons orders;
Romanias military inferiority in front of Russia
Once again we encounter titles that use extremely powerful

words, and the news have focused mainly on the theme of the
airspace closure in front of Russian Dmitry Rogozin that stated that
such a move would be followed by retaliation, blaming Romanian
officials of having developed an anti-Russian rhetoric and trying to
underline their inefficiency to contribute to the development of the
Romanian society, which has resulted in his opinion in bringing the
country to the brink of a mass psychosis in order to divert peoples
attention from economic issues. Rogozin promoted thus the idea that
Romanians no longer believe in the brilliant European future of the
country- such a news presentation, without Romanian side reaction
or a critical analysis regarding Kremlin`s illegitimate and assertive
behaviour, again reinforces the aim of those who want to maximize

the results of the informational war against Romania.
Romanian leaders are considered the US`s idiots because
of their unconditional support for the creation of the anti-missile
shield on their territory, with Kremlin warning that for such action
to be considered devoid of a reaction on the part of the Russian
Federation is nave. Thus, Kremlin clearly warned that the reaction
in the face of the threat it perceives against its security in the wake
of the development of the anti-missile shield project in Romania,
will be a strong and clear one, Romania risking to be completely
destroyed for its total enslaving in front of the West.
Russian leaders are also trying to misinform the Romanian
public opinion through the strong criticism of the Romanian States
military capacity in an envisioned war scenario with Russia. There
were exposed some ideas according to which, of the former Soviet
States, Romania is the most underdeveloped in terms of military
equipment. Although this specific but false presentation of Romanian
military capacity next to exposing concrete steps by which Russia
would military defeat Romania namely the loss of air supremacy in the
first 30 minutes after the start of military operations, the destruction
of the Romanian land forces, the destruction of the hierarchical
structure of political and military command, etc., in the context in
which Romania has been a strong supporter of Ukraine in its conflict
with Russia, amounts to a tactic designed to create the image of the
incapacity of the Romanian Government to ensure national security
and to fulfil its international obligations as member of NATO, being
unable in Kremlin`s opinion, to defend the common allied space.
THEME 3
Romania should get out of NATO and integrate into the
Eurasian Union based on the common Orthodox culture
The news presented exclusively the position of Kremlin`s main

ideologist regarding the possible strong relation between Romania
and the Eurasian Union, in the context of the detailed presentation

of Russia`s image about Romania in the EU: unwelcomed guest, a
peripheral state of the Union, a situation deemed unfair by Dugin who
appreciates the Romanian State as a country with a great Orthodox
culture, a genuine pearl of the European culture, intellectually close
to Russia, that would be treated in the new politico-economic project
of the Kremlin, as an equal partner under the zodiac sign of the
Orthodox cultural identity. Such exclusive presentations of Kremlin`s
strategic approach, in the absence of any solid interpretations or
counter-argument also offers the possibility of Russia to inoculate
some ideas and concepts into the minds of Romanian citizens.
THEME 4
The U.S. wish to create a unipolar world
Russia lacks hegemonic aspirations, but wants to be the
defender of international law

Analyzing the news containing exclusive official statements of
Russian leaders, the U.S. is portrayed as wanting to create a unipolar
world order by promoting NATO military bloc out of a plan to
control the entire world, as opposed to the Kremlin who wishes to
contribute to the development of the international community by
supporting an equal security system that would be based on regional
and global fundaments of military nonalignment. The security
system of Europe is perceived by Kremlin as being in danger, but at
the same time, however, it is underlined that the Russian State does
not wish to become a global hegemon, does not wish to be referred to
as a superpower but only wants to protect international law in order
to ensure respect for the sovereignty and independence of all states.
Russia expressed through the official statements of its leaders
the vision of national security and of the just way of power division
at the international level, warning that no one will be able to exceed
the military superiority of the Russian State, which in the context
of the Cold War specific actions started by NATO in its plan of
hegemonic expansion towards the Russian borders, will make every

effort to ensure its security and national interests. According to
Russian officials statements, the US need an external threat, an
enemy and therefore they constantly denigrate the Russian State, but
the Kremlin declared that the world should not be afraid of Russia,
because Russia has better things to do than war . A clarification
also of paramount importance made by Russian officials is that
Russia does not intend in any way to be perceived as having the
intention to rebuild the Soviet Union, to rebuild its Empire, all these
being merely elements of the Russian rhetoric meant to change the
negative image that the Russian State has at the international level.
There was also delivered an extremely clear warning in the
context of amplifying sanctions against the Kremlin regime, warning
that stated that Russia will protect its national interests and that all
political blackmail and pressures exercised upon the Russian State
by the West will have no effect, but rather will affect much more
seriously the interests of Western states.
THEME 5
Criticism of U.S. actions in the world
Criticism of the American value system
A user said that the US does not have the right to accuse
Putin`s Russia for the annexation of Crimea, because firstly it should
consider their own interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan- they invented
collateral casualties, women and children in order to gain control of oil
resources in Arab countries. Other user stated on Facebook that the
U.S. had committed crimes in the name of humanity, building their
economy on the destruction of millennia old Arab civilisations. One
troll even argues that wanting profits and undeserved resources,
both the US and EU are destabilizing former Socialist countries,
this behaviour being blamed as a form of neostalinism extended at
a planetary scale.
Some blamed the euro-Atlantic block as Sodom and Gomorrah,

that only falsely promotes the ideology of planet warming, the false
spectre of planet`s overpopulation, terrorism, combining policies
of fear with those of globalist utopias (global governance). A troll
placed in his comments Russia as the only counterweight to the
United States and the West, the Kremlin being considered the only
major world power that proposes a wide ideological alternative
to the Euro-Atlantic Sodom and Gomorrha, with an emphasis on
traditional family values. Beyond Russia`s geostrategic behaviour
which is placed next to Vladimir Putins personality, there is a
general tendency among commentators to place Russian people on a
spiritual high threshold. For example, one troll appreciates that the
Russian people is characterized by a reconcilable attitude, and all
confrontations in which it was involved were the direct result of the
actions of inf luent individuals from the West.
Another very active troll, has claimed that the pax EU-
Americana its a diabolical judeo-masonic one, defined by lie,
hypocrisy, deception, manipulation, diversion, divide and conquer,
gluttony, fornication, Zionism, masonry, atheism, sectarianism,
capitalism, fascism, war, terror, satanism. In order to support
Russias status in terms of moral approach, constantly the trolls talk
about the profound crisis through which the West passes, as well
as its moral decline. NATO, the EU and the IMF are presented as
exhibits of satanism and fascism, organisations that are part of a
planetary plot to enslave masses. The opinion of a an active troll
is that Western leaders, want at all costs human enslavement, total
control and global power to subvert and destroy the nation, culture,
family, religion, peoples traditions and to shape a global antichristic,
antihuman babilony. In this context, NATO is presented as being
an army of crusaders who only follows its own interest. One user
criticised Romanias membership to NATO, mentioning that the
decision to enter NATO was taken by politicians without consulting
the will of the people, thus promoting the thesis that, once started,
the Red Army will liberate the world from American imperialism.
A constant critic of the United States, a troll stated that

Russias actions were a direct result of American pressure providing
the following examples: the establishment of the Warsaw Pact, the
Cuban missile crisis or the invasion of Czechoslovakia. This troll
claimed that France and Germany are tired of American unipolarism
and that they are prepared to get involved in designing a new world
order. US foreign policy is judged by a number of commentators
that use conspiracy theories and which transform Russia into an
actor that resisted with heroism in the face of Western pressure. For
example, one user stated that the United States were ready to destroy
the world on the occasion of the Cuban missile crisis, her hope being
the formation of a political-strategic block between Russia, China
and India to ensure the resistance of this heroic people in the face
of Western pressures which had different types (capitalism, nazism,
masonry).
THEME 6
Russia is not afraid of NATO-Russia is one of the largest
nuclear powers
The news from this topic present the position of Russian

officials who try in accordance with national security strategies to
shape up an internationally positive image while at the same time
demonise the West for the alleged desire for global domination.
Russian leaders consider that Russia has no reason to fear the North-
Atlantic Alliance, being military superior to it and bringing into
question the fact that Russia is one of the largest nuclear powers.
Here comes an important explanation related to the investment in
the development of Russias nuclear power, explanation meant to
assuage the fears of the other international community states and
thus to improve Russias image in the world: Russia, only wants to
ensure its security and not intimidate; Russia is far from being involved
in a large-scale conflict underlining the idea that Russia does not
pose a real threat for NATO states-NATO having thus ridiculous

phobias towards the Russian State.
THEME 7
Russia had the right to annex Crimea, the referendum being
a historical choice that must be respected
Kremlin does not consider to have violated international law

through the annexation of Crimea, considering the referendum a
democratic, free and historic movement that has to be respected,
inducing thus the idea of the legitimacy of the referendum of
annexation to obtain the support of other international actors.
In addition Kremlin leaders tried to highlight the subliminal
idea that Russia is an integral part of European politics and culture,
as a state that has consistently promoted peace and stability in
Europe, thus trying to blame the West as the negative actor who
hasnt done anything other than denigrate unjustly and totally false
the Russian state in the eyes of other international actors.
THEME 8
The U.S. directly supported the Maidan which was nothing
more that a neofascist coup
According to a series of Kremlin statements, encountered on

the news website the current crisis in Ukraine is rooted in NATO
summit in Bucharest, Romania from 2008 in which Western leaders
offered the Ukrainian State the opportunity to become a member
of the Alliance. Thus in general, Russia is strongly critical about
the U.S. and the West for starting the Ukrainian crisis believed to
have strongly destabilized the entire international system for a long
period of time.
One extremely active troll supports the thesis according to
which Ukraine has been undermined by the US, by the protesters
on Maidan, because until then Ukraine was stable, claiming even
that the dictatorship is the most stable system of government. Some

consider that president Yanukovici was a patriot who resisted the
will of the West, so that the US had no option but to incite a popular
revolution-in fact a coup. Another user continues to reinforce this
idea, claiming that the Ukrainian President was democratically
elected; he never drove a totalitarian state and yet was replaced
through anarchic street movements, by a group of people, Maidan
representatives that do not represent the will of Ukraine- being just
US pawns. Also, other troll claimed that the Ukrainian leadership
is a fascisto-Nazi junta and that Russia has every right to retaliate
in the context in which NATO is creating the bases near its borders,
and Thus it was appreciated that Russia may merge its troops on its
territory (including Ukraine) where it wants and how it wants.
The most active troll claimed that Ukraine is an artificial state
and that this it is an opinion supported by almost all the people, that
the Crimean peninsula belongs by right to Russia, here, the Russians
and Russophones representing the majority of the people. It thus
reinforces the idea that Russians and Ukrainians are the same people,
united by language, tradition, culture, religion-Kievan Russia-
blaming in opposition what is thought to be Western imperialism
that does not want more than dividing states. He promotes the idea
that Ukraine will finally break with or without external inf luences,
considering that Ukraine is a Slavic state that will remain forever
of Slavic inf luence with a strong connection with the community,
culture and civilization of Slavic origin.
Some argued that Russia will be the one who will have due to
the United States to support an economically paralyzed, socially and
ideologically divided Ukraine, accusing the Americans of inventing
conf licts because they are afraid of a potential alliance even a
symbolic one between Russia and the EU. One user has released
a list of reasons why Romania should not support Ukraine in its
conf lict with Russia. It argues that Ukraine wanted the annexation
of Bassarabia in 1918, 1945; that Ukraine supported Russias position
towards the conflict in the Transnistria, led a policy of destruction
the Romanian identity. And at one point in his presentation appears

the idea that Crimea never belonged to Ukraine but was given as a
token of friendship by Russia, a formal gesture, the Russian State
having from the perspective of historical law the right to demand
Crimea back.
Others maintain that Russia represents the last bastion of
orthodoxy and patriotism, accusing the US for trying to conquer
Ukraine in order to capture its economic resources and installing the
so called secular democracy, arguing that they promote war because
of its efficiency from the perspective of their economic interests. It is
also argued that Ukraine deserves what it got as a result of Maidan,
and that if some want communism, its their right to decide. Another
user argued that the neo-Marxist liberal democracy sponsored by
Soros is a mess, saying that Putin is the most powerful right-wing
leader in Europe, pointing out that he has had enough of ridicule
politicians trained in neo-Marxist ideology of the Frankfurt School
that ignore the will of the majority although they rule in its name.
Another user has strongly fuelled Kremlin`s war propaganda against
Romania saying that the Russians have a huge advantage-Romanians
fear- because they possess atomic weapons.
Putin is praised by many trolls as a true President that has
intervened to defend its people, mass-media being the one lying the
population because it belongs to the Americans who want to trigger
World War III.
THEME 9
The sanctions against Russia-economic boomerang effect
against EU member states
The Kremlin considered that the sanctions imposed by the

West are ineffective in an interdependent global system so that
they would not only affect the Russian economy but would have a
boomerang effect being also in the detriment of Western economies.
Russian leaders continued to claim that the unipolar world model
has failed and that only solid cooperation can help developing States.
The United States is further accused of wanting to impose the rules
of international interaction, to keep the monopoly influence on the
world stage and thus to continue imposing their cultural norms. The
Kremlin is promoting itself through its official`s statements, as the
true promoter of states independence, maintaining the uniqueness
of their cultural identity. Russian leaders thus reject at a rhetoric
level the premises of a new beginning of a Cold War believing that
such a scenario would not be in the interests of any state.
THEME 10:
Moldova prefers the Customs Union to the detriment of the
EU Russia does not intend to annex Transnistria, but in the end,
Transnistria, Russian territory will return by right to the Russian
State
The news present a negative image of Romania according to

officials in Kremlin: they declared that the Romanian State wishes
by supporting the European option of the Republic of Moldova to
annex its neighbour, a movement similar to Hitler`s Anschluss.
Another important story was the one that argued that citizens of
the Republic of Moldova want to be with the Russians, not with the
European Union. They try to induce the false idea that Moldovan
citizens prefer Russian Customs Union to the detriment of the
integration into the European Union.
THEME 10:
Russia does not intend to annex Transnistria, but in the end,
Transnistria, Russian territory will return by right to the Russian
State
Regarding Transnistria, Moscows Ambassador to the EU

has issued some statements that Russia has no intention to annex
Transnistria or any other territory in the world, blaming the hysteria
that has become contagious because of the propaganda of the West,

but this news have just stated the position of the Kremlin without
a review on behalf of the news website which again can inoculate a
certain vision about the manner of action of Russia in the world as a
state that respects the sovereignty and international law as the basic
pillar of international co-existence in the community of States. The
Kremlin is trying to rehabilitate its international image at a time
when this quality of the Russian State is strongly challenged by the
West after the annexation of Crimea and the support for separatism
in Eastern Ukraine. Russian leaders appreciate that the inhabitants
of the Transnistrian region should have the right to decide their own
fate, similar to those in Crimea.
On another level of the analysis of official Russian
statements, in contrast to the previously supported ideas, important
representatives of Kremlin claim that Transnistria will be in the end
with Russia, offering solid insurance at a rhetoric level of this scenario.
Transnistria is in the opinion of some Russian ultranationalists
appreciated as Russian territory which will return to Russia when
the Ukraine will settle down, being a natural process.
THEME 11
The United States created and support ISIS terrorism, Russia
being the only major power that can bring peace in Syria
In all Russian officials statements related to the Syrian conflict

there was promoted a fully unitary vision that Russia opposes
any NATO intervention without the approval of the UN Security
Council, considered an extremely dangerous endeavour, a tragic
error and a serious breach of international law. Any approach that
implied the use of military force against Syrian regime of Bashar al-
Assad was commended as a step that wouldnt have done nothing but
aggravate the Syrian conflict. Moscow has portrayed continuously
the U.S. as a state that by its illegitimate involvement in the internal
affairs of sovereign states, see Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, has spread

global instability.
I found news that included strong expressions in the title such
as On the brink of war. Russia has sent an espionage warship in
Syria, when in fact the content of this story just underlined that
Russia has sent a surveillance ship towards the Syrian coasts, in the
Eastern Mediterranean and presented a statement from the Kremlin
that this move is in the interests of Russias security. Increasing
Kremlin`s military presence in the Mediterranean was warranted
by what was considered a prepared Western military intervention
against the regime in Damascus. Titles which related to the
consolidation of Kremlins military presence in the Mediterranean
in the context of amplifying the Syrian conf lict contained words
or phrases extremely powerful as well as: Russia: ready to attack
inducing a state of fear in the population, and emphasizing a posture
favourable to the Kremlin by creating an impression of a military
superiority.
On another direction of analysis, certain news exclusively
presented Russian officials statements regarding the Syrian
conf lict- Russia considers that the alleged chemical attack from Syria
is a provocation planned long ago -most news lacking the views of
other involved actors thus achieving a certain promotion of Russias
position that is uncontested, an element that can shape a specific
positive image over Russia and its military involvement in Syria.
Chapter 5

Romania TV
Narciz Bloiu
Romania TV television website is updated routinely and

abounds in breaking news but often do not reflect objective reality,
but an overrated perspective glamorous packed in order to generate
audience by all means.
The television and its related website are equally covering
news from the international environment, but the structure of most
articles is specific to news agencies with role more in dissemination
and less analytical.
It may also be noticed that the articles are accompanied by
comments box even though most of the time they are missing showing a
reduced attention from the community of regular users. After checking
individually the news we found that there is a script error in the number
of comments attached to each article, meaning that although the counter
on the homepage indicates 0 comments by accessing it appears that a
number (even limited) of comments were expressed in the article.
Reading them reveals a mixed picture, often blunt, vulgar, but covering
the whole range of positions on the topics in question.
An overview of news articles promoted on television website
ref lects a relative balance, to the extent that the plentiful ingestion
of news is difficult to determine, in terms of quantitative analysis, a

relationship between news editorial presentation and treatment. The
site has a strong commercial character and systematization of the
content (by design also) is oriented to a wider audience, untargeted.
It can be seen that each of the theses circulated by Moscow

media propaganda as part of the information warfare can easily find
a way in through the flux of news fuelled hourly on Romania TV
portal. From this point of view arises a question mark, concerning
whether we are dealing with a balanced ref lection of all positions,
or equidistance umbrella is used to propagate a series of subjects
with significant relevance for Moscow. For example, the article from
Friday, 26 2016 February entitled Putin ordered the FSB to stop
enemies outsiders who want to influence the fall elections depicts in
a laudatory manner decision of President Putin to obstruct coverage
outside of the unfolding future parliamentary elections under the
pretext of intrusion by foreign occult forces, thus challenging the
regime supremacy. It can be seen that the whole choreography and
phraseology drafting the article is unfolding as an admiration
exercise, while the uninformed reader remains with the feeling that
Vladimir Putin is a strong leader, a man who knows the state and
how to protect national interests.
Narratives
I. LEGITIMATING EURASIA THESIS AS FEASIBLE IN
VARIOUS FORMS
In many articles talking about Eurasia none strident

interpretative nuances are being introduced. Through its practical
approach a legitimization of the subject is induced by showing it in a
plausible, feasible manner, which contradicts any pragmatic reality.
In this context, the geopolitical club proposed by Moscow is treated
as an alternative to the European Union without the prior filtering
of the features that this format brings to its adherents as part of

the economic and military sovereignty transfer towards Moscow.
As example, I selected two articles going present, that also reveal
the equally primitive and visceral approach. On the one hand, the
is quoted Aleksandr Dugin, while one of the titles takes over the
statement of former President of Romania that is presented as a
cynical counterweight to the Russian ideologist apologetic speech
Aleksandr Dugin: it needs an empire Eurasian in that part
including Romania - philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, advisor to the
chairman of the State Duma and a close friend of Russian President
Vladimir Putin, to establish an Eurasian empire dominated by
Russia and including Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Austria
Basescu: I didnt see Moldovan people with slanting eyes.
There is no place for Republic of Moldova in Eurasia?
II. NATO-RUSSIA. A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP

UNDERMINED BY BOTH SIDES
Under the umbrella of various headlines it is often mentioned

rivalry between Occident - with its flagship institutions - and
the Russian Federation thereby giving two messages more or less
subliminal. On the one hand, Russia is looming as a competitor
/ potential enemy who resists the West without any complexes,
therefore it is placed sign of congruence between a cvasi-bankrupt
state with structural problems and a political-military bloc, which
does not handle virtually comparison to todays and yesterdays
Russia in any way.
On the other hand, one can notice an abundance of messages

launched by Russian politicians or their avatars that promote the
idea of double culprits - in other words, Russia is hostile, aggressive,
and temperamental but the West has its own share of fault in how it
causes. This rhetoric is the response to missile defence and NATO
enlargement, seen as intrusive tactics in its sphere of influence etc.
In an article mentions the position expressed by V Putin,

namely: Russia is worried about NATO infrastructure near its
borders - Russia is not concerned about democracy advancing to its
borders, but the military infrastructure of NATO near by.
Another Russian leaders statement is promoted without any
analytic filter, thus potential to intoxicate a less informed public is
huge:
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview
published on Tuesday that his country will resist if Turkey threatens
national security, but added that if the Turks attacked Russia,
there is no need for NATO to get involved or Kremlin threatens:
Approximation of the NATO military infrastructure to Russias
borders is regrettable and will lead to response measures.
III. MISSILE SHIELD IN ROMANIA GENERATES A

GEOPOLITICAL ADVERSITY THAT CALLS INTO QUESTION
THE VERY DISCERNMENT OF BUCHAREST BALLISTIC
DEFENSE PROJECT
The topic is generously circulated on television RTV website

and at first glance does not reflect approach asperities. However, we
can see very well represented Russian thesis about the role and place
of the missile defence system in the Western security architecture.
Although we might assume that the subject is revolute due to
the fact that Deveselu facility is already use... meaning pressure can
no longer producing a robust outcome, the topic well preserved to
the same expansion in terms of choreography thinking and cadence
with which the subject returns to main agenda. There is a famous
witticism circulating in the virtual environment that is perfectly
enforceable against the current theme: No more feeding our fears!!!.
The Issue can also be assumed under the previous theme

on NATO - Russia rivalry defined as bi-univocal according to the
definition given by the Polish poet Stanislaw Jerzy as Policy Lessons
- Politics is a Trojan horse race. Therefore, in Russian propaganda

view, NATO acts are not a natural and legitimate manifestation
on global stage but pure provocations against which Moscow is
compelled to react.
Examples of articles:
Russia will attack Romania for Christmas missile shield
violate international norms
RUSSIA warns NATO on missile shield in Romania - The
Russian military is concerned about installing NATO missile defence
systems in Romania, Poland and other European countries, and will
take steps to counter these threats
Missile system will be deployed in Romania. NATO does
not threaten Russia antiballistic elements
MISSILE SHIELD: Russia warns NATO - Agreements with
Iran changes the current geopolitical situation and the NATO would
be logical changes in its plans for missile defence deployment in
Europe.
IV. STRENGTHENING NATOS EASTERN FLANK

AGAINST RUSSIA IS A CHALLENGE THAT SHOULD BE
AVOIDED.
In other words, strengthening the eastern flank is not an

action likely to enhance the security of Eastern members, but
rather makes it vulnerable. It speaks frequently about the fact that
supplementation of forces in Eastern Europe is an attack on regional
stability, whereas the West represents the source of all evil triggering
the arms race, virtually forcing Moscow to react.
In several articles, is indicated Kremlins concern about the
steps undertaken to strengthen the military architecture in Baltic
States, Poland and straight forward- Romania. It also talks about
the potentiality of NATO expansion, organization that in Russias
vision that is depicted as a source of conflict. In strengthening
this theory is given also the Finlands example It is detailed in a

questionable tone why officials in Helsinki do not consider NATO a
subject of interested, thus putting efforts in a greater conservation
of relations with Russia.
In support of the above-mentioned we found the following

newspaper headlines:
Finland is not interested in joining NATO but relations
with Russia - Finland Most people do not want their country to join
NATO (NATO) and for this reason the matter is obsolete
Test for NATO: Russia will attack one of the Baltic countries
- Vladimir Putin has ambitions that go beyond Ukraine
Russia, concerned about the potential strengthening of
NATO in Romania and Poland
High-Ranking Russian Official: NATO enlargement to the
East will force Russia to take adequate measures
V. THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE IS THE LITMUS TEST FOR

RUSSIAN LEGITIMATE INTERESTS THAT THE US / NATO
ESCALATES ON THE EXPENSE OF EAST-EUROPEAN REGION
There are a number of themes and sub-themes in the wake of

the war in Ukraine. One therefore addresses the legitimacy of the
Russian Federation to intervene in the state neighbouring Romania
in the north. Practically speaking about the artificiality of the
Ukrainian state and how Kremlin can not passively witness how
the security architecture is degrading, with Ukraine in the role of
Russias back yard / front yard... anyway a space of canonical origin.
One can not say that the tone used is excessive, often exudes a
subjective perspective, with some added value from the authors. We
are talking about the same tactic venting of news which are in fact
purely informative while exposing a treacherous viewpoint Not to
mention that the appetite for sensational headlines are exaggerated
sometimes in the spirit of breaking news, even if we are dealing with
declarations of politicians from Moscow, otherwise known for their

exotic profile (such as Dmitri Rogozin)
Russia accuses NATO of using the crisis in Ukraine in order
to install a war atmosphere at home
Russia accuses NATO of using Ukrainian crisis to increase
its military presence in Eastern Europe
Moscow warns against any foreign interference in Ukraine
NATO will become more visible in Eastern Europe, but will
not create permanent basis (as leader of the organization - leave here
a feeling of disengagement when the multi and bilateral relationship
is calibrated in such a way that we will have a continuous presence)
VI. TRYING TO KEEP NATO / WEST OCCUPIED, AND

SUBSEQUENTLY AWAY FROM FRONTS TOWARDS RUSSIA
HAS A STRATEGIC INTEREST
The approach exercised in a bundle of articles reveals shifting the

focus from the problems that analytically and pragmatically Romania
could identify as a priority on its international politics agenda. Therefore
accents are induced at a closer look we could place within curtains of
smoke. There is no clear intention for such a process is performed, but
the result indicates attempts in reducing the energies involved from
pressing agenda items for Russia, towards subtopics, thus leaving to
Moscow enough room for manoeuvre and respite.
Russia believes that NATO troops must stay in Afghanistan
to secure the country - Russia wants NATO troops to remain in
Afghanistan until the country will be able to guarantee its own security
It also talks about Syria as an area that advertising commitments
and where the West has contributed significantly to blame
VII. SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA IS A RISKY GAME

WITH POTENTIALLY SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS, THUS
NEED TO BE STOPPED
The subject is treated in both directions, thus presenting

statements related to sanctions on Ukraine war from representatives
of both European, and Russian counterparts. Also, it is not stated
vehemently a direction or a certain interpretation of the facts, but
introduces a treacherous key inside the article by simply stating,
without arguments, without nuances, how risky is this irritation
game for Europe when it comes to Russian Federation.
On the other hand, it is not lost the opportunity to highlight
over several articles how hard this process impact on European
unity, or how bringing Russia on the edge of precipice in economic
terms is a game of chance to be avoided however.
Titles of articles which are suitable to be mentioned:

Russia reacts to sanctions, declaring undesirable 80 officials
from EU
Russia threatens with severe new sanctions.
At 10.8 billion dollars buying influence of Hungary in the
EU under the guise of a loan
Vice Chancellor of Germany: Adoption of new sanctions
risks destabilizing Russia
A renowned political scientist warns EU falls apart, Europe
is back to the Middle Ages - Acclaimed political scientist Robert
Kaplan
VIII. BIASED REALITIES IN SYRIA. POTENTIAL

ESCALATION EXACERBATED. RUSSIAS PROVIDENTIAL
ROLE
Here are circulated a number of themes that have made career

in the Romanian media and beyond. It all starts from the fact that
Russia had sent weapons to Russia via Romania, leading even to a

decisive role of Moscow in dismantling the terrorist organization
Islamic State.
There are many articles on the subject, but we can say that
the most accessed stereotype relates to Russian army tremendous
fire power, which strikes suddenly thus offering technical details
(which armament is used, the daily number of shots - in other words
tries to reveal an alternative for how an offensive should look like,
not the ambiguous and listless game the West played under US lead
and coordination).
At an overview can be seen that the presentation is
disproportionate and is difficult to identify an article to talk about
moderate Syrian opposition that is targeted by Russian army, and
not about the terrorist group.
Some articles as examples to understand the complexity and

the range of approaches:
Russia intense bombing in Syria: 49 terrorist killed in 24
hours
Syria: Russia accuses UN inspectors of bias
NATO is at the root of tensions in Syria, accusing Russia-
Syria tensions are generated by the activities of NATO
German Minister Schaeuble proposes a Europe-Russia
common strategy in Middle East
The EU is very pleased with the agreement between Russia
and Syria on finding a peace solution
IX. RUSSIAN FEDERATION ATTACKING ROMANIA IN

THE CURRENT TENSE CONTEXT IS A PLAUSIBLE THESIS
Former Defence Minister: Romania is in the wide open when

it comes to be attacked by Russia with nuclear weapons (Cornelius
Dobritoiu)
CONSPIRACY THEORY. Romania is attacked by Russia

with WEATHER WEAPONS
Serious: A rocket from Russia, shot from Crimea can reach
Romania in a matter of minutes
Awful predictions of Nostradamus, about Romania: It will be
destroyed by Russia in a terrible war
As it can be seen becomes very difficult to distinguish between

a message addressed programmatically and systematically fed and
the need for sensationalism that defies ethics and accountability
mass-media should have towards its readers.
The fact is that the assessed online television platform never
misses a message or official contest of circumstances showing
that the East-West confrontation has for Romania eschatological/
catastrophic dimension...
Informational warfare is not a favourite theme. The concept

is somehow f lashing brought in discussion, and mostly in a Russian
favourable manner - in any case does not result from approaching
the subject who is the initiator. On this keyword were found the
following items:
1. Russia gives response to the incident in the airspace of

Turkey: An informational war - incident with a Russian plane
entered the airspace of Turkey was used to include NATO in a
informational war - said Tuesday the Russian ambassador to NATO,
Aleksandr Gruko, which did not refer in any way to the second case
of violation of Turkish airspace, denounced by Ankara.
2. Putin Specified: Russia wants to revive Soviet Empire, but
only in the former Soviet INTEGRATION - Kremlin leader Vladimir
Putin accused the West that triggered an informational war against
his country. He said he did not intend to rebuild the former Soviet
Union, but only wants to use the competitive advantages that post-
Soviet countries still have.
Chapter 6

Adevrul and Romnia Liber
Eveline Ioana Mroiu
Adevrul
In general, the authors do not seem partisans with the
Russian Federation, on the contrary they are often accused in
the commentaries of being pro-Occident. There are, however, some
exceptions, where the authors are directly or indirectly supporting
the Russian side, offering even a starting point for the propaganda.
All users that wish to post a comment must be registered
they can make a new account or they can log in with their Facebook
account. All the users have a profile, which can be accessed by
everyone. The information displayed therein is the number of
published commentaries, friends, pans and favourite users.
Furthermore, the users activity can be seen on their profile.
This may include the read articles and appreciated (liked) or
unappreciated (disliked) commentaries. However, the user can adjust
the setting and select whether the activity is public, available only to
friends or private. Moreover, a feature that is missing all together is
to see the comments posted by the user.
On the basis of their activity, they can also receive badges

Super Commentator, Ambassador and Opinion Leader. The majority
of the users engaged in relevant (propaganda) discussions are Super
Commentators or they have no badge. Also, the profiles of some of the
users engaged in those conversations have been deleted or deactivated.
The admin generally does not approve comments which
include swearing. A part of the pro-Russians have accused the page
administrators of being biased and removing or not approving
only their comments, while allowing the pro-Wests. However, this
accusation cannot be accurately supported because, throughout this
research, the author did not identify any allowed comments that
contained swearing or otherwise licentious language. Nonetheless,
the removed commentaries were not available, thus I cannot ascertain
if those removed contained this type of inappropriate language
(although, given the users behaviour, it is likely that the admins only
removed comments including licentious language). Furthermore,
when one comment is not approved for publishing, this indication
remains displayed on the page.
Concerning the trolls war, this is highly pronounced.
There are users that post comments constantly, both pro Russian
Federation (they are invoking various themes in their discussions
through comments which are connected with the subject matter
of the article or not) and against it (which give counter arguments
to the themes and propaganda invoked by the other side, without
generally advancing new topics). Some of the users seem honest in
their comments (unpaid and unorganized), while others, through
their systematic interventions and recurring arguments seem rather
paid people and not genuine persons.
Romnia Liber
In general the authors do not seem partisans with the Russian
Federation, although certain articles or titles may be beneficial to
Moscow in the information warfare (by e.g., through generating

panic about potential attacks of Russia against Romania).
All users that wish to add a comment must be registered they
can make a new account, log in with their Facebook account or offer
a name and a valid email address. One can click on the name of the
Facebook registered users and can reach their personal profile on
Facebook. Facebook users comments appear in a separate log than
the other users comments.
The comments appear instantly, without requiring admin
approval. Furthermore, it doesnt seem that the admin has a
prominent role in censoring or filtering the content or number of
messages posted by the users the same comment being repeated
in cases for several times one after another. Furthermore, some
comments contain licentious language.
Concerning the trolls warfare, this is quite pronounced, while
it must be stated that there is a number of articles whose topic is the
Russian Federation, but which have no comments. However, in those
where there are comments, many of them appear to be structured and
correspond to the tactics of information warfare. However, another
remark is that even some of these comments often seem to get lost
among the huge number of off-topic comments, such as publicity
ads, working announcements or electoral messages (concerning
domestic elections).

Adevrul
In the publication Adevrul, there have been 56 articles
that have approached the theme of information warfare. Of these,
a significant part is explicative the authors aim at explaining the
phenomenon of information warfare as such. Some of the authors use
even references to books or other scientific publications of renowned
writers. The relevant titles that cover this aspect are:
Hybrid warfare, lawfare. Information warfare. Future wars

Information warfare: professional handbooks: Disinformation,
manipulation and masses control
PSYOPS: the warfare in the middle of which we live (I)
(PSYOPS)
The battle of secrete services can decisively influence the
outcome of a war. A short history of the battle of informational
superiority
However, the majority of the 56 articles are focusing on
describing the information warfare ran by Russia. These approach
topics such as the trolls warfare, Russias propagandistic actions in
various states (primarily in Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Romania,
Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Germany especially in regard to the
refugee crisis), the ideology enforcing Kremlins propaganda, the
information warfare dimensions concerning the EU and the U.S., as
well as means and methods of countering this adopted at state, EU
or NATO level.
It is noteworthy that one of the articles aims at highlighting
the Western propaganda (and, thus, the anti-Moscow propaganda),
particularly in relation to the events in Ukraine.
In the trolls conflict present in the comments to these articles,
we can identify themes such as:
The legality of invading Crimea and the equation of the
Ukrainian people with the Russian people;
The U.S. is an occupying force in Europe;
The Romanian secret services act de facto in the interest of
other states (the U.S.) and not in Romanias best interest;
The publication is biased anti-Putin, while the Romanian
media is an instrument of the Occidents propaganda;
Ukraine is an aggressor and hostile state (Bstroe affair) and
it still holds Romanian territory;
Russia is not a threat to Romania;
Russia will react with nuclear weapons in the eventuality of
an war and it could use them even preventively;
The American propaganda aims at convincing the Europeans

that attacking Russia is the only means of achieving peace;
Romania attacks the independence of the Republic of Moldova
(through denying the existence of the Moldavian language and through
falsifying history) and it wishes reunification with the Republic of
Moldova and, implicitly, a war between Romania and the Republic of
Moldova which has at stake the independence of the latter.
Romnia Liber
In the publication Romnia Liber there are two articles
written specifically on the topic of the information warfare waged
by the Russian Federation. These are:
Geoge Maior: Russia intensifies the anti-Occident information
warfare (George Maior: Rusia intensific rzboiul informaional anti-
Occident)1
Propaganda, Russias weapon against the Occident and
Romania (Propaganda, arma Rusiei n rzboiul hibrid mpotriva
Occidentului i a Romniei)2
Furthermore, there are other two articles outlining the means
and methods employed to countering Kremlins propaganda. Their
titles are:
How does NATO intend to counter the Russian information
propaganda (Cum vrea NATO s contracareze propaganda
informaional ruseasc)3
Poland and the Netherlands allign for countering the Russian
propaganda (Polonia i Olanda se aliaz pentru a combate propaganda
rus)4
1
http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/eveniment/george-maior--rusia-
intensifica-razboiul-informational-anti-occident-374989
2
http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/international/propaganda--arma-rusiei-
in-razboiul-hibrid-impotriva-occidentului-si-a-romaniei-367689
3
http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/international/cum-vrea-nato-sa-
contracareze-propaganda-informationala-ruseasca-405702
4
http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/international/polonia-si-olanda-se-aliaza-
pentru-a-combate-propaganda-rusa-386671
In addition, in another article the publication describes the

way in which the Kremlin accuses Kiev of informational warfare:
UPDATE: Kiev announces it has destroyed armoured vehicles
that have crossed the border from Russia. Russian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs accuses an information war. The U.S. condemns the incursion
(UPDATE: Kievul anun c a distrus blindatele care au trecut
grania dinspre Rusia. Ministrul rus de externe acuz un rzboi
informaional. SUA condamn incursiunea)5
The theme is touched upon in other articles as well, although
not comprehensively discussed. The trolls warfare does not seem
to be very pronounced in the comments on these articles. Only
rarely could we identify such comments that may be part of the
propaganda machine. One of them is found in relation to the first
article mentioned here (Geoge Maior: Russia intensifies the anti-
Occident information) User Patru Marin has said A parrot with the
lesson taught by Obama and Angela learned by heart... An individual
put in high offices on political criteria, but with real gaps in relation
to contemporary politics and reality... ha plays the Americans expired
apparatus and which has to be hard-sold to the Eastern losers which
are frightened by the Eastern boo-hoo [...]
Narratives
1. Denigration of the U.S.
The theme of denigrating the U.S. has been approached
especially in the comments of several articles and from multiple
perspectives, primarily through the lenses of American imperialism
and hegemony. One such manifestation is the propagation of the idea
of the U.S. subjugating other peoples. This topic is presented from
various angles, starting from the cultural domination to economics
5
http://www.romanialibera.ro/actualitate/international/kievul-anunta-ca-a-distrus-
blindatele-care-au-trecut-granita-dinspre-rusia--ministrul-rus-de-externe-acuza-
un-razboi-informational-347510
and political subjugation and it focuses on Washingtons actions

both in Romania and in the EU and elsewhere in the world.
Thus, the trolls are portraying the expansion of the U.S. and
its aggressive posture, emphasizing that it wishes to bring its army
to the borders of Russia and the former Soviet states. According
to them, the U.S. is engaging in neo-colonialist behaviour and is
instigating the idea of an open aggression against Russia a course
of action that would have its starting point in arming Ukraine.
Moreover, the trolls aim at highlighting the alleged invasions
of the U.S. in several regions of the world as well as the destruction
of certain peoples.
Next to these, another objective is presenting the power of the
U.S. as temporary. The subliminal idea is that Romania should not rely
so much on the US because they will loose their super-power status.
In the same context, the users are trying to show the hypocrisy
of the White House, as well as the fact that the American (military)
technological supremacy is not necessarily an incontestable truth:
At the same time, the anti-U.S. propaganda has as one of its
objectives presenting the failure of the American socio-economic
model: Goicea Niculae Do you now know why the American
government has a duty of over $13 trillion ($13.000 billion)? PUTIN
took their money and he keeps them under the mattress.
2. The escalation of the West-East conflict

Noteworthy concerning the theme escalation of the West-East
conflict is the multitude of approaches, especially throughout the
comments. The articles present this topic, but generally by presenting
the positions and comments of officials from NATO, the EU, Russia
and/or other states, without necessarily taking a stand on the issue.
Through the trolls approaches one can encounter the fact that the
idea of conflict with Russia is the product of the American propaganda
and that Russia will, in fact, never attack the Baltic States or those in
the Black Sea region. According to them, in reality the Americans want
to expand their area of influence up to Russias borders.
In connection with this, the trolls aim at highlighting the fact

that the U.S. or NATOs actions can generate the conf licts escalation.
Moreover, another spread idea is that the Wests actions are to the
detriment of Romania, which, in turn, becomes a target state:
Marian Ghergus Super intelligent-guy... How will Romania
defend against soviet nuclear missiles...?!!! Cheap mockeries fail to
take into account the Americans interests in the region as well as
the 10.000 atomic bombs held by Russia!!!! And one more thing... the
story has been admitted including by the American army... [...]
In a similar vein, the United States economic interests in
the Black Sea region are highlighted as the only ones relevant. The
author of the following comment also suggests that the U.S. would
start a war only due to a minor economic friction, the subtext being
that Washington does not actually care about collateral victims
(including Romania).
Goicea Niculae The Black Sea and the Baltic Sea were the main
fishing areas of the U.S. Interdiction of access to these regions will lead
to the starving of the U.S., a reason for starting the third World War.
Furthermore, together with this topic, the issue of Romanias
unification with the Republic of Moldova is introduced. The author
of the following comments purports scepticism concerning this issue
and he emphasizes the fact that NATO is unable to assist Romania
in fulfilling this national desideratum one over which the author
himself casts a shadow of doubt:
mocanu george Georgia and Ossetia are totally different things.
This Western propaganda makes us no good. Let us not forget, it was
next to the Russians that we have fought the independence war. Where
were the Americans at the end of the World War II? They didnt give
a sh*t about us and the others in the region. Neutrality is the best
[option] for us in this moment. In case an armed conflict starts, we
will be theatre of war. Those in Florida couldnt care less [about us]...
What we actually want, unification with Bessarabia (although I am
not convinced that a majority on both sides wishes this), we wont
obtain nor with a NATO membership statues, nor without.
3. The Russian Federation a victim state

The victimization of the Russian Federation has also been
approached from multiple perspectives, ranging from the classic
argument of NATOs expansion seen as a provocation or even as an
aggression against Russia to more innovative arguments, that the
European Union had voluntarily excluded the Russian Federation,
while denying it any help or assistance. Moreover, the line of
argumentation tries to convince the audience that communism has
been forcefully imposed on Russia and that the West is to blame.
The same idea is presented from a different angle, namely
from the dismantling of the USSR. This is as well attributed to the
West, who has allegedly destroyed a state in a deliberate manner:
zona 51 ne apara de putreziciuni infecte We need not to defend
against the [dying Russian state]. World superpowers are waiting for
the signal to re-divide Russia like in 90 when it has been decimated
just like the Roman legions.
In the previous comment, the association of Russia with the
Roman legions is noteworthy. The purpose of this it to propagate
the idea of an empire or of the Russian exceptionalism with regards
its great- or even super-power status. Moreover, the theme of the
forcefully imposed communism (from outside Russia) is presented
in even greater detail.
4. Russias actions in Ukraine were legal and legitimate

Concerning the legality and the legitimacy of Russias actions
in Ukraine, various arguments are put forward, from the right to
self-determination to the historic argument. Of course, one of the
most important (and recurrent) aspect is blaming NATOs expansion
for the actions of the Russian Federation in Crimea.
Ivan Turbinca [...] [Ukraine] (margin), founded by the Soviet
power, with pieces of territories from several states. Do you know
them or you dont? And the so-called Ukrainian ethnicity is a
mixture of Russians and Polish, probably also other slaves from the
neighbourhood.
Dan Dumitru Regrettably I [must] inform the author of the

article that the Crimean Peninsula was gifted by NIKITA HRUSCIOV
to UKRAINE in 1954. No way had it ever belonged to UKRAINE.
Even if now we align ourselves to the Occidents airs, in light of the
existing allies, not saying the historic truth is obviously against the
national interest.
5. The Russian exceptionalism

Distinctly from the majority of the themes approached as
part of the information warfare (which are most obvious in the
trolls comments), the Russian exceptionalism is also presented in
one article in Adevrul How was Putin saved from a bears paws.
Nonetheless, the idea has been repeatedly advanced in various
comments and it has reflected the qualities of either the head of
state, either the Russian people or state.
aaa aaa News with Putin and the bear, the crone and the
underwear... interesting. Another dose of hypnosis for the mafia [...]
Humiliation was when an Air Force US General faints during a press
briefing for the plane F-35. Or the American marines when they were
crying [after] being captured by Iran, few weeks ago.
Whats more, Vladimir Putin is pictured as the saviour of the
country, thus his qualities of discerning the actions most favourable
for the development of the Russian Federation. In subtext, the trolls
are trying to convince the audience that Putin, a devoted patriot, is
incapable of engaging in actions of corruption and defrauding or, in
a similar way, to support or permit actions of the organized crime:
conteaza parerea mea I probably speak on behalf of over 87% of
the Russians when I say we trust the Presidents capacity to [...] select
within the business environment those who are beneficial for Russias
development! As such, his salary is a shame [mockery] in relation to
the efforts and sacrifices that man does. Putin would have no need to
steal as long as the whole of Russia belongs to him.
In addition, the Russian exceptionalism is presented also
from the lenses of the saviour state, thus highlighting the sacrifices
Russia has allegedly incurred and had purportedly resulted in saving

Romania and/or Europe.
Elena Ene Our country has been released by the Turkish
subjugation by Russia [and] for this we should dedicate great songs
and anthems to it... If it werent for the Russians, who knows for how
long we would have [still been] under Turkish subjugation. The U.S.,
England and France have built their economic prosperity not through
their [own] work, but through stealing the richness of other countries.
The same topic is approached from the perspective of Russias
intervention in Syria, an instance in which Russia has solved the
problems created by the West. This idea is also purported in the
article How does ISIS make its money: speculations and manipulating
the dollars value, presented below, under the propaganda theme
of financing terrorism. In this article, the author states that the
Kremlins actions had a significant impact over ISIS means of
finance, including smuggling oil through Turkey.
The Russian exceptionalism is further approached from the
perspective of strong characters, which show their willingness and
perseverance in combat, an example invoked by the trolls being the
fights against the Germans:
George mocanu It may be that on the technological field, the
West is superior to Russia, but let us not forget what happened in WW2.
Even though the German tanks were superiors from a technological
perspective, the Russians have proven that they are capable.
6. Ukraine an aggressor state

In the trolls comments, one of the ideas propagated is that
of an aggression led by Ukraine (and instigated by NATO) against
Russia.
Ivan Purchel St.Turbinca. The other days Saacashvili, [...]
affirmed on the Ukrainian Channel 24 that the Ukrainian soldiers
are bravest in the world, however they have bad weapons. Thus, if
they will receive something American and will destroy the first 50
Russian tanks, then they can occupy the entire Russia, which will then
be served to the Yankees on a cake plate, with a blue ribbon and a

wild cherry on top. The Caucasian hawk doesnt sing the same songs
as many other mouths from NATO for nothing. The conflict worm is
well embedded in the Europeans consciousness.
Furthermore, the government in Kiev is presented either as
negligent, either as mal-intentioned towards its own citizens. This
image is presented in contrast to the one of the Russian Federation
which is the hero in this case. At the same time, the authors of the
posts try to erode the credibility of the Ukrainian politicians and of
the state apparatus.
conteaza parerea mea [...] What about ignoring the news that
the Russians, in the context of the energetic embargo of Ukraine, have
agreed to help an Ukrainian locality with gas, it seems too much, even
for an Amerloc (pro American) troll.
Another topic identified in the information warfare is that the
authors of the comments are trying to emphasize and augment the
tensions between Romania and Ukraine.
Dan Dumitru. We better remember that Romania as well has
[territory] incorporated in the same UKRAINE Northern Bucovina
and Herta land, the 3 counties in Southern Bessarabia that now
ensures Ukraines access the Danubes Delta.
7. Romania has nothing to gain from its membership in

NATO or EU or from its alliance with the U.S., it has only to loose
Of relevance in the attempt of persuading the audience that
Romania has nothing to win by being a member of NATO or EU
or even from its strategic partnership with the Unites States is the
following comment. Its main points (that the West has destroyed
and exploited Romania) are recurrent in many comments posted in
relation to articles in Adevrul or Romnia Liber:
Elena Ene Romania needs to understand that the U.S., France,
England are the greatest enemies of the country, they have destroyed
our economics infrastructure, they have destroyed everything [we]
have built during communism. America and the Occident hated
us because he had high performing industry and agriculture. The

education system was efficient. There was no field of activity in which
the Romanians hadnt achieved performances. Neither the Tatars,
nor the Turks or other migrant tribes have destroyed so much as
the Americans and the entire Occident did. Now we are a poor and
staving country. We live in poverty and misery. The only support were
expecting in from Russia, they will help us because they helped us back
in 1877 and have released our country from the fascist subjugation.
Another recurring sub-theme in this context is that of the visa
requirement for the Romanian citizens for entering the U.S. This is
highlighted in comments such as:
Zoltan @ Panait Following the same reasoning, Im asking you:
if you like [America] so much, why dont you pack your things and
go there and you leave us these [people] unsatisfied by so much
bondage and that whish peace [...]?! Ohh I forgot...! Even is [you] are
such fierce slaves, they dont want you even in visit, otherwise they
would give you visas [...] But youre not even worth a visa to them,
little losers [...]
Other points brought about under the same theme are the U.S.
actions in Romania during the World War and Romanias sale by
Great Britain and by the Romanians themselves.
S G The Americans did nothing good for Romania except
bombing our refineries and oil fields, while Churchill sold us to the
Russians (90/10) in exchange for Greece and Austria.
The possibility of another selling of Romania in exchange
for other regions has been suggested or explicitly stated throughout
several other comments.
On a different subject, the trolls are trying to prove to the
audience that the Romanian army and, thus, the national defence
capability, has been jeopardized after Romanias accession to NATO:
Cristine Johson Theres a long way from an American report to
an anti-Russian propaganda article. The first question is what does
Romania have [to dispute with] Russia. With an army reduced at
20% of its 89 military capacity (due to NATO accession conditions),
Romania does not have to capacity to respond and to defend. Wight

two cans (and not weaponry), retrieved from scrap at frigates price
of 160 million Euro, do we really want to stand against the Russians?
8. Denigrating Romania
The emphasis of denigrating Romania is realized primarily
through presenting the alleged subjugation and exploitation of the
country by the U.S. and the EU.
IonIon Codreanu Panait, this is all about the stupidity of
Europe! You need to try to understand this... Panics [induced] by the
Americans work only on them! Just so you know, the world is big!
Do you thing that Asia, Latin America, Pacifics states can leave this
fears?! No matter how hard the U.S. would try... They can have success
only hear, but especially in Romania. Or in Western Ukraine. The
Poles are much more rational, as a people. Because they are more
educated. For us, the lack of education and the booze + the liqueur
holds us at Europes tail... It is difficult for many around here to judge
with their own minds under these circumstances.
IonIon Codreanu Oh well, Costin, do you really believe
EVERYTHING the Americans tell you?! Are you so stupid as to
consider them brother? To BELIEVE that their interests are the same
as ours?! You really cant see that they are doing absolutely nothing to
relieve us from this socioeconomic sh*t were struggling in?!
Marius Oancea No, Russia doesnt represent any threat to
Romania. The only real threat for our country is us, the Romanians,
who have always enjoyed being the servants of the Americans, of the
Russians, of the Turks, etc.
In the same context, Romanias shifting positions in the
foreign policy are highlighted and criticised. This inconsistency is
invoked as a justification of Russias actions towards Bucharest.
Catalin Florea If Russia wanted to conquer us, it would
have done it long time ago. However, it respected us as much as it
could under the given circumstances where our state has been an
international bi*ch since its very beginning, it has supported when
one, when another... and then we also have expectations. Instead, the
[...] Americans, have made sure to bring us in the phase of miserable,
disunited and slave colony in which we are [and we] sell our country
by piece, with its mountains and forests, tomorrow or the day after
[we will even sell] the population.
In a similar vein, the trolls are outlining the country sells
made by Romania at the order of U.S. and EUs governmental
agencies:
Marius Ciprian Cacalin Voinicdecauciuc[...] An army like the
Russian one can fight on several flanks, its the second in the world in
strength. This is one. Secondly, if the Russians want to [get] Romania,
they wont do it through military warfare. Want to know why? Because
it is not cost efficient and because it is much easier to buy strategic
domains [being sold for nothing] by the Romanian governments
at the order of IMF, WB and EU. Examples: ALRO, oil refineries,
etc. To put it differently, from this hooker attitude, though [which
Romania] sells itself to the customers at the order of the pimp, we risk
to be economically f*cked by the Russians. Secondly, you talk like the
[Americans] did not [totally disregard] so many neutrally self declared
and independent states.
Another means of achieving this objective is by presenting
Romanias negative aspects through comparison with Moscow. The
purpose of this strategy is to convince the audience that the situation
in the Russian Federation is not as bad as the Romanian media is
trying to convey.
Sertorius [...] I do not understand why you judge so differently
the Romanians situations and the Russians. Its true that in 1944
the Red Army [invaded] us, but, even since 1945, who were doing the
Soviets dirty jobs, through the Peoples Tribunals? The Romanians!
Who do you think judged, condemned and shoot Marshal Antonescu?
The Russians? Ohh! Our Romanians! Who do you think the torturers
from the sinister Romanian communist prisons are? The Russians?
Ohh! Ours!
9. The U.S., its allies and Turkey are financing terrorism

Under this theme, reference is made primarily to Daesh (the
Islamic State, ISIS) and the oil they allegedly export with Turkeys
help, but other instances of alleged sponsoring of terrorism by the
U.S. and its allies are also invoked.
As such, in the article How does ISIS make its money:
speculations and manipulating the dollars value (Cum face ISIS
banii: speculaiile i manipularea cursului dolarului), published in
Adevrul, the author of the article presents the following noteworthy
elements: the relevance of Russias actions against ISIS, the support
given by Turkey to ISIS actions of transnational organized crime, the
benefits for ISIS of the coalitions strikes.
[...] Recently, the Islamists have suffered multiple losses. The
bombings of the Russian aviation have destroyed the transport
infrastructure that they were using for smuggling oil from Syria and
Iraq via Turkey. [...] The Baghdad government has decided to stop
paying wages to the public servants in the occupied regions of Iraq,
which means the loss of another important revenue source. [...] This is
exploited [...] to fill the gaps left by the coalition attacks. Furthermore,
ISIS troops are struggling to gain control over Libyan oil fields to make
up for the losses caused by the Russian aviation in Syria.
Another idea presented by the trolls is that of a fake
intervention of the United States against Daesh, while highlighting
its role is supporting the terrorists that fight against the (allegedly
legitimate) Assads regime. Simultaneously, the trolls dont hold
back from accusing the U.S. of hypocrisy, primarily concerning the
human rights rhetoric (while highlighting acts of torture allegedly
done by Washington). Moreover, they try to purport the fact that
the tensions between Ankara and Moscow are in fact due to Turkeys
greed and financial benefits drawn from ISIS activities, which are
affected by Russias alleged success against the Islamists.
cornel jurja ISIS fall back has become obvious since the Russian
intervention. Until then it seemed that the coalition led by the U.S. has
only mimed the fight with ISIS, while [in reality] fighting alongside
it and other (moderate?!) terrorists against Assads regime. The U.S.

policy is obvious, it allies with the greatest terrorists no matter the
risks in order to achieve an obscure political objective. When they
want to destabilize a state, the Americans invoke right away the non-
implementation of human rights one may think that Abu Graib
or Guantanamo are heavens for the prisoners, not places where the
military, CIA and other democratic structures are applying physical
and psychological terror [equivalent] to the darkest Middle Ages
inquisition.
France as well is labelled as an important contributor in the
creation and financing of Daesh:
.aaa aaa Hollande must have some guts now to ask other states
for help against ISIS. Only three years ago he was a supporter and
helped creating ISIS... Obama has seen this document and did nothing
[in this regard], on the contrary he has encouraged the creation of the
Caliphate. [...] Newly declassified US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA)
documents from 2012:... In Syria: salafism [sic], Muslim Brotherhood
and AQI are MAJOR forces at the command of the insurgency in Syria.
AQI [Al-Qaeda in Iraq, which became ISIS: ISIS, once names AQI]
has supported the Syrian opposition from the very beginning, both
ideologically and through mass-media... The opposition forces are
trying to control the zones in the East (Hasaka AND DER Zor), in
the proximity of the Western IRAQI provinces (Mosul and Anbar),
as well as next to neighbouring Turkeys frontier.> The WESTERN
COUNTRIES, the Gulf countries and Turkey are supporting these
efforts.7 pages www.judicialwatch.org/document-archive/pgs-287-
293-291-jw-v-dod-and-state-14-812-2/
Al Qaedas formation is not omitted either:
IonIon Codreanu Syrias insurgents are TERRORISTS, like
ALL insurgents in the world! This is the main problem! The U.S.
does not want to give up creating and financing insurgents, that is
TERRORISTS! Because, in an absolutely erroneous manner (see
what came to them from Osama, THEIR creation), they consider
TERRORISM to be profitable for the U.S.!
The association of the main Western allies with terrorism is

also a recurrent theme in the commentaries to articles in Romnia
Liber. However, the connection to terrorism is further expanded
to include NATOs actions in the Former Yugoslavia. Thus, the
idea implied through the comments at the semiotics level is that of
state- terrorism, which goes beyond the notion of state-sponsoring
terrorism:
Elena Ene America, England, France are terrorist countries,
they have destroyed and killed in Iraq, Afghanistan Libya and in
Serbia. The Romanian are very fond of Serbia, they are our dear
neighbours whose history has intertwined with ours. It is unforgivable
for Romania that it has allowed the bombing of Yugoslavia by the
Americans and their puppets from the Occidental Europe. This crime
against Yugoslavia has brought us even closer to the brother Serb
people and of the former peoples of the former Yugoslavia.
10. Erosion of cohesion within NATO

The topic of cohesion erosion within NATO is approached
primarily in report with the internal tensions due to the Kurd
fighters in Syria, but not only:
Goicea Niculae Breaking news on CNN, IonIon. Erdogan
accuses Washington of transforming Syria into a bloodbath. NATO
alliance is of the past, the Russians can breathe relieved.
Cristine Johson [...] This article reminds me of the communist
propaganda against the West [...] NATOs Eastern flank formed of
former communist countries starts to dismantle!
It is thus highlighted the lack of coherence within NATO and
the authors of the comments are trying to convey the message that
NATO will lose relevance as a result of these internal divergences.
Furthermore, they are trying to picture NATO as a weak actor that
will not hesitate to give up on any of its member states if such an
action would be in the interest of the more powerful states:
Avocatul Diavolului Being concerned makes sense. At the same
time, Romania had to make a choice between a pragmatic policy, neutral
and independent, and one openly against Russia. Unfortunately, it

has chosen the second option. Now belonging to an inefficient and
bureaucratic NATO and highly corrupted European Union proves to
be nothing more than a disaster hat sooner or later will break up in the
head of this nation. Dont illusion yourself with NATO because [when
the circumstances require], they will retreat to protect [themselves] and
will leave Romania the same way they did it at Yalta.
11. Denigrating Turkey

Denigrating Turkey a NATO member state and a fierce
partner of the EU, especially in the refugee crisis has the purpose
of setting the readers both against the state and against the two
alliances previously mentioned.
Thus, they are highlighting Turkey as a blackmailer:
.aaa aaa 12 fani What is indeed disgraceful is that Erdogan
wanted to blackmail the EU for $ 30 billion concerning the emigrants
crisis. And you dont even know. Eventually, he receive 3 billion. Here
are the documents that illegally surfaced and were published www.
euro2day.gr/news/economy/article/1397081/hontro-paihnidi-sth-
plath-ths-elladas.html [...]
Another objective of the information warfare on this subject
matter is denigrating Erdogan, both on the basis of the previous
mentioned motives and for promoting a more favourable image
for Putin (this is done through contrast by highlighting how
bad Erdogan is in comparison to Putin, or through similarity by
trying to convince the readers that there are not so many differences
between the two heads of states; thus, Putin is not a political actor
with which the EU and/or Romania could not have a positive and
meaningful relation given that they have with Erdogan).
Marius Ciprian Dont forget that Erdogan, kissed and spoiled
by the Westerns still thinks with nostalgia about and aspires to the
ascension era of the deceased Ottoman Empire. But it seems that
Europe has forgotten what consecutive centuries of Ottoman and
Islamist threats mean.
Furthermore, as the theme of financing terrorism highlights,

one other way of denigrating Turkey is by accusing it of being involved
in international oil smuggling, while partnering with Daesh.
12. Romania an aggressor state

Within this theme, the purpose is to present the idea that
Romania has entered the USSR during the World War with the
alleged purpose of stealing territory. The same argument is found
in the trolls comments about Romania under the lead of Antonescu:
IonIon Codreanu Costin, I see that you cannot grasp anything
with your mind. [...] You grandparents have thought that under
Antonescu they will get a nice peace of the USSR, your parents have
installed communism with the help of the Bolsheviks and you put
yourself in the service of the American propaganda.
13. Romania will not benefit of U.S./NATO protection in

the eventuality of a war
Represented as just a pawn which lacks any importance on the
chess table of the grand powers, Romania will not be the recipient of
U.S. troops in the eventuality of a war with the Russian Federation.
Marius Ciprian Poor Barabula disregards one thing: that tax
payer has no idea where Romania is situated on the world map and he
is not interested to know that. He will have had enough with financing
the machine war at some point.
This theme is presented complementary with the fact that the
U.S. instigates to invading the Russian Federation and that the latter
has regional military supremacy, especially in the extensive region
of the Black Sea. By means of illustration, the following comments
encompass this line of reasoning.
Moreover, this theme is presented again at the level of semiotics
through the title of another article which suggests that Romania is
not a country of interest for the U.S. and NATO: Romania is more
exposed to Russian pressure in the Black Sea basin, an area neglected
by NATO and the U.S.
Moreover, the comments to this article emphasize the

supremacy of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea, as well as
the fact that the U.S. and NATO would not hesitate to horse-trade
Romania for Syria:
Nicolae Stan NATO and the U.S. want to use Romania as a
bargaining chip. We offer you Romania in our sphere of influence
and you let us have Turkey so we can continue to take out the stolen
things through Latakia and Tartuz ports. This is what an American
will speak soon!
This subtheme is also revealed in the title and content of one
of the articles Russians at one step of cutting the U.S. access to the
Black Sea (Ruii la un pas de a tia accesul Statelor Unite la Marea
Neagr).
14. The thesis of an Europe united with Russia
Through this theme, the trolls pursue the aim of convincing
the audience of the benefits and even necessity of creating an
economic, scientific and cultural (European) force as the only means
to ensure world peace and defeating the supremacy of the bellicose
America. As part of this topic, the authors of the comment point out
to the human and other losses caused by the U.S. actions through its
foreign policy.
Moreover, the authors of the comments are trying to highlight
the fact that Kremlins policy is not a bellicose one, but that it rather
aims at obtaining a consensus at the European level one that would
include Moscow:
Anastasia Torcea No, it doesnt want to divide the Occident!
It would be very happy if there would be a consensus concerning the
ideas of having good relationships with Russia.
15. Erosion of cohesion within the EU
While highlighting the erosion of solidarity within the EU, the
trolls aim to pinpoint the fractionate positions of member states in
relation to Ukraine:
kuku mucu If Romania only plays [soccer] at its head and then
it will be betrayed like Germany and France have betrayed Ukraine
in favour of Russian oil and I should add Romania plus Bessarabia in

the negotiations concerning Transnistria, where Germany has [...] in
favour of the Russians. Fortunately, I have heard retired Generals who
were saying that the small countries need to be vigilant in relation
with the great powers.
Chapter 7

Evenimentul Zilei and Gndul
Dumitru aranua
Evenimentul Zilei
Evenimentul Zilei is a news portal that can be accessed at http://
www.evz.ro/. This daily newspaper has news from various categories
(social, politics, international, etc.). The main titles from EVZs site
are written with bold and vividly coloured characters, which draw
attention immediately. The rest of adjacent news has their titles with
small, blue letters; but once they are accessed they appear with bold
and scarlet titles as the latest news from the main page. Also, on the
site, one may find both simple news1, which speaks out about an
event or a declaration, and editorials2 , which are an opinion of an
expert or a journalist regarding a subject.
At a glance, the searching engine is easy to use and has even
a calendar which one may use to search in the archive of the news
1
NATO: Sistemul antirachet din Romnia nu este o ameninare pentru Rusia, http://
www.evz.ro/nato-sistemul-antiracheta-din-romania-nu-este-o-amenintare-pentru-
rusia.html, last accessed on 17.03.2016.
2
Cum poate cuceri Rusia Europa fr armate, http://www.evz.ro/cum-poate-cuceri-
rusia-europa-fara-armate.html, last accessed on 17.03.2016.
site by introducing a certain year, month and day. There is also the
possibility to search something by entering a word and you can
choose where this word should be, in the title of the article or in
its body. However, there are few articles from 2014 and they even
dont exist for certain dates. For the date 13.12.2013, there is only one
article and when you search news for August 2012 there is nothing.
In order to analyse the informational war of Russia in Romanian
press I tried to search for relevant subjects by entering such words as
Russia, Romania or both words together. The analysis wasnt meant
to be an exhaustive one from quantitative point of view. I rather
analysed several articles, which are a proof of informational war
techniques used in Romanias news media. The news was selected
from 2014-2016.
In the analysed articles, I identified several elements, which are
related to informational war. These elements could be found in the
title of the article, in the body of the article and in the commentary
section. Some titles contain words, which are fully written with bold
and capital letters3, to capture the attention probably. Other generics
are no more than scarecrow titles 4 that contains also some words
written with bold. There is intentionality in these actions in order
to capture the attention of the reader and to make him concerned
regarding certain international issue.
The content of some news5 provides information favourable for
Moscow and that could confuse the Romanian readers. The methods
used in the presentation of an event can vary from propaganda to
3
INFORMAIA ESENIAL care l-a satisfcutpe Vladimir Putin i care A STRNIT
NGRIJORARE n Statele Unite, http://www.evz.ro/informatia-esentiala-care-l-a-
satisfacut-pe-vladimir-putin-si-care-a-starnit-ingrijorare-in-statele-unite.html, last
accessed on 25.03.2016.
4
Guvernele lumii, n PANIC. RUSIA a pus INTA pe ROMNIA! Ar putea ncepe RZBOIUL
NUCLEAR, http://www.evz.ro/guvernele-lumii-in-panica-ar-putea-incepe-razboiul-
nuclear-iar-rusia-a-pus-tinta-pe-romania.html, last accessed on 20.03.2016.
5
Din cugetrile extremitilor europeni filo-rui: Europa trebuie s recunoasc anexarea
Crimeii de ctre Rusia, http://www.evz.ro/din-cugetarile-extremistilor-europeni-
filo-rusi-europa-trebuie-sa-recunoasca-anexarea-crimeii-de-catre-rusia.html, last
disinformation, which can be found in certain declarations that aim

to damage Wests image.
One of the main pillars of informational war is the army
of trolls. These persons leave comments where they argue and
try to justify the actions made by Russia and criticize the West.
Several trolls succeed in promoting their point of view despite the
commentary policy of EVZs site. It is possible that some trolls may
be simple internet users that were affected by propaganda.
Right above the commentaries of every article there appear
the rules that must be respected on the forum. The policy of the
site prohibits and even bans the users and comments that dont have
a proper behaviour, contain bad language and dont respect other
users. Below the field where you can write a comment there is remind
to have a good behaviour.
One may post a message by logging in with his Facebook
account or he can log in directly on the EVZs site. The first comments
that appear are the Facebook ones and right after them appear the
comments left by people who logged in on EVZs site. It is enough to
write down a name and an e-mail. Despite the rules and sites policy
imposed by admins, there are insulting comments 6 , which are not
banned.
Those who are logging in using the site EVZ have an
anonymous identity in most of cases. For example, one of the users
has a nickname7 and wrote that he is ready to sacrifice the Ukraine
if this will help Romania to regain its historical regions. There are
also notable trolls that use Facebook to post comments. They have
an anti-American rhetoric and have profiles on social network that
6
Ultima gselni a Moscovei: Tratatul Start pentru echilibrul forelor nucleare strategice
trebuie revizuit pentru a distruge asteroizi! | PULSUL PLANETEI, http://www.evz.ro/
ultima-gaselnita-a-moscovei-tratatul-start-pentru-echilibrul-fortelor-nucleare-
strategice-trebuie-revizuit-pentru-a-distruge-asteroizi-pulsul-planetei.html, last
7
Crimeii de ctre Rusia, op. cit.
seem to be real. They dont hesitate to express their anti-Western and

pro-Russian positions in the comments on the EVZs site.
Gndul
The digital version of newspaper Gndul can be accessed at the
website www.gandul.info. At a glance, the sites interface can look a
little bit erratic with a lot of articles on the first page. The news looks
monochromatic without bright colours. This thing may affect the
interest of the reader. On one hand, the user can focus more on the
text of the article, on the other hand, the reader may be uninterested
because of the lack of attractiveness of the published information.
The search engine from Gnduls site belongs to
OkiDokicompany. It isnt very handy as it doesnt grant the access
to newspaper archive and you have to search the news by entering
words. The analysed articles are from 2015-2016.
Some news are very short like the declaration of Sergey Lavrov 8 ,
the Russian minister of foreign affairs, which tries to legitimize the
annexation of Crimea by referring to a blunder perpetrated by Coca-
Cola. Other articles9 are more like of editorials where authors try to
explain an event more thoroughly. The above examples have elements
specific to an informational war. The readers are misinformed and
scared by erroneous titles that capture the attention.
There also can be noticed the emphasizing of several Russian
officials declarations. The declarations vary; some of them arent
necessary threats. There are declarations that express the concerns
of Russia regarding the perilous evolutions of the international
system and how Moscow wants to contribute to stability and peace.
8
Lavrov exult: Coca-Cola a recunoscut Crimeea. Toat lumea o va face ncurnd, http://
www.gandul.info/international/lavrov-exulta-coca-cola-a-recunoscut-crimeea-
toata-lumea-o-va-face-in-curand-15068246, last accessed on 19.03.2016.
9
Rusia avertizeaz Romnia: Sistemele antirachet nu vor putea rezista unui atac intens,
http://www.gandul.info/stiri/rusia-avertizeaza-romania-sistemele-antiracheta-nu-
vor-putea-rezista-unui-atac-intens-14922084, last accessed on 26.03.2016.
For an instance, there is a declaration of Dmitri Rogozin10, which is

concerned about territorial integrity of Transnistria. Other Russian
official11 is concerned about the outer spaces securitization.
Another element, to which you must pay attention, is the comments
from Gandul dailys site. Even if there is a small notification that is the
policy of the newspaper regarding the behaviour on the forum, many
internet users neglect it and the sites administration dont take actions
towards this. In theory, the abusive comments are prohibited but one
may see a lot of insulting messages and persona attacks. In order to post a
comment one may use its Facebook account or can log in on the site and
hide his identity, which is the most used method.
The news regarding international relations, Russia, Romania
or the West have a lot of comments written down by trolls. These
internet users have an anti-American and pro-Russian rhetoric.
There is a troll, which is ubiquitous in almost all of the news
regarding Russia or USA. It isnt clear if this troll is the same person
or behind this identity hides an army of trolls. In the comments of
one article,12 this troll posted an anti-American message and after
that, this message was copied and posted by more other users,
underlining sympathy towards him. The same troll attacks and
accuses an author13 because he is too pro-American. In addition, he
10
icepremierul Rogozin: Rusia trebuie s acorde mai uor cetenie transnistrenilor,
V
altfel i mpinge spre Romnia, http://www.gandul.info/international/vicepremierul-
rogozin-rusia-trebuie-sa-acorde-mai-usor-cetatenie-transnistrenilor-altfel-ii-
impinge-spre-romania-14530158, last accessed on 14.03.2016.
11
Rusia, ngrijorat de un posibil rzboi spaial, http://www.gandul.info/international/
rusia-ingrijorata-de-un-posibil-razboi-spatial-15049890, last accessed on
18.03.2016.
12
Reacia Rusiei dup ce NATO a decis s-i ntreasc prezena n Europa, http://www.
gandul.info/international/reactia-rusiei-dupa-ce-nato-a-decis-sa-si-intaresca-
prezenta-in-europa-15062531, last accessed on 16.03.2016.
13
Cine este vinovatul pentru tensiunile din Siria, n viziunea Rusiei, http://www.gandul.
info/international/cine-este-vinovatul-pentru-tensiunile-din-siria-in-viziunea-
rusiei-15046506, last accessed on 20.03.2016.
praises the greatness of Russia and threatens14 NATO with Russian

military force that could be used because of anti-missile defensive
system from Deveselu.
There are trolls that look to be more real. This category may
include those users, which are using their Facebook profiles and
seem to have a real name and profile photo. One of them posted a
comment15 and asked if there was a referendum to die for Americans.
These kinds of trolls express their anti-American rhetoric and try to
show that they are not afraid to reveal their real identity. It is not
easy to guess if these persons are real or not but some of them have
profile photos where you can see that they are full-aged men.
Update: The Gndul newspaper fully changed its interface of

the digital version. The design was changed in April 2016. Besides
the fact that the appearance of the news is more colourful, with more
images, there is a new search engine, more easy to use. Also, there
isnt any more the possibility to write down a comment logging in
directly on the site. These commentaries were deleted. The only
option to leave a comment is to use your Facebook profile and the
old Facebook comments were kept.

Evenimentul Zilei
Several articles from Evenimentul Zilei explain the
informational war and describe it. There are 12 editorials that present
the informational war; 11 of them are written by Iulian Chifu and the
12th belongs to Radu Padure. Some articles contain certain examples
14
usia avertizeaz Romnia: Sistemele antirachet nu vor putea rezista unui atac
R
intens, op. cit.
15
Noua strategie NATO pentru a rspunde la ameninarea Rusiei. Ce rol joac Romnia
n planul de reacie rapid al Alianei, http://www.gandul.info/stiri/noua-strategie-
nato-pentru-a-raspunde-la-amenintarea-rusiei-ce-rol-joaca-romania-in-planul-de-
reactie-rapida-al-aliantei-15063765, last accessed at 14.03.2016.
of informational wars technique like the one where is presented the

presumed attack of Romania on Transnistria16 .
There are articles where you can found a conceptual
delimitation17 with descriptions and explanations of informational
war strategy. Also, on EVZs site there is an article18 that outlines the
existence of that trolls army, which are ubiquitous in virtual space
and try to pretend that they are simple internet users but with an
unconventional, pro-Russian and anti-Western rhetoric.
Gndul
The description of informational war is present in few articles
on the site of newspaper Gndul. Using the OkiDoki search engine
I found 5 articles that speak about informational war. Some of the
news has a very vague approach. In one of the articles there is only
one paragraph regarding informational war.
Also, Russia will continue to wage the informational war
at a new level trying to support anti-American and anti-Western
sentiments not only inside the country but all around the world.
Moscow will continue to publish false and deceptive information in
order to compromise the West. This information will mix and distort
the events that are threading Russia, and will try to undermine the
consensus regarding Russia and will defend Russias role as a global,
responsible and indispensable power19. This is an excerpt from an
article that tries to present examples of informational war.
16
ULSUL PLANETEI. Exerciii de Rzboi informaional: RomniaatacTransnistria!,http://
P
www.evz.ro/pulsul-planetei-exercitii-de-razboi-informational-romania-ataca-
transnistria.html, last accessed on 25.03.2016.
17
PULSUL PLANETEI. Rzboiul informaional mpotriva Romniei, http://www.evz.ro/
pulsul-planetei-razboiul-informational-impotriva-romaniei.html, last accessed on
20.03.2016.
18
PULSUL PLANETEI. Uzinele de troli, arma rzboiului informaional al Rusiei cu
Occidentul i cu Adevrul, http://www.evz.ro/pulsul-planetei-uzinele-de-troli-arma-
razboiului-informational-al-rusiei-cu-occidentul-si-cu-adevarul.html, last accessed
on 19.03.2016.
19
Raportul serviciilor secrete americane despre AMENINAREA de la grania Romniei,
http://www.gandul.info/international/raportul-serviciilor-secrete-americane-
Narratives
1.
P utin is a legitimate president whose authority is
recognized by the majority of Russian
The West sees the longevity of Vladimir Putin as president of
Russian Federation and his popularity as an odd thing. He is both
a legal and a legitimate president as he has obtained the necessary
votes at the presidential election. However, it must be underlined
that the legitimacy rise some questions if is to take in consideration
the systematic pressure and intimidation of Russian opposition.
The popularity of Vladimir Putin is often emphasized by
numerous polls, like those organized by Russian Public Opinion
Research Centre (VTsIOM). The dissemination of polls results are
made through press. Journalists outside Russia publish these polls
in the mass media from their country. Sometimes, Vladimir Putins
high rating is presented with some admiration.
Romania is not an exception and we can observe that the
high approval rank of Putin is presented in a positive way. As an
example for this statement is a phrase from an article posted on
Evenimentul Zilei: The results were made public on Wednesday
in Moscow, according to Agerpres, which also stated that Putin
reached the highest level of vote intention in the last four years 20.
This is nothing else than a confirmation of sovereign democracy
theorized by Vladislav Surkov, which states that Russia can have a
different democratic regime other than a liberal-western one and the
politicians have high ratings because this is the desire of Russian
people.
despre-amenintarea-de-la-granita-romaniei-15074061, last accessed on 15.03.2016.
20
INFORMAIA ESENIAL care l-a satisfcut pe Vladimir Putin i care A STRNIT
NGRIJORARE n Statele Unite, http://www.evz.ro/informatia-esentiala-care-l-a-
satisfacut-pe-vladimir-putin-si-care-a-starnit-ingrijorare-in-statele-unite.html,
lastaccessedat25.03.2016.
2. Russia is not afraid of NATO because it is a great power

There were always quarrels between random persons regarding
who will win a conventional, or nuclear, war if there would be one
between NATO/USA/EU and Russian Federation. Some citizens try
to defend Moscows position, without any arguments, and are sure
of its invincibility.
On news sites there are trolls that dont use any euphemisms
to express their sympathy toward Russia and to post comments that
Russia is the most powerful state in the world. One of the users has left
a comment on the site of Evenimentul Zilei: At this moment Russia
is the greatest power in the world. They dont want to attack anyone
but they also wont let anyone humiliate them. You must realize that if
Russia wouldnt be the strongest country we, the Romanians, would eat
at social canteens on meal tickets offered by the global financial-banking
mafia21. Other user22 tries to underline the enormous nuclear arsenal
of Russian Federation and believes that no one would dare to attack it.
Some news dont speak a word about Russias military superiority
and about its fearless attitude toward the West but the titles can be
exaggerative to scary intentionally the readers. One article, which
refers only to a declaration of German ministry of finances regarding
the democratic regime and economic superiority of EU towards Russia,
is entitled Russia isnt afraid of NATO. There was officials talks about
the PERVERSE GOAL of Vladimir Putin23. This title only aims to
misinform the reader and to create a wrong opinion.
3. Ukraine is an artificial territory and shouldnt exist

Many internet users ignore unintentionally or intentional the
principles of international law and dont want to give even a chance
21
USIA vorbete despre un RZBOI MONDIAL. Declaraii OCANTE de la vrful statului,
R
http://www.evz.ro/breaking-news-premierul-rus-dmitri-medvedev-sustine-ca-
exista-riscul-unui-razboi-mondial.html, last accessed on24.03.2016.
22
ibid
23
Rusia NU SE TEME DE NATO. S-a vorbit oficial despre SCOPUL PERVERS al lui Vladimir
Putin, http://www.evz.ro/rusia-nu-se-teme-de-nato-s-a-vorbit-oficial-despre-
scopul-pervers-al-lui-vladimir-putin.html, last accessed on 26.03.2016
to Ukraine to exist on worlds political map. They neglect the idea

of Woodrow Wilson of self-determination at the end of First World
War, they dont take in consideration the principles of Atlantic
Charter, UN Charter and even Helsinki Accords. Ukraine, for some
persons, is a historical region of Russia and parts of its territory
contains illegal annexations.
There are users, which demand the sacrifice of Ukraine in
order to obtain the historical Romanians territories: Without a
joke Ukraine seems to be too big. There is enough room to give to
others also. I have a woe 24 . A comment has the following statement:
Let them recognise even the annexation of entire Ukraine in order
to give us back those two counties, the South of Bessarabia and
Northern Bucovina stolen by Ukraine and USSR through the criminal
illegitimate pact Molotov-Ribbentrop 25. One of the trolls26 thinks
that Ukraine should be split between more states as it is an artificial
territory with a lot of ethnicities.
These ideas can contain vague historical truth but it is irrelevant
and with no meaning in the actual context of international law.
Ukraine is a state recognised by member states of UN, including Russia,
and the legitimacy of territorial integrity cannot be contested as the
international system was created and defined by common agreement.
4. Brussels is a source of homosexuality and this is why

Russia is reticent because of EU
The decline of Western Europe and its vicious style of life is an often
topic of Russian internet users, and even some experts. In their opinion,
24
eferendum n Crimeea: 93% au votat alipirea de Rusia, http://www.evz.ro/1087333.
R
html, last accessed on 20.03.2016
25
Crimeii de ctre Rusia, http://www.evz.ro/din-cugetarile-extremistilor-europeni-
filo-rusi-europa-trebuie-sa-recunoasca-anexarea-crimeii-de-catre-rusia.html, last
accessed on 18.03.2016
26
Rusia NU SE TEME DE NATO. S-a vorbit oficial despre SCOPUL PERVERS al lui Vladimir
Putin, op. cit.
European Union is too liberal and the fact that all the minorities obtain
rights leads to the destruction of traditional and conservative values.
Some internet users and news spread this idea in Romanian
press. A troll from Evenimentul Zilei thinks that: Russia doesnt
want to have homosexuality imposed and is disgusted by what is
now the symbol of EU, Conchita Wurst, a strange specimen, neither
a woman or a man, but it is the specific symbol of the disaster called
European Union 27.
For some, EU is not only an aggressive promoter of LGBT rights
but also is a political entity, which doesnt offer a sustainable solution
for identity crisis and for conservation of traditional values. In one
of the articles from the site www.gandul.info, there is underlined
the position of Alexander Dugin: There is a need for a Eurasian
empire to counterbalance the influence of the nihilistic West 28.
The declaration of Dugin alludes to the defensive characteristic of
Eurasian political construct regarding the protection of conservative
ideas. Also, this declaration emphasizes the word nihilistic, which is
an intrinsic feature of the West.
5. EU is undemocratic, doesnt respect the sovereignty of its

member states and destroyed the industry of Romania
Through the idea, which is implanted in the minds of
European citizens, that European Union is a political entity that has
too many prerogatives and violates the sovereign principle some aim
to fragmentise EU. The false premise is that violating the sovereignty
EU is weakening the economies of member states.
This would be the main reason why Russia doesnt want and
European integration and doesnt want the austerity to be imposed
27
usia NU SE TEME DE NATO. S-a vorbit oficial despre SCOPUL PERVERS al lui Vladimir
R
Putin, op. cit.
28
Un apropiat al lui Putin vorbete despre Imperiul Eurasiatic, din care artrebui s
fac parte i Romnia, http://www.gandul.info/international/un-apropiat-al-lui-
putin-vorbeste-despre-imperiul-eurasiatic-din-care-ar-trebui-sa-faca-parte-si-
romania-13795968, last accessed on 21.03.2016
by Brussels; doesnt want the industry to be crumbled and destroyed

as it was done in Romania and other communist countries; doesnt
want to be imposed how many refugees it should receive 29. A troll in
an articles commentaries wrote this affirmation.
Others spread the idea that EU is a copy of USSR. One
user calls EU Soviet European Union and mocks member states
30
that they are exploited and treated bad by banks. In his opinion the
same did the Bolsheviks. This affirmation has an intentional lack of
arguments and has false premises using sophist techniques.
6. A world war can erupt because of competition between

NATO/The West and Russia
A Third World War is an efficient propaganda to scary the
people. Emphasizing this subject can make the citizens to put some
pressures on their government to improve the relations with a certain
state. In our case, we can speak about an archetype of a scarecrow of
Russias image. This idea states that Russia shouldnt be despised and
ostracized as it could lead to a conflict escalation and even a war.
The title RUSSIA talks about a WORLD WAR. SHOCKING
Declarations of top officials definitely attracts many readers and
creates erroneous conclusions. In fact, this publication underlines
a declaration of Russian Prime Minister, Dmitri Medvedev. He
said: A ground offensive makes a war to become permanent. The
Evenimentul Zilei daily interpreted this declaration as a threat with
a world war: Russian premier Dmitri Medvedev affirms that great
powers must negotiate in order to end the war in Syria and a ground
offensive in this country can make a world war to be possible31.
29
usia NU SE TEME DE NATO. S-a vorbit oficial despre SCOPUL PERVERS al lui Vladimir
R
Putin, op. cit.
30
Un apropiat al lui Putin vorbete despre Imperiul Eurasiatic, din care ar trebui s fac
parte i Romnia, op. cit.
31
RUSIA vorbete despre un RZBOI MONDIAL. Declaraii OCANTE de la vrful statului,
op. cit.
7. USA uses hybrid war techniques and supports the activity

of terrorist organizations
The escalation of military conflict in Donbass came with
proofs, which show that Russian troops are present in East Ukraine.
Russia didnt take the responsibility for this war but the presence of
little green men made this conflict to be a hybrid war with soldier in
unmarked uniforms.
Russia and its allies reject these accusations. Others allude
that, in fact, the West is the one who practices hybrid wars. The
tensions in Syria are generated by NATO, said Igor Konashenkov, the
spokesperson of Russian Defence Ministry, cited by TASS daily32 .
Some trolls33 emphasize the idea that USA is making its policy
through terrorist organizations and that Islamic State is just a tool in
Syria. Other trolls34 affirm that the West in Libya, Syria, Afghanistan
and South America used hybrid wars and that it is something normal
for great powers to carry out proxy wars.
This disinformation is advantageous for Moscow as it can
divert the attention from situation in Ukraine, fools the ordinary
citizens that dont have any knowledge in international relations
field, and makes them think that hybrid war is only use by USA and
NATO in Mena region.
Besides this disinformation there are used also conspiracy
theories where USA is the main sponsor of terrorism. One troll 35
likes the idea that USA is supporting terrorist organizations and
threatens Russian Federation by approaching to its boarders.
32
ine este vinovatul pentru tensiunile din Siria, n viziunea Rusiei, http://www.gandul.
C
info/international/cine-este-vinovatul-pentru-tensiunile-din-siria-in-viziunea-
rusiei-15046506, last accessed on 20.03.2016
33
ibid
34
op. cit.
35
Reacia Rusiei dup ce NATO a decis s-i ntreasc prezena n Europa, http://www.
gandul.info/international/reactia-rusiei-dupa-ce-nato-a-decis-sa-si-intaresca-
prezenta-in-europa-15062531, last accessed on 16.03.2016.
8. The West is represented by secret societies that want to

enslave humanity
Persons who want to denigrate the West, especially USA,
often use conspiracy theories. Many people think that behind the
governments are hiding powerful bankers or members of masonic
lodge that promote their own interests and try to dominate the
world through the financial and monetary system. Some groups of
persons, including the citizens of Russian Federation, are convinced
that these masons are looking to destroy the conservative societies
by subjugating them through privatizations and bank loans.
Therefore, the institutions headed by ruthless and immoral persons
are International Monetary Fund and several private banks.
In Romania, there exist persons who believe in this conspiracy
theory; some of them can be simple trolls that misinform in order to
create an anti-western behaviour. Some internet users make subtle
allusions to this idea. In one of the commentaries to the news about
Russia financing the protests against shale gas exploitation, a troll 36
affirms that this is better that to have a divided Romania.
Others dont use euphemisms and state that there are persons
involved in financial affairs, which have an impact on international
politics. A journalist 37 believes in the existence of puppeteers, which
hide behind the money and command the western politicians.
Moreover, a troll 38denies the probability of a world war as it would
be the end of the global financial mafia, he also accuses that only
slaves and fools worship those pieces of paper called money printed
by that mafia. These statements confirm the idea that some persons,
36
Iulian Iancu: Rusia a finanat cu 82 de milioane de euro manifestrile mpotriva
gazelor de ist din Europa, http://www.evz.ro/iulian-iancu-rusia-a-finantat-cu-82-
de-milioane-de-euro-manifestarile-impotriva-gazelor-de-sist-din-europa.html, last
37
Cum poate cuceri Rusia Europa fr armate, http://www.evz.ro/cum-poate-cuceri-
rusia-europa-fara-armate.html, last accessed on 17.03.2016.
38
op. cit.
intentionally or unintentionally, try to convince the rest of the people

about the existence of powerful men wanting to harm Romania.
9. Russia is essential for Europe

Besides the tactics and strategies of intimidation, the
informational war implies also some soft propaganda. This refers to
the efforts of improving ones image as Russia tries. Moscow lost its
credibility violating several assumed responsibilities and its western
partners adopted a reserved position toward it. In order to overcome
this situation Russia may popularize in press the declarations of
some European politicians towards it. Certain news tries to prove
that some Europeans believe in the necessity of friendship with
Kremlin and that it is essential for European Union.
On the site www.evz.ro there is an article that underlines
the friendly stance of French nationalist Marine Le Pen towards
Russians. In the same interview, the leader of National Front
declared that Russia represents an essential ally of Europe. We are
pawns in the hegemonic game between USA and Russia. Russia is a
big country, a big nation, which has a lot of common strategic interests
with Europe. With must talk with Russia, declared Marine Le Pen39.
This statement isnt an accidental information that appears in news
as for Russia it is important that European public opinion perceive
the Russians as good ones rather than enemies.
10. The right of self-determination of Crimea and Eastern

Ukraine
Many think of self-determination as a right of every political
group to claim a part of sovereign territory of a state. Some may
plead for the right of self-government of peoples without taking into
consideration the Constitution of the state they belong and forgot
that in Crimea live both Ukrainians and Russians and each of them
already has a state, Ukraine and Russia.
39
in cugetrile extremitilor europeni filo-rui: Europa trebuie s recunoasc anexarea
D
One user40 is resentful about the practice of double standards

and asks why Kosovo people fought for their liberty but those from
eastern Ukraine, which do the same, are considered terrorists. Many
others try to legitimate what happened with Crimea and what is
happening in Donbass. Some pro-Russians trolls from news sites
support the separatism from eastern Ukraine and some information
from news leads to the idea that the annexation of Crimea was
legal according to international law. The following title Lavrov
exults: Coca-Cola recognised Crimea. Soon everybody will do the
same41 underlines the attempt to legitimize the event from March
2014. Other news legitimize the annexation by citing well-known
politicians: There isnt other solution. The annexation of Crimea to
Russia must be recognised because it occurred when the authorities
from Kiev were illegal, stated Marine Le Pen42 .
11. The missile defence system from Deveselu is dangerous

for Romania as it will suffer from USAs actions because
Russia will aim the Romanian territory
The installation of missile defence system near Russias border
makes Kremlin become very nervous. Such military equipment can
easily undermine Moscows military strategy, which is focused on
its nuclear arsenal. Missile defence system from Deveselu is clearly a
defensive installation, as its name is. Although, Russia perceive it as
a threat because it could annihilate its deterrence strategy.
Using the informational war technique, Russia tries to
constrain Romania to give up this defensive system. The most often
arguments refer to Romanias vulnerability as it will be attacked
first in case of a military conflict. These psychological attacks try to
40
ibid
41
Lavrov exult: Coca-Cola a recunoscut Crimeea. Toat lumea o va face ncurnd, http://
www.gandul.info/international/lavrov-exulta-coca-cola-a-recunoscut-crimeea-
toata-lumea-o-va-face-in-curand-15068246, last accessed on 19.03.2016.
42
emphasize the fact that if USA wont stop to continuing its projects
regarding missile defence systems a military intervention is still an
option. The declaration of Alexander Grushko 43, the permanent
ambassador of Russia at NATO, confirms the later statement. He
said that USA doesnt take into consideration the regional security
interests and these projects divide Russia and Europe, and this could
be really dangerous. Another Russian official44 threatened Romania.
He said that Romania doesnt have any chance to resist to an intense
attack of Russian strategic weapons.
Some trolls also try to criticize Romania for its decision to
deploys this military equipment at Deveselu. One45 of them thinks
that Romania should give up this project and that Russia must arm
Serbia. Other troll46 is being sarcastic and alludes that the missile
defence system isnt really a defensive one.
12. Russia tried to liberate Ukraine from American and

fascists occupants
Many internet users talk nonsense how USA intentionally
supports most of military conflicts all around the world. Moreover,
some of them claim that in fact Moscow tries to counter these
conf licts and to liberate the people. Thus, Russian policy isnt an
imperialistic one and it doesnt interfere in domestic policies of
other states.
The idea that Russians are the saviours is strongly connected
with the fact that Maidan wasnt legitimate. A year ago in Ukraine
43
ATO: Sistemul antirachet din Romnia nu este o ameninare pentru Rusia, http://
N
www.evz.ro/nato-sistemul-antiracheta-din-romania-nu-este-o-amenintare-pentru-
rusia.html, last accessed on 17.03.2016.
44
Rusia avertizeaz Romnia: Sistemele antirachet nu vor putea rezista unui atac intens,
http://www.gandul.info/stiri/rusia-avertizeaza-romania-sistemele-antiracheta-nu-
vor-putea-rezista-unui-atac-intens-14922084, last accessed on 26.03.2016.
45
ibid
46
Guvernele lumii, n PANIC. RUSIA a pus INTA pe ROMNIA! Ar putea ncepe RZBOIUL
NUCLEAR, http://www.evz.ro/guvernele-lumii-in-panica-ar-putea-incepe-razboiul-
nuclear-iar-rusia-a-pus-tinta-pe-romania.html, last accessed on 20.03.2016.
was a coup detat. Neo-Nazis organized a revolution in Ukraine and

the new authorities from Kiev have taken decision that leaded to a
civil war47, declared Marine Le Pen.
In order for this idea to succeed, there is a need of persons,
which agree with it. On news sites there are a lot of commentaries
and users that support the idea of Moscow as a saviour. In Romanias
online space, there are such comments. A troll48 tries to convince
other users that peaceful Ukrainians met with open arms Russian
army to save them from the war and pro-European aggressive
authorities.
Other internet user49 is sure that Americans spread chaos and
need wars in order to survive but Russians stopped them in Ukraine.
There is even an idea 50 that CIA orchestrated the instability and
separatism in Ukraine because Ianukovich didnt want to sell Ukraine
to Europeans, which are slaves of Americans. These statements are
nothing more than simple blames of USA and efforts to demonstrate
that Russia has nothing to do with the Ukrainian crisis.
13. Romania should cheer because of Ukraine weakness as it

could claim the historical territories
One of the main goals of Kremlins informational war is to
legitimize the situation in Ukraine thus, there are efforts to incite
for revisionism. The propaganda tries to focus the attention of
Ukraines neighbours on its crisis. For instance, there are trolls,
which remind that Ukraine has such territories as Bucovina and
Southern Bessarabia that belong to Romania. Therefore, Romanian
47
in cugetrile extremitilor europeni filo-rui: Europa trebuie s recunoasc anexarea
D
48
Rzboi la grania Romniei? Armata ucrainean este pregtit de un conflict armat cu
Rusia, http://www.evz.ro/razboi-la-granita-romaniei-1085031.html, last accessed on
17.03.2016.
49
ibid
50
ibid
citizens would likely to ignore the fate of Ukraine and Russias actions
if there will be a promise that Romania will extend its frontiers.
On news sites forums there are users that confirm this
assumption. For example, one internet troll 51 supports the idea that
Ukraine is too big and it must share some territories with Romania.
Another troll 52 thinks that what is happening in Ukraine is good
news because Republic of Moldova would adhere easier to European
Union and the liberation of historical territories, which were
occupied, is legal. These commentaries are simple efforts to call for
an obsolete revisionism that violates the Helsinki Agreements.
14. Russia is an energy superpower and Romania should be

a good friend with it
There are less clever ideas in the context of informational war.
Some may create an illusion that Romania is dependent on Russian
gas. Unfortunately, for them, they dont even take into consideration
the fact that Romanians import of Russian gas in 2008 was about 25%
from total domestic consume. In 2014 the imports were about 17% and
in 2015 Romania didnt import more than 2% of gas from Russia.
However, there are internet trolls who try to scary other
internet users of Romanias dependence on Russian gas. One article
from www.evz.ro, titled What Romania will do if Russia close the gas
valve alludes to the peril of interruption of gas supplies. This news
was published in 2014.
Moreover, some persons wrote some misinforming comments.
It might be the same person as the nicknames are pretty similar.
One of the commentaries53 supports the idea that it is normal for
Russia to interrupt gas supplies as the globalists impose sanctions
51
eferendum n Crimeea: 93% au votat alipirea de Rusia, op. cit.
R
52
Rzboi la grania Romniei? Armata ucrainean este pregtit de un conflict armat cu
Rusia, op. cit.
53
Ce face Romnia dac Rusia nchide robinetul la gaze, http://www.evz.ro/ce-face-
romania-daca-rusia-inchide-robinetul-la-gaze.html, last accessed on 15.03.2016.
with no reasons. The second posted message54 emphasize the idea

that all of those who dont want to be good neighbours with Russia
will have this fate and is better for them to start looking for wood
as winter will come someday. A third comment 55 refers to the title
of the article, and affirms that Romania cant do anything and is
powerless against Russias decisions.
15. Romanian doesnt need Republic of Moldova as it could

lead to the occupation by Russia of Moldova situated on
western bank of river Prut
It is hard to imagine that Russia would accept a unification
of Romania and Republic of Moldova, even if there would and
advantageous bargain. One of the articles from Evenimentul Zilei has
an interesting approach to this problem. The author try to emphasize
the risk of a possible unification as it could become a threat to the
territorial integrity. Probably this is an allusion to the historical
desire of Russia to occupy the whole Moldova as it was intended by
Tsar Alexander I during the Russo-Turkish war from 1806-1812.
Thereby, the author underlines the declarations of Moldavian
politician Artur Resetnikov, the former director of Moldavian
intelligence agency. I dont know if Basescu understands that he
lights up a new fuse in the region. Ok, lets pretend he doesnt care
about Moldova, but does he realizes what would be the reaction of
Hungary and Ukraine? Stop Base, otherwise Romania will have to
return back what doesnt belong to it: Iasi, Suceava and the entire
Moldova from other side of Prut56. The author agrees with the
statement of Resetnicov and is aware that Romania could suffer
because of Republic Moldova. This is the kind of propaganda that
aims to deter Romanian politicians to enhance friendly bilateral
relations between Romania and Republic of Moldova.
54
ibid
55
ibid
56
Cum poate cuceri Rusia Europa fr armate, op. cit.
16. Romania was occupied by NATO and if a war will occur

Romanians will die for unknown interests
This topic can be deducted from a series of messages posted by
Romanian internet users, some of them are trolls for sure. The idea that
Romanias security is under threat because of its NATO membership
is a type of scarecrow propaganda. Some trolls highlight the idea that
Romania will suffer the most if there will be a war between NATO and
Russia. USA, on the other hand, will gain only benefits, as it is situated
thousands miles away. Besides this, there are doubts that Romania gave
its consent to adhere to NATO and that the armies of western countries
occupied abusively the Romanian sovereign territory.
The internet trolls are posting various comments regarding this
topic. Some57 are asking if there was a referendum to ask Romanians if
they want to die for Americans; others58 allude to the fact that Russian
missiles will land in Romania in case of a war. Romania is occupied
during peacetime. Shame on Romanian nation59, is another comment
alluding that the NATO troops are stationed in Romania. One of the
trolls60 claims that foreigners wont help Romania in a real war.
The argument, which states that Romania could become Russias
target because of NATO, can be found in the content of some news.
Several articles from www.gandul.infounderline the threatening
declaration of some Russian officials. Russia has missiles that can
destroy every anti-ballistic system installed by USA, warns Sergey
Karakev, the chief of Russian strategic forces, alluding to the missile
defence system installed by NATO in Romania and Poland61. I am
sure that anyone from NATO understands the fact that these trainings
57
Noua strategie NATO pentru a rspunde la ameninarea Rusiei. Ce rol joac Romnia
n planul de reacie rapid al Alianei, http://www.gandul.info/stiri/noua-strategie-
nato-pentru-a-raspunde-la-amenintarea-rusiei-ce-rol-joaca-romania-in-planul-de-
reactie-rapida-al-aliantei-15063765, last accessed on 14.03.2016.
58
ibid
59
ibid
60
ibid
61
Rusia avertizeaz Romnia: Sistemele antirachet nu vor putea rezista unui atac
intens, op. cit.
carried out by them cant remain without a technical and military

response, declared on Monday Alexander Grushkofo Rossia-2462 .
17.
Russia seeks to secure the international system and
respects the international law
Spreading the idea through disinformation and propaganda
that you are a good person is a technique often used in Russias
informational war. Russia tries to create the false impression that it
is not a security consumer and is strengthening the global security.
Using this method one must slander others international actors and
accuse them of violating international law in order to distort the
reality and make people become confused.
In Romanian press, there is news where Russia is aware of
the regressive international security. Russia is aware of the real
possibility of transporting and depositing of weapons in outer space,
declared Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabikov, in an
interview for TASS63, this is a kind of information likely to underline
the alibi of Russia in the weapon proliferation matter. A similar logic
has the following declaration of Alexander Grushko: NATO shot
itself in the leg halting the cooperation in fields of common interests,
like creating a common police in Afghanistan to fight drugs, a decision
that is threatening the Russias and Europes security64 .
Moscows frustration about the consolidation of anti-missiles
defence in Eastern Europe, which decreases the functionality of
its nuclear arsenal, leads it to blame the West for the violation of
international treaties. The missile defence systems, which are supposed
to be installed in Romania and Poland, represents an infringement of
62
Moscova va rspunde consolidrii NATO n apropierea Rusiei, http://www.gandul.
info/international/moscova-va-raspunde-consolidarii-nato-in-apropierea-
rusiei-15055829, last accessed on 18.03.2016.
63
Rusia, ngrijorat de un posibil rzboi spaial, http://www.gandul.info/international/
rusia-ingrijorata-de-un-posibil-razboi-spatial-15049890, last accessed on
18.03.2016.
64
Moscova va rspunde consolidrii NATO n apropierea Rusiei, op. cit.
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, this declaration tries to

redirect the responsibility from east to west.
It is also relevant to underline a declaration of Vladimir
Putin, which was published on a Romanian news site. At the end of
October Vladimir Putin emphasized the idea that the expansion of
USAs anti-missile systems in Eastern Europe is a threat for Russian
nuclear capabilities. He expressed his concerns that this offensive
infrastructure of NATO is getting too close to Russian borders an
there could be a dangerous scenario. Russia warned that anti-missile
elements are going to be installed at Deveselu represents a violation
of Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF)65. This type of
message with more meanings; the first one would refer to a tacit
threat made by Russia and the second one is an accusation of USA
and its allies that dont want to respect the principle pacta sunt
servanda.
18. The end of Wests hegemony will end soon and European
Union isnt more legitimate than Eurasian Union
The counterbalancing theory of western liberalism is virulently
promoted by the Eurasianist Alexander Dugin. He proposes a
Eurasian empire as a fourth path; the other 3 are liberalism, fascism
and Marxism. The Eurasian empire should be conservative and built
upon the principles of Easts history and spiritualism. Russia tries to
legitimize the idea of Dugin by promoting it in the states of Eastern
Europe. There is a need of an Eurasian empire that could counter
the influence of nihilistic West, declared Dugin; he also talked about
a bipolar new world order formed by USA and Western Europe (ruled
b Germany), on one side, and Eurasian Union, dominated by Russia,
on the other side66 ; it is an excerpt of Dugins interview that appears
65
intens, op. cit.
66
in Romanian press. This idea tries to create an impression of a more

fair beginning from historical point of view.
Moscow uses this theory in its informational war to legitimize
the neo-imperialistic project called Eurasian Union. In one of the
news there appears a declaration of Vladimir Putin who is convinced
that Eurasian Union follows the same steps as European Union. I
dont understand why it is normal when states are integrating in EU
but when we are doing the same thing in the former Soviet space they
are calling it an attempt of reviving the empire67.
In the previous article of Dugins interview, which has a
confusing title, there is also the idea that Romania belongs to the
Eurasian cultural space. Bucharest wont make a mistake if it will
choose Moscow instead of Brussels. Asked about his perception about
Europes future, Dugin told that he anticipates the end of nation-states,
explaining that countries as Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and
Austria could be integrated in an Eurasian empire68. On one hand
this type of declaration hides an element of indirect threat and, on
another hand, it tries to challenge the legitimacy of western liberal
construction of EU.
19. Russia is defending itself and it is only victim of western

aggression
In Kremlins informational war Russia is presented as a victim.
In fact, it is not the West who is reacting to the unpredictability of
its neighbour, which doesnt comply with international law. Quite
the opposite, Moscow reacts to hostile gestures of USA, NATO and
EU. It isnt the fault of Russia that the relations with EU states were
67
Vladimir Putin: Poate c SUA au vreun interes s mpiedice o apropiere ntre Europa
i Rusia. Nu trebuie s v temei de Rusia. Ce spune despre scutul antirachet din
Romnia, http://www.gandul.info/international/vladimir-putin-poate-ca-sua-au-
vreun-interes-sa-impiedice-o-apropiere-intre-europa-si-rusia-nu-trebuie-sa-va-
temeti-de-rusia-ce-spune-despre-scutul-antiracheta-din-romania-14412644, last
68
damaged, we didnt limit the trade and economic activities. These

measures had been taken against us and we had to retaliate69. Some
readers might believe such declarations and could forget about
Crimea and Donbass.
Russian Federation even tries to legitimize the deterrence
characteristic of its nuclear arsenal because the actions of West are
unfriendly and threatening. The Gndul daily presented a declaration
of Vladimir Putin who states, the extent of United States anti-missile
system in Eastern Europe is a threat to Russian nuclear capabilities;
and there is a concern that NATO offensive infrastructure is getting
too close to Russian boarders and because of that Putin spoke about
a dangerous scenario 70. This kind of declaration is victimizing
Moscow and because of this, its threats are only countermeasures.
One of the trolls is eager to support this idea. In the last
year, we are assisting to a real aggression of West, and its criminal
club called NATO, towards Russia. In fact, after USSR collapsed, the
assault of Americans and their vassals never ceased. The new Sodom,
with the capital at Washington, encircled as an anaconda the Russian
borders 71. He also thinks that Republic of Moldova will have the
same fate as Ukraine because of the West and not because of Russia
and that Moscow must strengthen its defence capabilities.
Another, more eccentric example of Moscows victimization
regards the perception of a threat against Russian world. Romanians
could remain numb to this type of propaganda, as they dont identify
with Russian world and history of eastern Slavs. However, this
propaganda appears in press and regards the Transnistrian citizens.
The deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin declared on Wednesday
that he intends to propose the facilitation of Russian citizenship
69
Vladimir Putin: Poate c SUA au vreun interes s mpiedice o apropiere ntre Europa
i Rusia. Nu trebuie s v temei de Rusia. Ce spune despre scutul antirachet din
Romnia, op. cit.
70
intens, op. cit.
71
Moscova va rspunde consolidrii NATO n apropierea Rusiei, op. cit.
granting for residents of Transnitria born after 1991. The absence of

such a law led them to obtain Moldavian, Romanian and Bulgarian
citizenships 72 . This statement outlines the fact that Russia considers
the east bank of Dniester River its territory and wont admit any
interference, otherwise there will be a need for self-defence.
72
icepremierul Rogozin: Rusia trebuie s acorde mai uor cetenie transnistrenilor,
V
altfel i mpinge spre Romnia, http://www.gandul.info/international/vicepremierul-
rogozin-rusia-trebuie-sa-acorde-mai-usor-cetatenie-transnistrenilor-altfel-ii-
impinge-spre-romania-14530158, last accessed on 14.03.2016.
Chapter 8

Mediafax
Iulia Lupulescu
Media institution MEDIAFAX

The covered period September 2014- March 2016
Items of interest and observations
Important mention - The Mediafax archive couldnt be entirely
accessed due to a site error. Therefore, were covered approximately 1000
items found in 50 pages that followed the last six months and based on
applied search criteria (keywords such as Russia - Ukraine 2014, Crimea,
Turkey, Russia) we could access articles since 2014 or 2012.
Overview of articles
The news flow is significant in terms of quantity, the online portal
is daily updated and also is addressing to a wide range of information,
divided in thematic areas: political, economic, social, sports, foreign,
culture-media, life, science, Syria, Mediafax reports, Press Review.
In fact, articles are news taken from international news agencies
(TASS, France Press, etc.) that show most often American, Russians,
Turkish and Ukrainians officials statements of small dimensions.
Articles do not capture an analysis part but simply presenting

information in a raw form, as they were taken and translated.
Agency seeks to maintain an equidistant line. Articles are not
accompanied by biased comments of the author and do not appear
to willingly support a certain position. Unintentionally, it can be
appreciated the support of Russian Federation interests to the extent
that items shall bear declarations and statements of Russian officials,
without a counterbalance to illustrate the position of the US, Turkey
or any other stakeholders directly concerned by news in question.
Rarely, we found this balance within the news texts.
Mihai Draghici seems to be the main referent of news on the
Russian Federation but there are also other authors like Valentine
Vidu or Anna Primac.
Headlines are a little bit apocalyptic and sometimes are used
strong words (Russia announces that the intervention... will trigger
a new WORLD WAR, etc.).
Overview comments and trolls

In the section about Terms and Conditions there are stated the
following: Access to online content of the websitewww.mediafax.ro
is free.
Mediafax reserves the right to modify, delete any message
posted on the site, which Mediafax consider as abusive, denigrating,
obscene or likely to bring any reflect on rules legally protected.
Despite these clarifications, comments do not appear to be
reasonable, since many insults can be identified in them and they
often have an extremely gross-minded content.
On several occasions we found some comments in which
some trolls accused the agency but especially the author of pro-
Americanism and lack of impartiality. There are also people who
say that the news are taken, translated (sometimes intentionally)
wrong to denigrate the image of Vladimir Putin and the Russian
Federation.
There is no possibility to register, to make your own account,

it can be left comments under any pseudonym and even can be used
the pseudonym of someone else, so it is difficult to note and identify
trolls that comment successively at articles related to Russia, because
they can assume another identity.
There were identified four names that post in a systematic
manner, but there is no certainty that these nicknames are used by
the same person: Liviu Chilian (which is usually posting gradually
5.7 to 10 comments in Romanian with a lot of grammatical errors or
in English), Dorel, Dacul and Olteanul.

Informational warfare as a different theme of Mediafax articles
can be found in four materials.
A first such articles Timofti: The danger of misinformation
waged by external actors, as serious as aggressive Islam published on
July 7, 2015. The central theme is the presentation of some elements of
the speech of President of Moldova Nicolae Timofti. Addressing the
issue of a future unification of Moldova with Romania,Timofti warns
the following: Unfortunately there are today in Moldova opinion
leaders controlled from outside and who spread the false idea that
Moldovans on both sides of the Prut would be different than the rest of
Romanians (...) The aim is to destabilize and the abolition by elevating
territorial claims not only Moldova but also Ukraine and Romania 73.
Regarding the upcoming intelligence community that will
appear among EU to fight against propaganda and informational
war, he also suggested that Modern democracies will not fight
with false propaganda using other lies. (...) The darkness of lies and
obscurantism can be possessed only by the light of truth , showing
73
http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/timofti-pericolul-dezinformarii-duse-de-actorii-
externi-la-fel-de-grav-ca-islamismul-agresiv-14559309
the need for light of the true democratic values 74 . There are no
comments for this article.
A second article examining issues related to informational
war, published on April 15, 2015 was entitled George Maior, the
FT: Russia intensifies anti-Western informational war. NATO and
the EU must take action. Article shows the warning of former SRI
Director, George Maior on enhancing the informational war waged
by Russia against the West: In Europe and the Euro-Atlantic area,
the Russian information offensive is carried out with determination
and with a level of sophistication increasingly higher. Its a smart and
modern war that goes beyond the traditional requirements regarding
information on enemy intentions which, in the view of Russian
President Vladimir Putin, refers to any country that opposes its
expansionist ambitions. 75Article contains a total of 34 comments of
which may be identified as highly suggestive to illustrate the issue of
the presence of trolls:
What silliness say and do the elected ones of Ro, EU and
the US, the comments of everyone who is thinking against them, so
interpreted by the plebs of pro-NATO posters - no personal opinion
and brain pro Russian. ANY INDEPENDENT COMMENT, if not
pro-EU is seen as an enemy 76 . Other comments:
US and EU undertake posters. Twitter US posters program
is about 20 million USD. Now it was extended with 15 million. All
because of a single country. Small stump fell great oaks 77.
Maior is a Russophobe. When he disagrees something-
Russians are to blame. 78
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION NATO 79.
74
Ibidem
75
http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/george-maior-in-ft-rusia-intensifica-razboiul-
informational-anti-occident-nato-si-ue-trebuie-sa-ia-masuri-14123238
76
Ibidem.
77
Ibidem.
78
Ibidem.
79
Ibidem.
A third article, Kievists that DESTROYED the armoured

convoy that crossed the frontier from Russia. Lavrov: These assertions
are an informational warfare . The article SBU: Russian soldiers
detained in the East was published on August 26, 2014. Moscow
describes as informational war Western media allegations about
the presence of Russian troops in Ukraine, said Monday Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, quoted by RIA Novosti 80.
Other relevant comments are:
Beyond the lies of Kiev s propaganda, it should be withheld
that front was reopened in Mariupol area, which is now in Kievs
obligation to defend - if you can. After screaming as loud how come
the Russians upon them, it seems like its not so easy to keep the city 81.
Fair disinformation practiced since the beginning of
Ukrainian mess. IMF and US envoys have not gone in vain to Kiev.
But the world was smart enough so the monsters failed to pit us against
Russia in a new miserable war 82 , So Russia invades Ukraine with 10
paratroopers and 10 tanks?... are crazy the ones from Kiev 83.
You may continue with your disinformation and challenge
and underestimate mother Russia and you will wake up with 2000
tanks and 1000 planes to put your nose out of joint...I dont sympathize
Russia, but Ukraine produces me nausea 84 .
I do not quite understand why, living in the information age,
in which every mobile phone has a camera and theres absolutely no
picture with that tanks? Anything from satellites? Anything on the
internet? No movie on YouTube? On Twitter? 85.
80
http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/kievul-sustine-ca-a-distrus-convoiul-de-blindate-
care-a-trecut-frontiera-dinspre-rusia-lavrov-aceste-afirmatii-reprezinta-un-razboi-
informational-sbu-militari-rusi-retinuti-in-estul-tarii-13144037
81
Ibidem.
82
Ibidem.
83
Ibidem.
84
Ibidem.
85
Ibidem.
One last item - the fourth, Latvia opens a strategic centre

of communications to counter Russian informational warfare,
published on July 3, 2014, shows up a strategic centre of information
supported by NATO in the Baltic States that for months accused the
existence of an informational war waged by the Russian Federation
against them. As we can see relevant comments: For those who have
not picked up on the counter information war = to censor 86 .
Narratives
1. Russian Federation Intervention in Syria as a stability
ratio
Articles
Relations between Russia and Syria and also the intervention
in the Syrian conflict represented the main subjects of the articles
posted on Mediafax in the last year. Loosely, the news bears on the
dynamics between Russia and Syria or Bashar al Assad and Russia
and also some secondary themes as the legitimacy of the Russian air
raids or the intervention results.
First identified type refers to the justification of the
intervention in Syria, according to the fact that it is compulsory not
to let the terrorist phenomenon to gather ground in adjacent areas,
especially near Caucasus. Russias motivation can be found also in
Vladimir Putins speech, cited by Mediafax: Terrorists are trying
to recruit also from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent
States. Syria air raids are required as a preventive action against the
terrorist network called Islamic State87 .
The theme is reflected explicitly in an article published by
Mediafax on 20 October 2015 entitled WAR IN SYRIA - Putin:
86
h ttp://www.mediafax.ro/externe/letonia-deschide-un-centru-strategic-de-
comunicatii-pentru-a-contracara-razboiul-informational-rus-12885294
87
Mihai Drghici, RZBOIUL DIN SIRIA - Putin: Intervenia preventiv a Rusiei, necesar
pentru evitarea destabilizrii altor ri,20 October 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/
externe/razboiul-din-siria-putin-interventia-preventiva-a-rusiei-necesara-pentru-
evitarea-destabilizarii-altor-tari-14855827#comments, accesed on March 21, 2016.
Russias preventive intervention is needed to avoid the destabilization

of other countries88. Furthermore, the need and the imperative of
Turkey launched air raids in Syria are found and treated in the article
Vladimir Putin: Russia does not want the installation of chaos in
Syria89(December 21, 2012). The article presents the statements of
Kremlin leader reiterating the importance of preserving stability
in the region and avoid the extension of the conf lict Syria is not
far from our borders and we do not want to install chaos there, as
happened in some countries in the region 90.
The legitimacy of the Russian intervention in Syria, targeting
exclusively to destroy terrorist formations is illustrated in the article
Russian Air Force attacked in a week 1.600 terrorist positions in
Syria from February 16, 201691. In this direction, informational
warfare and propaganda techniques operate at a high level, statistics
are the manner by which the Kremlin leadership bases its launched
airstrikes and intervention.
Comments- trolls
Russias right to engage in the war in Syria is promoted by a
considerable number of comments that come from people (trolls)
with pro-Russian orientations. Once more it is demonstrated that
Russia shows concern and honest regarding to the serious problems of
the world, the majority being the result of jidoamerlocs(derogatory
term used for Americans) implication. Success, Russia! 92 .
88
Ibidem.
89
Idem, Vladimir Putin: Rusia nu dorete instalarea haosului n Siria, December 21
2012, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/vladimir-putin-rusia-nu-doreste-instalarea-
haosului-in-siria-10407366, accesed on 21 March 2016.
90
Ibidem.
91
Idem,Aviaia militar rus a atacat, ntr-o sptmn, 1.600 de poziii teroriste, n
Siria, 16 februarie 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/aviatia-militara-rusa-a-
atacat-intr-o-saptamana-1-600-de-pozitii-teroriste-in-siria-15077652, accesed on
March 21, 2016.
92
Mihai Draghici, Rusia ndeamn Siria s respecte armistiiul, sugernd c Bashar al-
Assad va scpa cu demnitate, 18 februarie 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
rusia-indeamna-siria-sa-respecte-armistitiul-sugerand-ca-bashar-al-assad-va-
scapa-cu-demnitate-15080366, accesed on March 21, 2016.
Russia is the only state called by Syria, the rest of them are
invaders. I want to see how you believe the FALLACY that Russia had
the intention to destabilize its ally? 93.
2. Russia-NATO relationship and NATO expansion as a

threat to Russian security
Articles
NATO - Russian Federation relations especially seen in the
context of the conflict in Syria, the annexation of Crimea and the
possibility of extending NATO became main topics of Mediafax
publication.
The expansion of NATO, seen as a direct threat to the Russian
security is ref lected in 3 articles Russian Foreign Ministry: NATO
enlargement directly affects Russias interests and will involve
measures 94 (December 2, 2015) or Moscow: Ukraines entry into
NATO would be an UNPRECEDENTED challenge 95 to European
security (September 10, 2014) or NATO imposes to Serbia Stockholm
syndrome and pulls it in the Alliance 96 (February 22, 2016). Thus,
by extending NATO membership invitation to Montenegro and near
the East are considered and promoted by Kremlin leadership as
threats to Russian interests.
93
Idem, Rusia cere nchiderea n totalitate a frontierei dintre Siria i Turcia, March
1st 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-cere-inchiderea-in-totalitate-a-
frontierei-dintre-siria-si-turcia-15093136, accesed on March 21, 2016.
94
Idem, Ministerul de Externe rus: Extinderea NATO afecteaz n mod direct interesele
Rusiei i va atrage msuri,2 decembrie 2015,http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
ministerul-de-externe-rus-extinderea-nato-afecteaza-in-mod-direct-interesele-
rusiei-si-va-atrage-masuri-14906991, accesed on March 21, 2016.
95
Anna Primac, Moscova: Intrarea Ucrainei n NATO ar fi o provocare FR
PRECEDENT pentru securitatea european, September 10, 2014 http://www.
mediafax.ro/externe/moscova-intrarea-ucrainei-in-nato-ar-fi-o-provocare-fara-
precedent-pentru-securitatea-europeana-13239605#comments, accesed on March
21, 2016.
96
Mihai Draghici, NATO i impune Serbiei sindromul Stockolm i o atrage n Alian,
22 februarie 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/mae-rus-nato-umileste-
serbia-omorandu-i-diplomatii-si-impunandu-i-sindromul-stockholm-15083331/
comentarii/#comments, accesed on March 20, 2016.
Moreover, we can find a genuine exchange of words between

acid pro- Russian and pro - American trolls in both articles
Good thing you got 50 years under the Russian boot, now
try the 2004 American boot. Your missing neurons do not let you see
anything on. I hope you have no one to worry about. 97
Cristi and geosys just got confirmation that your VISA cards
were loaded with just $ 1 apiece, for your biased comments. And Cristi,
why did you change your nick in geosys? The dollars get also there.
I think every country on this planet has the right to join any
alliance or union it wants to. Even if Russia wants to join the EU
or NATO at a time would be welcome. And I believe that no other
country has the right to oppose the accession ambitions of other
country alliances or unions. The only ones who are challenging are the
Russians with their statements. Ukraine is free to join what it wants. 98
Comments
In the present discussions about these articles, beyond a
veritable war of trolls, with accusations on both sides of pro -
Americanism and pro Russian, there were words that appear to
sustain the Russian concerns as fully substantiated: as NATO
opposed to the accession of Ukraine to ICS, Russia has every right
to reject the alliance. Look from both angles in order to have a big
picture, dear Romanians! Having experienced war, gazing from one
angle like a horse means losing the battle! 99.
97
Idem, Ministerul de Externe rus: Extinderea NATO afecteaz n mod direct interesele
Rusiei i va atrage msuri, December 2, 2015,http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
ministerul-de-externe-rus-extinderea-nato-afecteaza-in-mod-direct-interesele-
rusiei-si-va-atrage-masuri-14906991, accesed on March 21, 2016.
98
Anna Primac, Moscova: Intrarea Ucrainei n NATO ar fi o provocare FR
PRECEDENT pentru securitatea european, September 10, 2014, http://www.
mediafax.ro/externe/moscova-intrarea-ucrainei-in-nato-ar-fi-o-provocare-fara-
precedent-pentru-securitatea-europeana-13239605#comments, accesed on March
21, 2016.
99
Ibidem.
Another example that justifies Russias fears is:you re crazy,

Ukraine actually does not adhere anywhere, and the reality is that
NATO is creating bases closer to the Russians...! And that since a long
time ago, NATO is advancing country by country that are politically
conquered to mother Russia100.
At the same time, by using a comment, NATO was defined as
a sponsor of terrorism:
NATO does this almost monthly. And from the moment Turkey
started to do oil business with ISIS, NATO became a sponsor of terrorism.101
3. The sanctions imposed after the annexation of Crimea

absurdist theatre in Russias vision
Articles
The annexation of Crimea brought to Russia some sanctions
from the European Union. Dissatisfaction of Russia and repeated
efforts to lift these pressures were represented in two important
articles on Mediafax: Russias WARNING: We will react if new
sanctions from the EU are to come102 (September 6, 2014) and Putin
denounces as absurd theatre the sanctions imposed on Russia
because the Crimean annexation103 (January 11, 2016).
Russias stake actions arising from statements in the articles on
Mediafax are to demonstrate the absurdity and futility of sanctions.
Topics including sanctions imposed on the Crimean Peninsula are
100
Ibidem.
101
Mihai Draghici, Rusia, acuzat c a simulat atacuri nucleare mpotriva unor state
NATO i UE, February 4, 2016http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-acuzata-ca-a-
simulat-atacuri-nucleare-impotriva-unor-state-nato-si-ue-15033711, accesed on
March 21, 2016.
102
Iuliana Enache, AVERTISMENTUL Rusiei: Vom reaciona n caz de noi sanciuni
din partea UE, 6 septembrie 2014, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
avertismentul-rusiei-vom-reactiona-in-caz-de-noi-sanctiuni-din-partea-ue-
13217006#comments, accesed on 20 martie 2016.
103
Valentin Vidu, Putin denun drept teatru al absurdului sanciunile impuse Rusiei
din cauza anexrii Crimeei, 11 ianuarie 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
putin-denunta-drept-teatru-al-absurdului-sanctiunile-impuse-rusiei-din-cauza-
anexarii-crimeei-14961808, accesed on 20 martie 2016.
surprised by a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian

MFA: Extending EU sanctions, an attempt to punish the inhabitants
of Crimea104 (June 20, 2015).
Comments
Comments on this topic follow a pro Russian vein, holding the
position of power of the Russian Federation by virtue of which it should
not accept sanctions from any other international actor and even less
from the EU, regarding what awesome power is Russia, sanctions
should not be accepted from anyone. And anyway Ukraine territories
are not foreign to the USSR or Russia has sufficient levers to ensure
that while the Russians just suffer some inconveniences which anyway
are used to (more expensive bananas and oranges), the West (...)105.
Moreover, in a review it is inferred the scenario of a possible
breakup of the EU following the imposition of similar sanctions by
Russia, if Russia imposed a new embargo,after sanctions the EU should
be aware that the EU will economic collapse definitively. EU leaders
know this and are afraid of Russias reaction.EU is defeated by USA that
ordered new sanctions knowing that are unfavourable to the EU.
4.
Strengthening Russian military forces in 2016 and
the construction of new military bases and naval
infrastructure in the Arctic
Articles
Improvement, modernization and the increasing number of
forces and Russian military bases, occupy a central place among the
topics covered by Mediafax. In a nine separate items, is presented
information regarding the strengthening of Russian military forces
104
Ion Gaidau, MAE rus: Prelungirea sanciunilor UE, o tentativ de a-i pedepsi
pe locuitorii din Crimeea,20 iunie 2015,http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/mae-
rus-prelungirea-sanctiunilor-ue-o-tentativa-de-a-i-pedepsi-pe-locuitorii-din-
crimeea-14478550, accesed on 20 martie 2016.
105
Iuliana Enache, AVERTISMENTUL Rusiei: Vom reaciona n caz de noi sanciuni
din partea UE, 6 septembrie 2014, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
avertismentul-rusiei-vom-reactiona-in-caz-de-noi-sanctiuni-din-partea-ue-
13217006#comments, accesed on 20 martie 2016.
and the increasing military presence in the Arctic. The aim is clearly
to illustrate the powerful Russian military system: Russia will
strengthen its armed forces in 2016: There will be three new divisions
on the western flank of five nuclear regiments (January 12, 2016)106 ,
WARNING from Russia: Moscow can destroy NATO antiballistic
elements in Romania and Poland (December 16, 2016)107, Russia
installs intercontinental missiles, warning that can neutralized
ballistic systems (December 11, 2015)108.
On this track, it can be identified another dimension of
informational war with the purpose of strengthening the militarization
and Russian military structures in the Arctic. In this regard, they
noted the following titles: Russia has installed anti-aircraft S -300
and S -400 in the Arctic (December 9, 2015)109, Russia is building
a sixth military base Arctic (September 30, 2015)110 , Russia wants
to militarize the Arctic (March 27, 2009)111, Russia unhappy with
106
Valentin Vidu, Rusia i va CONSOLIDA forele armate n 2016: Vor fi create trei noi
divizii pe flancul de vest i cinci regimente nucleare, January 12,2016.http://www.
mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-isi-va-consolida-fortele-armate-in-2016-vor-fi-create-
trei-noi-divizii-pe-flancul-de-vest-si-cinci-regimente-nucleare-video-14962808,
accesed on March 20, 2016.
107
Mihai Draghici, AVERTISMENT din partea Rusiei: Moscova poate distruge elementele
antibalistice NATO din Romnia i Polonia,December 16,2015.http://www.mediafax.
ro/externe/avertisment-din-partea-rusiei-moscova-poate-distruge-elementele-
antibalistice-nato-din-romania-si-polonia-14922072/comentarii/, accesed on
March 20, 2016.
108
Idem,Rusia instaleaz rachete intercontinentale, avertiznd c pot fi neutralizate
sisteme antibalistice, December 11, 2015 http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-
instaleaza-rachete-intercontinentale-avertizand-ca-pot-fi-neutralizate-sisteme-
antibalistice-14917125, accesed on March 21, 2016.
109
Idem, Rusia a instalat sisteme antiaeriene S-300 i S-400 n Arctica, December 9,
2015http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-a-instalat-sisteme-antiaeriene-s-300-
si-s-400-in-arctica-14914406, accesed on March 21, 2016
110
Valentin Vidu, Rusia construiete o a asea baz militar la Arctica, September 30,
2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-construieste-o-a-sasea-baza-militara-
la-arctica-14772522, accesed on March 21, 2016
111
Rzvan Mihalascu, Rusia vrea s militarizeze zona arctic, March 27, 2009, http://
www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-vrea-sa-militarizeze-zona-arctica-4098656,
accesed on March 21, 2016
NATO in the Arctic (March 26, 2009)112 , Russia wants the UN to

demand change borders in the Arctic (July 6, 2011)113.
Regarding propaganda sphere of Russias technological
progress there is this article: The Russians are preparing a satellite
that will shine the night sky louder than Sirius (March 2nd , 2016)114 .
5. Extending US missile defence system (shields in Romania,

Poland), regarded as a threat to Russian nuclear
capabilities
Articles
Russian Federation attitude towards NAT capacity building in
Eastern Europe is found explicitly presented in an article and a series
of accompanying comments.
The shield at Deveselu and US plans to build centres for storing
heavy weapons in Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and
Poland will be a violation of the founding Treaty and NATO and this
will draw reactions and consequences.
Russia is WARNING: USA plan to bring weapons in Romania
will have consequences115 (December 28, 2015).
Comments
Comments raise primarily the assumption of double standards
especially regarding the missile shield at Deveselu, accusing offensive
112
Alexandra Fusoi, Rusia, nemulumit de activitatea NATO n zona arctic, March 26,
2009http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-nemultumita-de-activitatea-nato-in-
zona-arctica-4094407, accesed on March 21, 2016
113
***,Rusia vrea s cear la ONU modificarea frontierelor n zona arctic, July 6,
2011,http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-vrea-sa-ceara-la-onu-modificarea-
frontierelor-in-zona-arctica-8447916, accesed on March 21, 2016
114
Adrian Popa, Ruii pregtesc un satelit care va strluci noaptea pe cer mai tare
dect steaua Sirius, March 2, 2016http://www.mediafax.ro/stiinta-sanatate/rusii-
pregatesc-un-satelit-care-va-straluci-noaptea-pe-cer-mai-tare-decat-steaua-
sirius-15092912, accesed on March 21, 2016
115
Mihai Draghici,Rusia AMENIN: Planul SUA de a aduce armament n Romnia va avea
consecine December 28, 2016; http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-ameninta-
planul-sua-de-a-aduce-armament-in-romania-va-avea-consecinte-14938859,
and not defensive capabilities of its Western hypocrisy and double

standards - You do not know what type of missiles are at Deveselu;
may be offensive; Romanians have not controlled ; if Romania is used
as a spearhead for the attack and it will suffer for lack of verticality of
management; Russia has the right to defend and will defend ; one Tool
m launched by Moscow and ready to Deveselu in 4 min.116
6. The implosion of the former Soviet Union is the greatest

geopolitical catastrophe of the twentieth century
The article Putin accuses Lenin that put an atomic bomb in
Russia117 (January 22, 2016) presents a statement of Vladimir Putin
that appeals to history to explain the current situation of the Russian
Federation, considering the collapse of the USSR as the genuine
geopolitical fault of the twentieth century.
Comments
Trolls appreciate the uniqueness of Putin and recall historic
models of the Russian government: Putin is not Stalin or Lenin, but
Peter the Great who modernized Russia. Putin is not a Russian of
those who get drunk tonight and jump on the line the boulevard. Putin
has stabilized Chechnya and thanks to him Islamists lose now in Syria
and Iraq. Putin is not Yeltsin.118
Other comments by analogy with the former USSR, decrees
the establishment of communism in the EU and democracy in Russia
Communism moved in the EU. Better with Putin than with mutts as
Merkel. For Germany and France we are some gypsy thieves and we
not deserve to be in the EU. Thats all you hear from the Germans and
already I am tired of them and all junkies and EU depraved citizens119.
116
Ibidem.
117
alentin Vidu, Putin l acuz pe Lenin c a pus o bomb atomic sub Rusia, January
V
22, 2016http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/putin-il-acuza-pe-lenin-ca-a-pus-o-
bomba-atomica-sub-rusia-14980272, accesed on March 22, 2016
118
Ibidem.
119
Ibidem.
7.
Russia - Ukraine relationship, the legitimacy of the
annexation of Crimea
Articles
The annexation of Crimea and the relations with Ukraine and
Western countries since the end of this event and so far are captured
in a number of 6 items, sub- themes identified ranging from the
issue of establishment of nuclear weapons Russian in Crimea and to
reaffirm the legitimacy of claims of Russian on peninsula. Benefits
of Crimea annexation, the reincorporation in the Russian Federation
are also presented in the articles.
Headlines dealing with these aspects are: Sergei Lavrov:
Russia does not intend to return Ukraines Crimea region, we are not
talking about this120 (January 26th 2016), Moscow: Appointment
of foreigners in the Ukrainian government is evidence of external
interference121 (December 3, 2014), Vladimir Putin says he does not
regret actions in Crimea: I think we did the right thing122 (April 26th
2015), Vladimir Putin paid a visit to the Crimea region two years after
annexation123 (March 18 2016), Vladimir Putin: Crimea has avoided
120
Mihai Draghici, Serghei Lavrov: Rusia nu intenioneaz s returneze Ucrainei regiunea
Crimeea, nu discutm cu nimeni acest lucru,January 26, 2016 http://www.mediafax.
ro/externe/serghei-lavrov-rusia-nu-intentioneaza-sa-returneze-ucrainei-regiunea-
crimeea-nu-discutam-cu-nimeni-acest-lucru-14996085#comments, accesed on
March 22, 2016
121
Anna Primac, Moscova: Numirea unor ceteni strini n Guvernul ucrainean este o
dovad a ingerinelor externe, December 3, 2014http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
moscova-numirea-unor-cetateni-straini-in-guvernul-ucrainean-este-o-dovada-a-
ingerintelor-externe-13697419/comentarii#comments, accesed on March 22, 2016
122
Ion Gaidau, Vladimir Putin spune c nu regret aciunile din Crimeea: Cred c am
fcut ceea ce trebuie, April 26, 2015,http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/vladimir-
putin-spune-ca-nu-regreta-actiunile-din-crimeea-cred-ca-am-facut-ceea-ce-
trebuie-14160517, accesed on March 22,2016
123
Mihai Draghici, Vladimir Putin a efectuat o vizit n regiunea Crimeea, la doi ani
dup anexare, March 8, 2016,http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/vladimir-putin-a-
efectuat-o-vizita-in-regiunea-crimeea-la-doi-ani-dupa-anexare-15118891, accesed
on March 22, 2016
the fate of regions in eastern Ukraine joining Russia124 (August 29,

2014), WARNING of a Russian official: We have the right to install
nuclear weapons in Crimea 125 (March 11, 2015).
Comments
Issues about Russian annexation of Crimea and legitimacy of
actions taken in this regard are reflected in a series of comments that
capture the special affinity and approval to what they call homecoming
of Crimea. At the same time, Ukraines statehood is questioned in
some comments that deny its ability to manage its own territory:
Ukraine does not exist! https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=5ZgBKc78zMI126
Ukraine appeared as a result of Soviet Union initiative, hence
they didnt take anything, (...). They were the periphery of Tsarist
Empire, namely ucraina or okraina. 127. Do you know that Crimea
was never Ukrainian and never legally belonged to Ukraine, Crimea
belongs to Russia since 1783 when Russia...128 .
Crimea belongs to Russians. Why the Russians have to leave
is this is their land??? It was a long time ago... since a thousand years
124
Iuliana Enache, Vladimir Putin: Crimeea a evitat soarta regiunilor din estul Ucrainei
adernd la Rusia, August 29, 2014http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/vladimir-putin-
crimeea-a-evitat-soarta-regiunilor-din-estul-ucrainei-aderand-la-rusia-13170035,
125
Mihai Draghici, AVERTISMENTUL unui oficial rus: Avem dreptul de a instala arme
nucleare n Crimeea, March 11, 2015http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/avertismentul-
unui-oficial-rus-avem-dreptul-de-a-instala-arme-nucleare-in-crimeea-13968268,
126
Mihai Draghici, Serghei Lavrov: Rusia nu intenioneaz s returneze Ucrainei
regiunea Crimeea, nu discutm cu nimeni acest lucru, January 26, 2016, http://www.
mediafax.ro/externe/serghei-lavrov-rusia-nu-intentioneaza-sa-returneze-ucrainei-
regiunea-crimeea-nu-discutam-cu-nimeni-acest-lucru-14996085#comments,
127
Ibidem.
128
Valentin Vidu, Rusia i va CONSOLIDA forele armate n 2016: Vor fi create trei noi
divizii pe flancul de vest i cinci regimente nucleare, January 12, 2016http://www.
mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-isi-va-consolida-fortele-armate-in-2016-vor-fi-create-
trei-noi-divizii-pe-flancul-de-vest-si-cinci-regimente-nucleare-video-14962808,
belongs to Russians till 56 when UKRAINIAN Khrushchev gave it to

mongrels.. to Ukraine. Ukraine129
8.
Relations USA- Russian Federation, denigrating USA,
USA hegemony, anti - Americanism, USA- Russian
security threat
Articles
Anti - Americanism, constant US denigration, the idea
of American hegemony and global instability that can cause in
comparison with USSR are found addressed on Mediafax articles
(two being extremely suggestive) predominantly however in the
comments, where discussions trolls examples abound of political
and historical references and comparisons between the two actors.
First article captures the warning of Lavrov who accuses US
of interference in Eastern Europe, in countries that belonged to the
former USSR:
Sergei Lavrov: USA has to cease attempts to impose the former
Soviet republics130 (September 5, 2015). The second article,using a
title extremely powerful and uppercase states the evolution of US-
Russian Federation relations last year: PREMIERE: Russia describes
USA as a threat to its national security131 (January 2, 2016).
Comments
129
Roxana Maciuca, Medvedev: Relaiile ruso-occidentale se ndreapt spre un nou
RZBOI RECE, February 13, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/medvedev-
relatiile-ruso-occidentale-se-indreapta-spre-un-nou-razboi-rece-15073991,
130
Iuliana Enache, Serghei Lavrov: SUA s nceteze tentativele de a se impune n
fostele republici sovietice, September 5, 2014, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
serghei-lavrov-sua-sa-inceteze-tentativele-de-a-se-impune-in-fostele-republici-
sovietice-13210967/comentarii#comments
131
Roxana Maciuca, PREMIER: Rusia clasific SUA drept o ameninare la adresa
securitii naionale, January 2, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/premiera-
rusia-clasifica-sua-drept-o-amenintare-la-adresa-securitatii-nationale-14952200,
Recent comments showed several subtopics related to anti

- Americanism:Appellant, as a formula to denigrate USA, the term
commonly used is jidoamericans Ukrainians chase goose dreams...
stimulated by jidoamericans..132
At the same time, many comments insist on the idea of
American hegemony and Romania is designated to be American
colony:
Leave the texts from TV. Dont you see that the miners - a kind
of maidanuri, even the so-called 89 revolution were not orchestrated
in the West from Moscow? Beating plains. The economy is in EU/USA
property and their allies. You are awkward. Cant you see you live in
a US colony? 133.
Andrew- It is starting to highlight the situation in Ukraine.
Who is leading this country and from where!!! I think Americans do
everything possible to lead all countries!!! Why no one sees it? 134 .
Once more it is demonstrated that Russia shows concern and
seriousness to the critical problems of the world, most of them based
on jidoamerlocs involvement. Good luck, Russia! 135.
Our country became US colony. They cut and hang, play their
interests. What is the gain of our country? We have destroyed the
economy, they have made anti missile shield for their own interest. We
always barked at the command against Russia. Ukraine is an artificial
state that should not have... 136 .
132
Ibidem.
133
Anna Primac, Moscova: Numirea unor ceteni strini n Guvernul ucrainean este o
dovad a ingerinelor externe, December 3, 2014,http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
moscova-numirea-unor-cetateni-straini-in-guvernul-ucrainean-este-o-dovada-a-
ingerintelor-externe-13697419/comentarii#comments, accesed on March 22, 2016
134
Ibidem.
135
Mihai Draghici, Rusia ndeamn Siria s respecte armistiiul, sugernd c Bashar
al-Assad va scpa cu demnitate, December 17, 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/
externe/rusia-indeamna-siria-sa-respecte-armistitiul-sugerand-ca-bashar-al-assad-
va-scapa-cu-demnitate-15080366, accesed on March 23, 2016
136
Roxana Maciuca, Medvedev: Relaiile ruso-occidentale se ndreapt spre un nou
RZBOI RECE, February 13, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/medvedev-
Other comments that show USA blaming for the situations

in Syria, Libya and Iraq
Monday, 00:09 - Russians forgot to mention the other countries
brought into state of anarchy because of US democracy- Iraq, Line,
Afghanistan, etc.. 137
(...) The Russians are guilty of many things but not to destroy
Libya or Syria or other countries in East.138
In other discussions, the US is considered an aggressor state

Yes, Russia is an aggressor state, but not the only and not the
worst! In the past 25 years who started and supported most wars?
American criminals139.
You know whats cool? Any military progress that Russia makes
is declared in the press as a defiant violation aggression but when
US vassal (NATO) brings guns closer to Russia is called security,
peace, tranquillity140.
Other comments suggest an economic weakening of US

affected by the economic crisis and argue that Russia offers more
relevant alternatives, credible against the US dollar
relatiile-ruso-occidentale-se-indreapta-spre-un-nou-razboi-rece-15073991,
137
Mihai Draghici, Aliana Nord-Atlantic se afl la originea tensiunilor din Siria, acuz
Rusia, February 7, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/alianta-nord-atlantica-
se-afla-la-originea-tensiunilor-din-siria-acuza-rusia-15047329#comments, accesed
on March 23, 2016
138
Mihai Draghici, Aliana Nord-Atlantic se afl la originea tensiunilor din Siria, acuz
Rusia, February 7, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/alianta-nord-atlantica-
se-afla-la-originea-tensiunilor-din-siria-acuza-rusia-15047329#comments, accesed
on March 23, 2016
139
Idem, Rusia acumuleaz capaciti militare semnificative n Siria, acuz NATO,
February 29 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-acumuleaza-capacitati-
militare-semnificative-in-siria-acuza-nato-15091299/comentarii#comments,
140
Ibidem.
Since the US external debt has exploded to 20 trillion dollars and

Russia provides more and more alternatives to the US dollar, the US is
desperate to find new sources of oil to regain prestige. And it is ready to
do anything, including killing women and children with drones141.
On the other hand, other comments are a proof of denigrating
Americans and Russian Federation fears caused by the increasing
number of American military bases near Russian borders.
It is not true/Who is covering Russia with military bases?142
Who keeps attacking countries to bring more democracy (death
and pain)? WHO HAS MILITARY BASES ALL OVER THE WORLD,
WHO HAS THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF WEAPONS? Who claims
to be the most democratic country and spies its own citizens?143
Americans declared Russia as a threat to them, hence there was
the case to have reciprocity. It would be the best thing if they would
remain only with the declarations. But taking into consideration the
way things are going, I dont think so144 .
Wrong. AMERICAN EMPIRE is a threat to GLOBAL security
and not only to Russia. In the last one thousand years there wasnt a
world conflict that wasnt PROVOCKED BY THIS EMPIRE145.
9. Percentage agreements
This became the subject of comments. It is reminded that was
Europe split between Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin. The main
problem of the ones that are commenting is the loss of Moldova.
141
Idem, Recep Erdogan ia n derdere acuzaiile Rusiei privind un plan al Turciei
de invadare a Siriei, February 5, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/recep-
erdogan-ia-in-deradere-acuzatiile-rusiei-privind-un-plan-al-turciei-de-invadare-a-
siriei-15040650, accesed on March 23, 2016
142
Roxana Maciuca, PREMIER: Rusia clasific SUA drept o ameninare la adresa
securitii naionale, January 2, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/premiera-
rusia-clasifica-sua-drept-o-amenintare-la-adresa-securitatii-nationale-14952200,
143
Ibidem.
144
Ibidem.
145
Ibidem.
Romania- Republic of Moldova- As long as North Bucovina

and Bessarabia/partially the Republic of Moldova will be outside
Romania Churchill- Stalin agreement of October 1944 or Hitler-
Stalin Pact from August, 23 1939 is still in force.
Comments
When US diplomats have categorically rejected every shy
attempt of Reunion Ro.after1991, they are Russians parrots who
disappointed divided Daco-Romanians by the June 1940 murders
or collective Percentage Agreements (Churchill - Stalin oct.1944) or
Yalta, Potsdam etc., delirious Dodon146 .
10. Contrasts peaceful Russia- aggressive USA

In terms of intentions and capabilities, US- Russia antithesis
is another constant topic that can be found among comments. The
main line of speech is given by interests and peaceful conduct of the
Russian Federation in comparison to the US. The examples given
suggest that, since 1989 and until now, Russia has been involved in
no more than 5 armed conflicts, all at its borders. Only in 2013, US
intervened in Libya, Egypt and Syria.
Since 1989, Russia has been involved in only 5 armed conflicts,
all of them at its borders, only in 2013 USA was stuck in Libya, Egypt
and Syria. So spare us the ameroloc propaganda. Do not take with
us. Everyone saw Nuland s phone call147.
In Georgia the war lasted only four days and it started after
fool Shahashvili attacked the Russians. Currently, Shakashvili is
chased by the present Georgian government. And in Transnistria the
146
Mihai Draghici, Dodon: SUA au generat criza de la Chiinu, pentru a obine unirea
R.Moldova cu Romnia n 2018, February 4, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
dodon-sua-au-generat-criza-de-la-chisinau-pentru-a-obtine-unirea-r-moldova-cu-
romania-in-2018-15035852, accesed on March 23, 2016
147
Valentin Vidu, Putin, despre soluionarea crizei din Siria: Am avut ntotdeauna ca
obiectiv rezolvarea oricror dispute numai prin instrumente politice i diplomatice.
REACIA opoziiei siriene, February 20, 2016,http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
putin-despre-solutionarea-crizei-din-siria-am-avut-intotdeauna-ca-obiectiv-
rezolvarea-oricaror-dispute-numai-prin-instrumente-politice-si-diplomatice-
reactia-opozitiei-siriene-15081899#comenteaza, accesed on March 23, 2016
conflict lasted only four months. How this can be compared with Iraq
and Afghanistan148 .
You are right every Russias conflicts took place near its borders
(because Russia has the intention to expand). USA went to countries
because of oil (because they want profit)149.
11. The issue regarding the unification of Romania with

Moldova
Article
The issue of unification of Romania with Moldova is ref lected
somehow in the articles but only with the purpose of US denigration
and accusation by having the intentions to create a political crisis in
Chisinau in order to assure the achievement of the union.
Dodon: USA gave rise to a crisis in Chisinau in order to achieve
the union of Romania with Moldova in 2018150 (February 4, 2016).
Comments
Taking into consideration the comments, union is seen as an
aspect that can generate risks regarding the fact that once a precedent
is created it comes easy to Hungary to claim Transylvania.
Hungarians view this situation as a godsend, asking America
to do justice and put the claw on Transylvania???? No to union!151.
12. Russias implication in the conflicts in Moldova, Ukraine

and Georgia
Articles
Kremlins preoccupation for the situations in Ukraine,
Moldova and Georgia represents a key dimension of informational
148
Ibidem.
149
Ibidem.
150
Mihai Draghici, Dodon: SUA au generat criza de la Chiinu, pentru a obine unirea
R.Moldova cu Romnia n 2018, February 4, 2016,http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
dodon-sua-au-generat-criza-de-la-chisinau-pentru-a-obtine-unirea-r-moldova-cu-
romania-in-2018-15035852, accesed on March 24, 2016
151
Ibidem.
war assumed by Russian Federation. Articles tend to focus on

especially Russian Foreign Ministry releases issued in relation to
certain developments taking place in those countries. Monitoring
events extremely closely(elections, declarations, etc.) and the rapid
reaction of the Kremlin exercised through a clear position is an
extremely significant element / aspect. A good example of this idea is
the article entitled Kremlin keeps an eye on the events from Moldova
and encourages it to enforce the law152 (January 21, 2016).
Another direction of this theme aims warnings and cautions
launched by the Western European Members and EU institutions
regarding Russias involvement in internal affairs and conf licts in
Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, European Parliament: Russia must
cease to interfere in conflicts in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine153
(January 21, 2016).
Comments
The most relevant comments are those corresponding to the
second article, expressing a deeply anti - Europeanism and even a
form of contempt and doubt about the EUs ability to express a strong
and coherent message to the actions and attitude of the Russian
Federation Dorel January 21, 2016 So it is, why should someone
meddle in when it has to be Western colony?
Extraordinary! How courageous is European Parliament! How
brave, sir! Russians are already addicted, crying with shame and fear:
in Ossetia they complain, in Nagorno-Karabakh they complain, in
152
alentin Vidu, Kremlinul monitorizeaz evenimentele din Republica Moldova i
V
ndeamn la respectarea legii, January 21, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/
kremlinul-monitorizeaza-evenimentele-din-republica-moldova-si-indeamna-la-
respectarea-legii-14976045, accesed on March 24, 2016
153
Ioana Bojan, Parlamentul European: Rusia trebuie s nceteze s se amestece n
conflictele din Georgia, R. Moldova i Ucraina, January 21, 2016,http://www.
mediafax.ro/externe/parlamentul-european-rusia-trebuie-sa-inceteze-sa-se-
amestece-in-conflictele-din-georgia-r-moldova-si-ucraina-14977446, accesed on
March 24, 2016
Transnistria they complain, in Crimea they complain and soon will

weep in Moldova too, the one abandoned by all! 154 .
13. Propaganda against Turkey Russian- Turkish relations

Articles
Deterioration of relations between Turkey and the Russian
Federation, mutual accusations and sanctions imposed by each actor
occupy a central place in the themes presented in Mediafax articles.
As subtopics, we can find the idea of visas and trips of Russian
citizens in Turkey, accusations and disagreements related to shooting
down Russian planes by Ankara or different positions related to
the situation in Syria. The most relevant six titles of this would be:
Russia ACCUSES: Turkey is preparing a military intervention in
Syria. Ankara has banned flights Russian recognition155 (February
4, 2016), Russia suspended, from 1 January, the regime of visa-free
travel for Turkish citizens156 (January 1 2016), Russian official: Back
in tourism Russian in Turkey almost impossible157 (December 23
2015), Vladimir Putin THREATENS Ankara: Any Turkish aircraft
enters unauthorized in Syria will be shot down158 (December 17th
2015), SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS made by Vladimir Putin: Turkey
154
Ibidem.
155
Mihai Draghici, Rusia ACUZ: Turcia pregtete o intervenie militar n Siria. Ankara
a interzis zborurile ruse de recunoatere, February 4, 2016, http://www.mediafax.
ro/externe/rusia-acuza-turcia-pregateste-o-interventie-militara-in-siria-ankara-a-
interzis-zborurile-ruse-de-recunoastere-15034765, accesed on March 24, 2016
156
Idem, Rusia suspend, de la 1 ianuarie, regimul de cltorii fr vize n cazul
cetenilor turci, January 1st, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/rusia-
suspenda-de-la-1-ianuarie-regimul-de-calatorii-fara-vize-in-cazul-cetatenilor-
turci-14949139, accesed on March 24, 2016
157
Idem, Oficial rus: Revenirea la normalitate a turismului rus n Turcia, aproape
imposibil, December 23, 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/oficial-rus-
revenirea-la-normalitate-a-turismului-rus-in-turcia-aproape-imposibila-14930085,
158
Idem, Vladimir Putin AMENIN Ankara: Orice avion turc care intr neautorizat n
Siria va fi dobort, December 17, 2016, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/vladimir-
putin-ameninta-ankara-orice-avion-turc-care-intra-neautorizat-in-siria-va-fi-
doborat-14923368, accesed on March 24, 2016
downed Russian plane to protect oil trade offered by the Islamic State.
Erdogan s REPLICA159 (December 1, 2015).
Comments
Anti - Americanism, along with anti- Ottomanism, a hostile
attitude towards Turkey are the main ideas that are present among
comments on this topic. Erdogan s portrayal as a dictator and current
association with the Ottoman Empire are also recurring issues
Crimean Tatars are the heritage of the Ottoman Empire.
Crimean Tatars should be exterminated like every trace of ottoman
SATAN Empire on earth 160.
Once again the clear proof of diseased aggression of
americolacs and unwashed Turks!.
NATO was created by the fear of Russia. At the time it appeared
all politicians controlled by Masons were screaming that is A
DEFENSIVE ALLIANCE I dont take in with Russians but the Turks
have made us more harm in the past. This cant be forgotten161.
This Islamist wants restoration of the Ottoman Empire by
extending Turkey and taking over parts of Syria and then to Europe.
(...) Erdogan, of course) dreams himself as EUROPES SULTAN162 .
If Erdogan beast wouldnt have brought down the Russian
plane maybe Putin wouldnt have had a free hand from Assad to bring
159
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS made by Vladimir Putin: Turkey downed Russian plane
to protect oil trade offered by the Islamic State. Erdogan s REPLICA http://www.
mediafax.ro/externe/acuzatii-grave-facute-de-vladimir-putin-turcia-a-doborat-
avionul-rus-pentru-a-proteja-comertul-cu-petrol-oferit-de-stat-islamic-replica-lui-
erdogan-14905025
160
Idem, ACUZAII GRAVE fcute de Vladimir Putin: Turcia a dobort avionul rus pentru
a proteja comerul cu petrol oferit de Stat Islamic. REPLICA lui Erdogan, December
1st, 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/serghei-lavrov-rusia-nu-intentioneaza-
sa-returneze-ucrainei-regiunea-crimeea-nu-discutam-cu-nimeni-acest-lucru-
14996085#comments, accesed on March 24, 2016
161
Ibidem.
162
Ibidem.
all the toys there. Do not forget that Russia is the only one who was
invited in Syria163.
14. Current spheres of influence

Comments
Another recurrent theme of comments is related with spheres
of inf luence. Thus, the Russians decide the fate of Central Asia and
Eastern Europe. NATO decides the fate of Europe, and China decides
the fate of South-Eastern Asia.
Historical associations are commonly used by trolls to
defend the so-called arguments in order to justify their position.
The similarities that they are identifying are mainly related to the
reaffirmation and restoration of spheres of inf luence in present day
according to the following assumptions: In vain you all shake... U.S.
decides the fate of American countries. Russians decide the fate of
Central Asia and Eastern Europe. NATO decides the fate of Europe,
and China decides the fate of South East Asia 164 .
Of course when you say NATO you also say USA but it is not as
influential in Europe in comparison to the founding members of the
European Union165.
-The left regions (-Middle East and Africa) are used for
demonstrations of power between the four great leaders. The Russians
decide the fate of Northwest Asia and Northeast Europe,excuse me166 .
163
Idem, Vladimir Putin AMENIN Ankara: Orice avion turc care intr neautorizat n
Siria va fi dobort, December 17, 2015, http://www.mediafax.ro/externe/vladimir-
putin-ameninta-ankara-orice-avion-turc-care-intra-neautorizat-in-siria-va-fi-
doborat-14923368/comentarii/#comments, accesed on March 25, 2016
164
Idem, Medvedev avertizeaz: O intervenie terestr a coaliiei occidentale n Siria
risc s declaneze RZBOI MONDIAL, February 12, 2016, http://www.mediafax.
ro/externe/medvedev-avertizeaza-o-interventie-terestra-a-coalitiei-occidentale-
in-siria-risca-sa-declanseze-razboi-mondial-15073362, accesed on March 25, 2016.
165
Ibidem.
166
Ibidem.
Chapter 9

Hotnews
Sebastian Blidaru
Information war- media institution

Name: Hotnews
Period: July 2015- March 2016
Log in: Hotnews.ro can be accessed:
By e-mail and password of your account;
By using your Facebook or Twitter account.
For the account you need: e-mail, password, surname, name
and pseudonym. Logging on site is done with email address, not
with the pseudonym used. Email address will remain confidential.
Using Hotnews.ro implies acceptance of terms and conditions.
These refer to the acceptance of the possibility that site administrators
delete certain messages whose content is questionable and ban the
access of any user that does not meet the conditions he/she agreed.
Also IP user is recorded whenever you post a message on the website
so the managers can act in case of serious violations of Hotnews
Forum conditions.
Also in the comments section assigned to articles on the site,
users who have logged in can show their position on a certain review,
with the possibility to respond directly to the person who posted a

message, to give a like or a dislike.
Analysis of media institution

Articles found on Hotnews website about Russian Federation
or in connection with it are mostly short, with a few phrases that
brief ly present the main ideas. However for the period under review,
we found more extensive analysis which contain experts positions,
and not only of Russian officials or information taken from other
(international news agencies, think tanks, etc.). It is important to
note that in the case of extremely short articles, quotes / information
taken from elsewhere can be found (international newspapers, news
agencies, national / international, official statements or not, etc.),
this approach being a constant one.
A pattern of articles can be identified comprising the main
title which refers to information provided to the public, then
presenting several quotes on it. It may be noted that the editorial
policy of Hotnews is one that aims to be objective, but encompasses
some anti Russian tendencies. But this is debatable given that we
find many articles which present numerous positions of Russian
officials, or supporting Kremlins point of view, but on the other
hand, the opposite view is summarized or lacking. As far as I am
concerned, this reality can be the result of the superficial manner
of writing articles by Hotnews journalists. They seem to be pleased
with outlining some attractive titles that lead to articles produced in
a questionable way.
Items of interest
Most comments can be found in the articles that were published
during crucial events such as the involvement of the Russian
Federation in Syria, which has received huge media exposure.
Regarding such situations, the number of comments was between 30
and 60, reaching up to 120 or 250, starting numerous contradictory

discussions.
Seldom, can be seen users that comment on articles on Hotnews
and expressing a personal position, which can be framed anti or pro
Russian Federation. We can draw a number of issues often raised
in public as privatizations in Romania after 1989, US stocks after
the collapse of the Soviet Union etc., which have shaped the reality
perception of these people.
A. Tendencies
In the comments section we can easily point out specific user
trends and their interest in countering the distinct position in most
of the articles on the Russian Federation theme. Often, discussions
extend to other issues than those set out in Hotnews articles. Some
of them are following references both to elements of the internal
situation in Romania (President Iohannis - Basescu, the military
situation of the Romanian, state interests regarding Black Sea
region) and at the recent international ones of maximum notoriety
(annexation of Crimea, situation in Ukraine, the US and Western
efforts to thwart Russian Federation, Moscows efforts to achieve its
own goals, etc.).
Also, one can distinguish many opposite arguments at same
users, some arguing or not in a veiled manner to Russias positions
and the other side supporting the United States and the West, with
slight variations.
B. Specific identification
While examining saved archives, we could identify the most
active users, but should be specified that they could participate in
discussions and using a distinctive name.
In the pro- Russian Federation category we find: Nicomar,
Real_politik, Mazeta, Potaissa, Antioculti, Kax, Zizin.
For these users, can appear different positions manifestation
of the same ideas. If some users adopt covert tendencies, keep
calm and try to build plausible images by invoking historical,

etymological, ethical arguments the other side reacts aggressively or
ironic, manifesting own statements. Also, Russian camp appealed in
terms of sub- themes raised in the debates and arguments less viable
/ plausible but which have some degree of interest for the population,
as well as approaches related to conspiracy theories.
In the anti - Russian Federation category are: Un_domn,
Bogdan_100, Soljenin, Alkimiku.
Within this side, efforts to combat adverse group are coherent
and sustained. Despite the fact that some commentators might be
simply opponents to the actions of the Russian Federation, where
some users like Bogdan_100 can easily be identified as an anti-
Russian troll, manifesting aggressive positives, sometimes an
attempt of rational justification, other times less.

The issue of information warfare between Russia and the West
was invoked in numerous Hotnews articles using a range of official
statements or public information and analysis.
September 17, 2015: This article shows Russian emissary to

European Union, Vladimir Chijov, point of view who had admitted
that the country and the West are at informational war and Moscow
wins.167 Chijov emphasize that in the context of current relations
between the two sides, Western audiences need an alternative vision
[... ] Request that creates a niche where our TV channels and MLT
news agencies work with more success.168
167
Red. tiri., Emisarul Rusiei la Uniunea European: Moscova ctig rzboiul
informaional cu Vestul, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-
20432157-emisarul-rusiei-uniunea-europeana-moscova-castiga-razboiul-
informational-vestul.htm, accessed on 03.03.2016, at 12:23
168
Ibidem
Comments:
Beee - After so many mistakes made by the Americans in
Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and where they have been, supported by the
media after scandals, in German news agencies bought by the CIA
and Wikileaks revelations, the world learned to read between the
lines.169
ProLibertatea-AntiMerkel Informational war? More a
Russian polygon... 170.
March 6, 2016: Janis Sarts, director of the Centre for
Excellence in Strategic Communications from Riga, statement who
argues that Russia would have been funding extremist forces in
Europe with some evidence that the Kremlin ...is trying to see if
they can build more problems creating a momentum for political
change in Germany171. This approach to Moscow should be
implemented according to Janis Sarts using social networks through
which Russian would propagate messages. Comments on this article
manifest itself in a manner offensive to the Russian Federation, with
some exceptions. Pro - West troll Soljenitin said that The Soviet
propaganda machine works full time172 , while another user Vlad - I,
which was not identified as a troll, expressed his own vision If Putin
and Russia help to overthrow senile Merkel would be the first time
they did something really good.173
October 11, 2015: In this article are some elements of Russian
Federation information warfare that could be felt in numerous
countries, including Romania. With regard to the conflict in Ukraine
are reminded some Russian propaganda through key messages:
169
Ibidem
170
Ibidem
171
G.S., Rusia se folosete de criza refugiailor ntr-un rzboi informaional dedicat
nlturrii Angelei Merkel - nalt expert NATO, available at http://www.hotnews.
ro/stiri-international-20847693-rusia-foloseste-criza-refugiatilor-intr-razboi-
informational-dedicat-inlaturarii-angelei-merkel-inalt-expert-nato.htm, accessed
on 03.03.2016, at15:45
172
Ibidem
173
Ibidem
atrocities committed by Ukrainians on the front; authorities

fascism in Kiev subjugated by the West; Crimean return to
motherland etc,174 or as those related to the situation in Syria Putin
- saviour in a conflict in which the West is powerless.175
Comments:
Rov I hope soon youd be divided between China and
Europe. You have the largest territory and the poorest organization
in the world.176 ;
Qu - Ro Media and from almost all EU countries is paid
directly by the US, the same largest propaganda conglomerates.177;
Pro-West trolls have joined the discussions - bogdan_100 and
un domn who used various insults addressed to those who support
a vision according to that not only Russia appeals to propaganda
techniques.
July 29, 2015: Starting from Hans Klemm speech, which was
held when he was nominated in the position of US ambassador
in Romania states that Romanians dont have a turn for Russian
propaganda , Hotnews journalists drafted an article that emphasizes
two theses that argue that Russia invested a lot in propaganda and in
Romania it is manifested a powerful anti-Western current178. Firstly,
it is argued the increasing capacity in terms of Russian propaganda
by launching Sputnik News moldavian language, changing the
name Russia Today in RT179, or opening in Bucharest the Russian
Centre of Science and Culture. Secondly, Hotnews journalists
174
Costin Ionescu, Marile teme ale rzboiului informaional rus, available at http://www.
hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-20494834-infografic-marile-teme-ale-razboiului-
informational-rus.htm, accessed on 04.03.2016, at 12:12
175
Ibidem
176
Ibidem
177
Ibidem
178
Red.Stiri, Unde greete viitorul ambasador american cnd vorbete de propaganda
rus n Romnia, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-20327987-
unde-greseste-viitorul-ambasador-american-cand-vorbeste-propaganda-rusa-
romania.htm, accessed on 03.03.2016, at 13:23
179
Ibidem
remember various Russian topics spread through Romanian space

using various sites and social networks.
Comments: Regarding this article, there were some allegations
from a user that attacked hard Hotnews point of view. They stated
that there may be positions of individuals / organizations that
dont support the important issues for Russia without being paid
by Kremlin. The discussion was oriented on arguments that didnt
concern the article itself. During comments some pro-Russian
trolls were identified as Spy who claimed that only pro -American
propaganda is good, all the rest is bad.180
Narratives
1. Kremlins intention to destroy Europes unity
For the analyzed period, were identified numerous articles on
the Hotnews website with the intention to develop this theme / aim
of Moscows administration against Europe. In an article from March
2016 it is emphasized the position of the German Minister of Finance
Wolfgang Schuble, who claimed in an event at the London School
of Economics, that Russia does not fear NATO, but the European
democratic model, therefore is trying to divide the EU181. This item
has engaged in a series of contradictory comments between different
users. Supporting the position of the Russian Federation can be easily
spotted, and also the intention of adverse side to counter this vision.
So the first comment posted by user Bec says in an
approximate Romanian language Just because of their sick social
democracy Putin is afraid and takes sleeping pills, otherwise he
cant sleep182 . At this comment replied Bogdan_100, a possible
180
Ibidem
181
I.B., Ministrul german al Finanelor: Rusia nu se teme de NATO, ci de modelul democratic
european, de aceea ncearc s divizeze UE, available at http://www.hotnews.
ro/stiri-international-20842500-ministrul-german-finantelor-rusia-nu-teme-
nato-modelul-democratic-european-aceea-incearca-divizeze.htm, accessed on
04.03.2015, at 12:21
182
Ibidem
troll of the Western camp, which accuses user Bec as being paid by
Moscow, a Romanian language courses...183. Later Bec answered
to Bogdan_100 claiming the latter has a communist vision, Iliescu
system and others alike184 . From this point of view, those who post
comments went to another direct - Russian intervention in Ukraine
and elements related to the Russias internal affairs.
An article (March 2nd, 2016) that follows this issue of Europes
division is linked to refugees crisis, in which Russian Federation is
involved. Also in March this year, it was published an article referring
to a statement of NATO commander in Europe, Philip Breedlove,
who claims that the group self- called Islamic State spreads like
cancer among refugees and the Russias bombing has the purpose to
terrorize the Syrians to make them leave.
Breedloves vision shows that Kremlins actions have only
strongly exacerbated problems185, using migration as a weapon in
weakening European unity and its infrastructure. Breedlove also
could not provide exact numbers on the flows, but argued that there
is a high possibility for future terrorist attacks in Europe. In the
article published by Hotnews it appears a different position against
General Breedlove, by the director for refugees rights from Human
Right Watch, Bill Frelick, assertion that claims that there may be this
183
I.B., Ministrul german al Finanelor: Rusia nu se teme de NATO, ci de modelul democratic
european, de aceea ncearc s divizeze UE, available at http://www.hotnews.
ro/stiri-international-20842500-ministrul-german-finantelor-rusia-nu-teme-
nato-modelul-democratic-european-aceea-incearca-divizeze.htm, accessed on
04.03.2015, at12:14
184
Ibidem
185
R.M., Philip Breedlove, comandantul NATO n Europa: Statul Islamic se rspndete
precum cancerul printre refugiai/Bombardamentele Rusiei urmresc terorizarea
sirienilor, pentru a-i pune pe drumuri, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-
international-20837850-philip-breedlove-comandantul-nato-europa-statul-
islamic-raspandeste-precum-cancerul-printre-refugiati-bombardamentele-rusiei-
urmaresc-terorizarea-sirienilor-pentru-pune-drumuri.htm, accessed on 04.03.2016,
at 15:45
kind of danger, but is limited. In Frelicks perception, NATO general

statements reflect the refugee issue in military terms186.
In comments section have been developed various
disagreements between the main adverse groups, including
intercalation of some uninvolved users who expressed their own
position. So in the Russian group:
Bazil.the.3rd: Again, American-Turkish cheap BS [...] But
dont give in to anti-Western propaganda... 187.
Insertion of other themes like: CUCUX the refugees are not
controlled by the Russians, but the Turks. As far as I know, Syria has
no direct border with EU188.
Mazeta: From 4.5 million people who outrun the war in
Syria, the US received only 2,174 refugees, 0.0007 % of the total
population of America.189
From this point of view, the users managed to turn the
disruptions into insults, invoking arguments as wrong use of
Romanian language or assigning negative compound words.
At another level, the issue of Europe division is illustrated by
emphasizing possible internal problems in countries such as Romania.
So we find on the website Hotnews an article190 referring to an analysis
of a US think tank that argues that Russia could use in their own
186
Ibidem
187
Ibidem
188
R.M., Philip Breedlove, comandantul NATO n Europa: Statul Islamic se rspndete
precum cancerul printre refugiai/Bombardamentele Rusiei urmresc terorizarea
sirienilor, pentru a-i pune pe drumuri, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-
international-20837850-philip-breedlove-comandantul-nato-europa-statul-
islamic-raspandeste-precum-cancerul-printre-refugiati-bombardamentele-rusiei-
urmaresc-terorizarea-sirienilor-pentru-pune-drumuri.htm, accessed on 04.03.2016,
at 15:45
189
Ibidem
190
Claudiu Zamfir, Think-tank american: Rusia se poate folosi de ideea Romniei Mari
i de micrile separatiste ale secuilor din Transilvania, available at http://www.
hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-20786233-think-tank-american-rusia-poate-folosi-ideea-
romaniei-mari-miscarile-separatiste-ale-secuilor-din-transilvania.htm, accessed on
04.03.2016, at 15:56
interests, the idea of Greater Romania and the Szekler separatist

movements in Transylvania. Besides these arguments, in the Centre
for European Policy Analysis think tank analysis it is stated: There
is a risk of disruption in exploring natural resources in the Black Sea
by Romania, either by harassment, either by a dispute over territorial
waters claimed by Russia, when it annexed Crimea. 191
The general picture portrayed in Hotnews analysis shows a
Romanian who is in a contrary position against Russian interests
in the Black Sea and the region. This article also involved numerous
comments. User Mazeta that can be easily framed as a Russian
troll launches sometimes discordant messages, ONION study
is right. Supporters of Unification and Great Romania are likely
Russian saboteurs. Romania should not promote regional dispute
with Moldova and Ukraine192 , drew numerous negative comments.
Comments deviated from this point to arguments regarding past and
present interests of US and Russian Federation in Romania and the
region. Another Russian troll real_politik shared with Mazeta the
same opinion: ... Russia has economic interests in Romania and the
problem is that Americans want to get involved but theres no space
for them...193. Later some users approached the theme about the
Russian presence in the Black Sea, Monteux Convention; Bessarabia
is Romania, all of this in a Russian note194 .
2. The portrayal of Russia as a strong actor and firm in

fighting terrorism, which wants eradication of this
scourge both nationally and internationally
Portraying the Russian Federation as an actor decided to
eradicate the scourge of terrorism is found in numerous articles
published on Hotnews, being strongly supported by Russian trolls
191
Ibidem
192
Ibidem
193
Ibidem
194
Ibidem
who are opposed to the adverse group, and also by ordinary citizens
who disagree with Kremlin in general.
The article from February 8, 2016 shows the information
provided by FSB in a press release that says On February 7, 2016,
the Russian Federal Security Service detained seven members of a
criminal group from Russia and countries of Central Asia who were
members of an international terrorist group Daesh banned in Russia,
and that were preparing large-scale terrorist acts using explosive
devices manually prepared in the cities Moscow and St. Petersburg
and Sverdlovsk 195. Through the article it can be found a connection
made by FSB between this criminal group and Turkey, highlighting
the current dissension between the two countries. Comments on
this article are few, but besides this someone mocks the Russian
effectiveness of this anti-terrorist action - user LengyelAdrian
said hopefully Russians have stronger laws than in EU and will be
sentenced to death immediately!!!196 , thus showing its confidence
in the superiority of Russian approach towards the European one.
Also user Zizin links this news to disagreements between Putin
and Erdogan saying: It would not be surprising that the name of the
head of the terrorist group would be Erdogan Jr. Or maybe Erdogan
is too busy smuggling oil in Syria... 197.
In an article since October 12, 2015 there are summarized some
information provided by FSB which state that Russian intelligence
service managed to foil a planned attack in Moscow. According
to FSB, arrested suspects were prepared in ISIL training camps in
Syria198. This article has only one anti-Russian review of user Nyk1:
195
R.M. Rusia: apte prezumtivi membri ai Statului Islamic, reinui de FSB sub acuzaia c
plnuiau atentate la Moscova i Sankt Petersburg, available at http://www.hotnews.
ro/stiri-international-20781031-rusia-sapte-prezumtivi-membri-statului-islamic-
retinuti-fsb-sub-acuzatia-planuiau-atentate-moscova-sankt-petersburg.htm,
accessed on 04.04.2016, at 14:34
196
Ibidem
197
Ibidem
198
V.M., Atentatul dejucat din Moscova: suspecii, formai de Statul Islamic n Siria, potrivit
FSB, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20498704-atentatul-
If youre messing with Russia and you can win a free trip for several
years in an authentic Siberian resort...199.
Another article from October 3, 2015 shows the position of
General Andrei Kartapolov, who said: I managed to significantly
reduce military potential of terrorists... 600 militia men abandoned
their positions and are trying to escape to Europe200. User
ProLibertate - AntiMerkel and anti - Russian troll, says Putin
has found new victims being countered by the opposing group
ProLibertate - AntiTrolli 201.
The latter banters first because hypes anti- Russian ideas202 .
Except this dispute, the rest of the comments are either in the
category of jokes without sense or draw attention to possible wider
interests of countries such as USA, France, UK, Russia regarding
ISIL, group that could be eliminated if theres will.
Also Russias military involvement in Syria is considered a
holy war against terrorism. In an article from September 30, 2015
is presented the position of Russian Orthodox Church: The fight
against terrorism is a holy war and today our country is perhaps the
most active country fighting this front 203, point of view also shared by
the Grand Mufti Russia, Talgat Tadjudin, We fully support Russian
dejucat-din-moscova-suspectii-formati-statul-islamic-siria-potrivit-fsb.htm,
accessed on 04.04.2016, at 12:34
199
Ibidem
200
V.M., Moscova afirm c raidurile sale aeriene n Siria au forat 600 de militani ai
Statului Islamic s-i abandoneze poziiile, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-
international-20471315-moscova-afirma-raidurile-sale-aeriene-siria-fortat-600-
militanti-statului-islamic-abandoneze-pozitiile.htm, accessed on 04.04.2016, at
15:45
201
Ibidem
202
Ibidem
203
R.M., Dup aprobarea Parlamentului, Vladimir Putin primete i binecuvntarea
Bisericii pentru loviturile aeriene din Siria: Un rzboi sfant mpotriva terorismului,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20463940-dupa-aprobarea-
parlamentului-vladimir-putin-primeste-binecuvantarea-bisericii-pentru-loviturile-
aeriene-din-siria-razboi-sfant-impotriva-terorismului.htm, accessed on 04.04.2016,
at 12:23
army in the fight against international terrorism 204 . Comments

on this article have approached a more philosophical dimension of
religion importance in peoples lives and states.
In an article since 30 September 2015 Moscow announced its
intention to propose a resolution to the UN General Assembly to fight
terrorism, assuming the position of principal state that takes active
measures against this scourge. This item has engaged one comment
which highlighted the involvement of Russians in Ukraine. 205
Russia has expressed concern over the poor results of the
international coalition against ISIL. In an article from September 16,
2015 it is emphasizes Russian Foreign Ministry position: Air strikes
have not stopped terrorists... 206. Nearly all users who have expressed
their opinion regarding this article were one against Russian
invoking arguments such as: 12 million refugees and millions of
deaths and casualties, half of the territory Syria lost to ISIS 207, as a
result of supporting the Assad regime by Kremlin.
3. The evolution of Russian involvement in Syria in order to

achieve Moscows main goals
The theme about Russian involvement in Syria is captured
during numerous articles on Hotnews site, drawing many comments
from users.
204
Ibidem
205
Carla Dinu, Adunarea general ONU. Moscova propune, miercuri, o rezolutie de lupt
mpotriva terorismului, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-
20461859- onu-moscova-propune -miercuri-rezolutie -lupta-impotriva-
terorismului.htm, accessed on 04.04.2016, at 14:34
206
V.M., Rusia critic rezultatele modeste ale coaliiei mpotriva Statului Islamic, available
at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20430159-rusia-critica-rezultatele-
modeste-ale-coalitiei-impotriva-statului-islamic.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at
15:23
207
V.M., Rusia critic rezultatele modeste ale coaliiei mpotriva Statului Islamic, available
at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20430159-rusia-critica-rezultatele-
modeste-ale-coalitiei-impotriva-statului-islamic.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at
15:23
In an article from September 18, 2015 US stated that it is ready

to resume military communications with Russia on operations in
Syria. Thenceforth, it is said that in the last week, Russia asked
the United States to initiate military cooperation in order to avoid
unintended incidents in Syria... 208. As a conclusion, Russia
is trying show interest in finding efficient solutions to serious
problems. Comments of zizin, ipolitic (two of the most active
trolls), refer to fighting forces in Syria and their interests, but also a
possible enhancement of Russian involvement in this area 209.
An article since 22 February 2016 announced that a cease
-fire in Syria will come into force on February 27, at 0:00 pm local
time 210. The information was taken following a joint communiqu
signed by the United States and Russia. Troll Mazeta commented:
Basically, the Russians will continue to fire on who they want... and
Kurds and the Syrian army will be protected. Those who believe
that peace will not last are wrong, as they were wrong about the
agreement in Minsk 211.
Another article posted in February 20, 2016 has the aim to
show Kremlins position on solving the crisis in Syria as I always
had the objective of resolving any disputes only through political
and diplomatic tools 212 . All eight comments attributed to this
208
V.M., SUA i Rusia vor relua comunicaiile militare, pentru a discuta despre operaiunile
din Siria, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20436051-sua-
rusia-vor-relua-comunicatiile-militare-pentru-discuta-despre-operatiunile-din-
siria.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at 16:56
209
Ibidem
210
Alina Neagu, Statele Unite i Rusia anun ncetarea focului n Siria pe 27 februarie,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20816107-statele-unite-
rusia-anunta-incetarea-focului-siria-27-februarie.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at
15:45
211
Ibidem
212
V.M, Vladimir Putin, despre soluionarea crizei din Siria: Am avut ntotdeauna ca
obiectiv rezolvarea oricror dispute numai prin instrumente politice i diplomatice,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20811983-vladimir-putin-
despre-solutionarea-crizei-din-siria-avut-intotdeauna-obiectiv-rezolvarea-
oricaror-dispute-numai-prin-instrumente-politice-diplomatice.htm, accessed on
05.04.2016, at 16:56
article are against Moscows approach, classifying it as hypocrisy.

As it solved and helped Ukraine and Crimea 213, or Vladimir Putin
has a sense of humour 214 .
In February 2016 there were killed about 50 civilians as a
result of air strikes that have targeted Idleb and Aleppo, attributed
to Russia by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, but Kremlin
spokesman denied categorically that information. In the article is
pointed out Turkeys position concerning these actions, which are
deemed as barbaric and coward 215. Pro - Russian Troll Potaissa
tried in a disguised manner to support Russians saying In a war the
truth dies first. You would not believe either side. Sad 216 , but he has
been criticized and ridiculed by other commentators.
Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation claimed
in an article from February 11, 2016, that according to Russian news
agencies Moscow is ready to discuss ways of achieving a ceasefire in
Syria 217. Also it reminds that the Russian Defence Minister said that
aircraft that bombed Aleppo were American, not Russian 218.
The comment of the user called pedepsitorul, no one
asked Russias intervention in Syria... 219, has engaged Russian troll
Potaissa intervention stating and who demanded US intervention
213
V.M, Vladimir Putin, despre soluionarea crizei din Siria: Am avut ntotdeauna ca
obiectiv rezolvarea oricror dispute numai prin instrumente politice i diplomatice,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20811983-vladimir-putin-
despre-solutionarea-crizei-din-siria-avut-intotdeauna-obiectiv-rezolvarea-
oricaror-dispute-numai-prin-instrumente-politice-diplomatice.htm, accessed on
05.04.2016, at 16:56
214
Ibidem
215
R.M., Rusia dezminte categoric c ar fi bombardat cinci spitale n Siria, available at
http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20798791-rusia-dezminte-categoric-
bombardat-cinci-spitale-siria.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at 12:22
216
Ibidem
217
G.S., Rusia spune c este gata s discute o ncetare a focului n Siria, available at http://
www.hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-20787735-rusia-spune-este-gata-discute-
incetare-focului-siria.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at 16:34
218
Ibidem
219
Ibidem
in Syria or financing Arab spring...? 220. Troll Potaissa was

challenged by the opposing camp, Bogdan_100 it ironic saying
that the US is to blame for everything: for Crimea annexation, for
intervention in Syria... 221.
Another statement of Kremlin spokesman from 9 February
2016 affirmed We urge once again all be careful and responsible in
choosing words considering the delicate situation in Syria now 222 .
The declaration came amid Angela Merkels accusations regarding
Russian air raids that are responsible for death civilians in Syria.
Troll Bogdan_100 expressed aggressively towards Russia, by a
series of offensive affirmations. The other reviews posted after this
article have also the same anti- Russian note.
February 7, 2016: in the wake of Secretary General of NATO
accusations, Jens Stoltenberg, who claimed the raids Russian made
in Syria undermines peace efforts, spokesman for the Russian
Ministry of Defence, Igor Konasenkov said tensions in Syria and
growing, they are the results of NATO actions... 223. Zizin troll said
ironically - ... it seems that Russia has found a more effective way
to negotiate with Ahrar al- Sham and Al-Nusra: either surrender or
be turned to dust and ashes 224 . While in the other camp, Taras
Bulba supported Moscow by saying short and to the point. You
cant contest a proof 225.
220
Ibidem
221
Ibidem
222
V.M., Conflictul din Siria: Kremlinul i cere Angelei Merkel s fie atent la declaraiile sale,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20784662-siria-kremlinul-
cere-angelei-merkel-fie-atenta-declaratiile-sale.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at
16:45
223
G.S., Rusia reacioneaz imediat la acuzaiile lui Stoltenberg: Tensiunile din Siria sunt
cauzate de NATO, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-20779836-
rusia-reactioneaza-imediat-acuzatiile-lui-stoltenberg-tensiunile-din-siria-sunt-
cauzate-nato.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at 20:12
224
Ibidem
225
Ibidem
January 25, 2016: Russian officials deny information spread

within international press about the possibility of construction of
a new Russian military base in Syria. Within this article, it seems
that some sources claim that the Russian Federation would track a
Qamishli airport preparing, near the Turkish city of Nusaybin, in
order to receive military equipment 226. Comments on this article are
few and irrelevant to our approach.
December 11, 2015: Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Peskov
endorse Russia has supplied with weapons the legitimate authorities
of Syrian Arab Republic 227 in the train of Vladimir Putin declaration
that stated previously that provides arms and ammunition for
the Free Syrian Army, which opposes Bashar al- Assad. The only
comment attributed to this article says; Peskov has (at least in the
picture above) a face of an honest man 228.
November 20, 2015: Russian Minister of Defence, Serghey
Shoigu said in a meeting with President Vladimir Putin In
November 20, Caspian fleet ships fired 18 cruise missiles on 7 targets
in the province of Raqqa (Northeast), Idlib (Northwest) and Aleppo
(Northwest). All targets were destroyed 229. Shoigu claimed without
much detail that ... a single cruise missile shooting on a single Deir
Ezzor province targets killed more than 600 combatants 230. In this
article it is reminded that it is the second time when cruise missiles
226
R.M., In ciuda unor informaii concordante, Rusia dezminte c vrea s contruiasc o a
doua baz militar n Siria, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-
20751659-ciuda-unor-informatii-concordante-rusia-dezminte-vrea-contruiasca-
doua-baza-militara-siria.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at 23:12
227
V.M., Kremlinul: Rusia furnizeaz arme autoritilor legitime din Siria, available at
http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20660800-kremlinul-rusia-furnizeaza-
arme-autoritatilor-legitime-din-siria.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at 23:24
228
Ibidem
229
R.M., Rusia a bombardat din nou n Siria cu rachete de croazier lansate din Caspica /
Serghei Shoigu: O singur astfel de rachet a ucis 600 de rebeli n provincia Deir Ezzor,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20609428-rusia-bombardat-
din-nou-siria-rachete-croaziera-lansate-din-caspica-serghei-shoigu-singura-astfel-
racheta-ucis-600-rebeli-provincia-deir-ezzor.htm, accessed on 05.04.2016, at 23:45
230
Ibidem
have been launched by Russia in the Caspian Sea. It is also recalled,

according to the NGO Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, that
at least 8 people were killed and another 50 injured by the latest
Russian bombing. 231
This item has engaged numerous comments:
Mazeta - 500 trucks destroyed by the Russians...How have
they escaped unnoticed until now? 232;
The Saker - congratulations Russia. I hope to acquit
humanity of terrorists that are created and financed by the USA 233;
A discussion between Mazeta and Pazivall showed that
they were accusing each other of being in propaganda groups of
Russia and West.
GeoPolitical Man - Thank you Mr. PUTIN. The only one
who understood the ISIS antidote was Mr. Putin!!! 234;
October 11, 2015: In this article are presented some statements
asserting that President Vladimir Putin does not intend to send
ground troops into Syria nor Russia would engage in an arms race
with the West 235.
Parzivall - About Crimea he said the exact same thing...
after that he admitted that is was NECESSARY 236 ;
Quietguy54 - What are British and US commandos then? 237.
October 8, 2015: This article took American press information
according to which a number of cruise missile launched from a
Russian cruiser, which aimed targets in Syria collapsed in Iran. This
231
Ibidem
232
Ibidem
233
Ibidem
234
Ibidem
235
Alina Neagu, Vladimir Putin: Rusia nu va trimite trupe terestre n Siria. Nu suntem
angajai ntr-o curs a narmrii cu Occidentul, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/
stiri-russia_report-20495971-vlaimir-putin-rusia-nu-trimite-trupe-terestre-siria-nu-
suntem-angajati-intr-cursa-inarmarii-occidentul.htm, accessed on 06.05.2016, at
23:23
236
Ibidem
237
Ibidem
information was later disproved by Russian officials, standing out:

Every professional knows that during these operations, we always fix
targets before and after impact: all the cruisers rockets have reached
our target 238.
Relevant comments:
Mllenium American folklore. The US ones tumbled over a
hospital and this is true 239.
Ipolitic - Launch a rocket, destroy something, after you
declare it target efficiency 100 % 240.
October 7, 2015: This article recalls the evolution of the
Syrian conf lict following involvement of the Russian Federation,
which engaged in the fight warships. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu claimed that Moscow does not target terrorism fighting
in Syria and that Ankara will not make concessions regarding
Syrian border airspace violations. Also, spokesman of the US State
Department said that over 90% of their air strikes that we have seen
were not against SI or terrorists affiliated with al - Qaida. In great
looks were against opposition groups 241.
Comments:
Lucyan - Turkish military people present on Syrian territory
that are fighting against... I do not know who... reported that Russian
raids have not reached the target... until now were upset that a
Russian airplane entered in Turkish airspace and now it monitors
the Russians in the Syrian air space? They have a warrant? 242;
238
V.M., Rachete ruseti trase nspre Siria s-au prabuit n Iran, afirm oficiali americani/
Rusia dezminte, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20484708-
rachete-rusesti-trase-inspre-siria-prabusit-iran-oficiali-americani.htm, accessed on
06.05.2016, at 12:12
239
Ibidem
240
Ibidem
241
Red. tiri, Rusia trece la un alt nivel n Siria i lanseaz atacuri de pe crucitoare / Armata
sirian a lansat o vast ofensiv n centrul rii, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/
stiri-international-20479488-siria-turcia-sustine-raidurile-aeriene-ruse-lovit-doar-
doua-pozitii-ale-statului-islamic.htm, accessed on 06.05.2016, at 14:34
242
Ibidem
Nemo - Russians have hit only 2 ISIS positions but how many
PKK positions in Syria did Turks hit? Too much hypocrisy... 243.
September 25, 2015: This article is dedicated to the presentation
of weapons of the Russian Federation located so far in Syria. In this
category are mentioned multirole apparatus Su- 30SM, 12 attack
aircraft, Su -25 fighters and 12 Su- 24M, to which they add a number
of helicopters. Drones and tanks are other tools used by the Kremlin
to fight in Syria. Besides weapons inventory, it is shaped a slightly
negative image, using military experts positions who categorizes
various planes, drones, and Russian tanks as outdated 244 .
Comments:
Qwertz - I think ISIS got in a tangle. You can deal with
Americans, but with the Russians never 245. To this comment Mihai
-G responded, Yeah, like Afghanistan 1979-1989 . 246
September 14, 2015: This article includes information provided
by two US officials about the recent actions of Russia which placed
seven tanks at an airport in Syria. It is also mentioned Pentagon
spokesman position that says Russia is at the point of establishing an
advanced air base in Syria 247.
Comments:
Soljenin - Well... what about the self-determination...? 248;
243
Ibidem
244
R.M., Ce arme a amplasat pn n prezent Rusia n Siria, available at http://www.
hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20452518-arme-amplasat-pana-prezent-rusia-siria.
htm, accessed on 06.05.2016, at 15:56
245
R.M., Ce arme a amplasat pn n prezent Rusia n Siria, available at http://www.
hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20452518-arme-amplasat-pana-prezent-rusia-siria.
246
Ibidem
247
R.M, UPDATE Rusia a amplasat apte tancuri i piese de artilerie pe un aeroport din Siria,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20423965-rusia-amplasat-
sapte-tancuri-piese-artilerie-aeroport-din-siria.htm, accessed on 06.05.2016, at
12:32
248
Ibidem
Cristian I dont like Putin but I agree110% with his

actions 249;
Nicu Americans have destabilized Arabs to grab the
oil... 250.
September 16, 2015: This article focuses on Vladimir Putins
point of view which says that Bashar al Assad is ready to cooperate
with opposition forces to fight terrorists in the country, and Russia
will continue to assist technical and military Damascus fighting
against ISIL. Russian President stressed that without Moscows
intervention in Syria, the state led by the Assad could be in a much
worse situation than Libya, and have a greater number of migrants251.
Comments: Dont make me come to you Speech is good,
shame that comes from the mouth of a TYRANT... and ddutz
responded, Do not do anything ; so you cant do wrong. Said Obama.
Thats good speech?! 252 .
September 18, 2015: In this article appear the positions
of Russian officials who argue that in the event of a request from
Syria, Russia will take into consideration the possibility of sending
troops. 253
Comments:
Zizin Russia has every right, for the benefit of mankind,
to destroy the terrorist group called ISIS sponsored by the US, Saudi
249
Ibidem
250
Ibidem
251
R.M. Vladimir Putin: Bashar al-Assad este gata s coopereze cu opozitia sntoas /
Dac nu am fi sprijinit Siria, situaia ar fi fost mai rea decat n Libia, available at http://
www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20428227-vladimir-putin-bashar-assad-este-
gata-coopereze-opozitia-sanatoasa-daca-nu-sprijinit-siria-situatia-fost-mai-rea-
decat-libia.htm, accessed on 07.05.2016, at 15:45
252
Ibidem
253
G.S., Rusia va lua n considerare trimiterea de trupe n Siria daca i se va solicita acest lucru.
Sirienii au nceput s foloseasc armamentul trimis de Moscova, available at http://
www.hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-20434993-rusia-lua-considerare-trimiterea-
trupe-siria-daca-solicita-acest-lucru-sirienii-inceput-foloseasca-armamentul-
trimis-moscova.htm, accessed on 06.05.2016, at 21:12
and Qatar 254 and un_domn replied forgive him because still has
not got the dosage and is typing chaotically 255;
Kax - Washington is more worried... why be worried? It can
quietly steal oil in the area? 256.
September 4, 2015: This article shows the rumours about a
possible involvement of Russia in Syria and the official position of
President Vladimir Putin it is premature to say that we are ready to
go there immediately 257.
Comments:
Zizin - USA would welcome Russian participation in the
US -led coalition against ISIS, said Mark Toner, State Department
spokesman in Tuesdays briefing... 258.
September 5, 2015: Vladimir Putin says Syrian counterpart
is ready to hold early parliamentary elections and to allow serious
opposition to share power with him 259.
Comments:
Soljenin How Kremlin infamous knows Syrias
problems... 260 ;
254
G.S., Rusia va lua n considerare trimiterea de trupe n Siria daca i se va solicita acest lucru.
Sirienii au nceput s foloseasc armamentul trimis de Moscova, available at http://
www.hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-20434993-rusia-lua-considerare-trimiterea-
trupe-siria-daca-solicita-acest-lucru-sirienii-inceput-foloseasca-armamentul-
trimis-moscova.htm, accessed on 06.05.2016, at 21:12
255
Ibidem
256
Ibidem
257
R.M., Vladimir Putin: Prea devreme pentru a vorbi de un angajament militar al Rusiei
n Siria / Casa Alb verific zvonuri legate de trupe ruseti n aceast ar, available
at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20398763-vladimir-putin-prea-
devreme-pentru-vorbi-angajament-militar-rusiei-siria-casa-alba-verifica-zvonuri-
legate-trupe-rusesti-aceasta-tara.htm, accessed on 06.05.2016, at 21:23
258
Ibidem
259
V.M., Vladimir Putin: Bashar al-Assad este pregtit s organizeze alegeri parlamentare
i s mpart puterea, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-
20401240-vladimir-putin-bashar-assad-este-pregatit-organizeze-alegeri-
parlamentare-imparta-puterea.htm, accessed on 02.04.2016, at 21:34
260
Ibidem
Zizin Putin: of course we are aware that there are

different approaches towards the developments in Syria. By the way,
people are not f leeing the regime of Bashar Assad. They f lee ISIS...
was bordered to say just that, without continuing the idea and say
openly that ISIS is actually CIA + Mossad creation 261.
4. Outlining the capacity of the Russian Federation at the

Black Sea and the issue of US missile shield
This theme has been treated among many articles posted on

Hotnews website and there were presented various information from
public space about Russian military capabilities.
March 6, 2016: it was published by Victor Cozmei, one of the
largest items related to Russia, gathering opinions of approximately
130 users, making it one of the most commented articles. During
exposure is analyzed the antithesis of Russias military force
(submarines, frigates, cruisers) in the Black Sea compared to
Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. This article starts from the idea
of building a joint NATO fleet in the Black Sea in the context of
the situation in Crimea and the Russian stock market posture
obviously unfavourable in terms of military stuff regarding a state
like Romania. Taking a look at the fleets of the Black Sea it came out
inside the article that both Romania and Bulgaria, are possessing
few and aged military instruments, while Turkey is the only state
that has a different position, the most powerful member of NATO
in the region. On the other hand is underlined Russias position that
invested heavily in improving its fleet and strengthen its own position
in the Black Sea. Article Hotnews recalls Montreux conventions and
NATO obligation to intervene in case of a conflict with Russia. In
addition to that are also the military instruments/resources found
in European bases262 .
261
Ibidem
262
Victor Cozmei.,Rusia vs. NATO la Marea Neagr. Cum arat flota Romniei, Turciei i
Bulgariei n comparaie cu fora militar a Rusiei: submarinele, fregatele i crucitoarele
Comments:
Un_domn On land, if you dare to come ashore... you will
have Aldo Moros end 263.
Bazil.the.3rd Who is bully? Eloquent graphic. A man
- Kremlin will become guaranteed a mosque 264 . Bazil.the.3rd -
Kremlin will not be a mosque for a simple reason: Moscow is not
Paris, Berlin or Cologne 265. From this point, the two sides trolls were
engaged in a series of comments that either offend each other either
bring their vision in supporting historical, and ethical arguments,
irrelevant or incomplete.
Real politik - A brief review of weapons and we see that
in 3 hours Russians are in Bucharest... 266 . Bogdan_100 You really
scared us with your threatening 267
February 26, 2016: it is taken the statement of US Ambassador
Hans Klemm, during which the US official warns that Russia is
strengthening its military presence in the Black Sea. Also Klemm
urged the three NATO member states Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey
to cooperate in this effort to counter Moscow, given that US warship
din dotarea celor patru armate, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-
20847917-infografic-rusia-nato-marea-neagra-cum-arata-flota-romaniei-turciei-
bulgariei-comparatie-forta-militara-rusiei-submarinele-fregatele-crucisatoarele-
din-dotarea-celor-patru-armate.htm, accessed on 03.04.2016, at 21:22
263
Ibidem
264
Ibidem
265
Ibidem
266
267
can not compete with the constant presence of the Russians in the
Black Sea due to international conventions268. Comments: mostly
identifiable comments and positions that have no connection with
Hotnews article or with reality, and there were many insults and
personal attacks meaningless. For example Real_politik said
Russia will conquer the planet Saturn, fast, lets make an interstellar
f leet that will conquer the universe and Americans have no where to
thrust the f lag 269.
August 5, 2015: It is presented the official position of the
Russian Federation towards the missile where defence European
Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov is accusing President Barack Obama
that he had lied about this project, because in 2009 stated publicly
that in order to solve Iranian issue will no longer be required
missile defence in Europe. The article is presented also Romanias
involvement in this project. 270
Comments:
Theodor Iliescu Should be told this Soviet bandit that missile
shield CAN BE USED AGAINST RUSSIAN MISSILES TOO!271;
The saker - Only stupid and fat posters cant see the proof,
lie is with the emperor (Obama) 272 .
August 14, 2015: The article shows the position of deputy

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, who said about the
268
Alina Neagu, Ambasadorul SUA avertizeaz c pn n 2020 Rusia va domina
regiunea Mrii Negre i cere Romniei, Turciei i Bulgariei s colaboreze militar,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-20826813-ambasadorul-sua-
avertizeaza-pana-2020-rusia-domina-regiunea-marii-negre-cere-romaniei-turciei-
bulgariei-colaboreze-militar.htm, accessed on 06.04.2016, at 15:34
269
Ibidem
270
G.S., Ministrul rus de externe l face mincinos pe Obama i i amintete c a declarat
c scutul anti-rachet depinde de un acord cu Iranul, available at http://www.
hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20340156-ministrul-rus-externe-face-mincinos-
obama-aminteste-declarat-scutul-anti-racheta-depinde-acord-iranul.htm,
accessed on 10.05.2016, at 22:21
271
Ibidem
272
Ibidem
construction American missile shield in Europe, We see no reason

to continue the program, much less in an accelerated pace. 273
Comments are directed mostly against the Russian Federation
and there are few affirmations that could be attributed to pro -
Russian camp, but it is likely that those users were badly informed.
HP user says for example: That shield has always been offensive,
mainly against the Russians 274 .
5. Increased interest of Moscow in the Arctic area

February 25, 2016: in this article we find the opinion of
Russian officials who have expressed their intention to build a
great site in Artic area that will contribute to the exploitation of the
region. Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Russian Security Council,
said that this shipyard ... will be the largest and most modern, and
first specialized in heavy shipbuilding 275. Comments: A gentleman
- and Sukhoi board? It comes from Syria? 276 .
October 21, 2015: In a short article are given some information
according to which Russia built a huge military base in the Arctic,
spread over an area of 140 000 meters able to accommodate 150
soldiers who can live autonomously for an year and a half. Also
Russias new military doctrine views Arctic region as a priority. 277
273
I.C., Rusia: Dupa ncheierea acordului nuclear cu Iranul, SUA nu mai au niciun motiv
s construiasc scutul antirachet n Europa, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/
stiri-russia_report-20356380-rusia-dupa-incheierea-acordului-nuclear-iranul-sua-
nu-mai-niciun-motiv-construiasca-scutul-antiracheta-europa.htm, accessed on
12.05.2016, at 21:24
274
Ibidem
275
R.M., Rusia a nceput construcia celui mai mare antier naval al su, cu care vrea s
i dezvolte flota din Arctica, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-
20824514-rusia-inceput-constructia-celui-mai-mare-santier-naval-sau-care-vrea-
isi-dezvolte-flota-din-arctica.htm, accessed on 13.05.2016, at 20:21
276
Ibidem
277
Laureniu Colintineanu., Rusia a construit o baz militar uria n regiunea arctic,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20518843-rusia-construit-
baza-militara-uriasa-regiunea-arctica.htm, accessed on 13.05.2016, at 14:12
Comments:
Real politik - They move faster and have won. So much we
could win if we were friends with them, cheap gas, trade, were close
and it was good. We pay triple the price for capitalist gas 278.
Bogdan_100 - We have expensive gas from Gazprom,
Romanian territories occupied by Russians... 279.
September 30, 2015: In some information taken from BBC
news, a Hotnews articles presents that Russia sent warships in an
area of the Arctic in which builds a new naval structure, including
an air defence base on Srednii Island. It recalls that in addition to
this base are constructed five islands: Alexandra Earth, Rogacevo,
Ms Smidt, Wrangel and Kotelnica 280. There were two irrelevant
comments to this article.
August 5, 2015: This article treats more broadly the global
battle for resources in the Arctic area. A first point is that the Russian
Federation officially claimed over to UN one million square kilometres
of the region. Throughout the article is presented the historical
evolution of Russias involvement in this area and the territories it
wants, but also the interest of other countries such as the US, Canada,
Denmark, Norway. Hence, there are a number of Stratfor considerations
highlighting the specific interests of the Russian Federation on this
area and the probable evolution of these actions.281
Comments:
Mazeta - paradoxically. US and China, the biggest polluters
of the world, help Russia to extend its domination to the north. 282;
278
Ibidem
279
Ibidem
280
G.S., Rusia construiete a asea baz militar arctic, available at http://www.
hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-20462380-rusia-construieste-sasea-baza-militara-
arctica.htm, accessed on 13.05.2016, at 15:56
281
R.M., Btlia global pentru resurse: Rusia revendic peste un milion de kilometri
ptrai n zona arctic, inclusiv Polul Nord, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/
stiri-international-20338101-rusia-revendica-peste-milion-kilometri-patrati-zona-
arctica.htm, accessed on 14.05.2016, at 17:23
282
Ibidem
Pathfinder - If their claims are correct, we can not really

comment... 283.
6.
Russian position consolidation in Crimea and the
relationship with Ukraine
February 18, 2016: The article has as a starting point the
information given by the spokesperson of Ukraine Security Service,
Alexander Tkachuk, under which Russia sent warplanes and
helicopters in Crimea, with plans to organize large-scale exercises.
Tkachuk concluded that these Kremlins actions ... confirms once
again that instead of a tourist destination, the peninsula became a
military base of the Russian army. 284 The article presented also SBU
head position, Vasili Gritak, stating that the recent unannounced
inspections of Russian troops from the border with Ukraine have
been made for better coordination with Russian soldiers and rebels
in Lugansk.
Comments:
Soljenin Complete version is: Crimea- Ukrainian
peninsula illegally taken in March 2014 after Russias military
invasion 285;
Shlomo_bernstein - ... Do you think that without this little
green men referendum it would not be a pro - Russian majority,
given that there are mostly Russians? 286.
283
Ibidem
284
I.B., Rusia a trimis avioane de lupt i elicoptere, precum i uniti militare n Crimeea,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20804455-rusia-trimis-
avioane-lupta-elicoptere-precum-unitati-militare-crimeea.htm, accessed on
14.05.2016, at 18:56
285
I.B., Rusia a trimis avioane de lupt i elicoptere, precum i uniti militare n Crimeea,
available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20804455-rusia-trimis-
avioane-lupta-elicoptere-precum-unitati-militare-crimeea.htm, accessed on
14.05.2016, at 18:56
286
Ibidem
September 10, 2015: The topic of this article is the fact that
Moscow is building a military base just 25 kilometres away from
border with Ukraine, near the city Valuiki. There are specific
information about the area of 300 hectares of military base, but also
that it will serve military training in artillery, antiaircraft artillery
and armoured troops287. Comments are few and against the Russian
Federation.
September 16, 2015: There are given the opinions of analysts
according to that Moscows involvement in Syria became a priority
instead of Ukraine actions. The whole article is a disapproval of
Russian Federation acting, presenting Ukrainian Presidents view
we know where Russians are hiding their weapons, artillery and
tanks. Now the order is to cease the fire but how long it will last? 288.
Comments:
ProLibertatea AntiMerkel - War continues in Ukraine there
are provoked attacks almost every day / night... Russians are not
building this huge base in vain... 289.
August 19, 2015: Putins statement about Crimea It is obvious
that the threat from external forces persists that can, in one form or
another, to destabilize the situation in the peninsula. 290 He added
that in some capitals they are talking openly about it. 291
287
Carla Dinu, Rusia construiete o mare baz militar n apropiere de Ucraina, available
at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20412870-rusia-construieste-mare-
baza-militara-apropiere-ucraina.htm, accessed on 15.05.2016, at 14:32
288
Rzvan Cojan, Implicarea Moscovei n Siria a lsat n planul doi ce fac ruii n Ucraina
i se speculeaz c acest lucru a fost premeditat de catre Kremlin, available at http://
www.hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-20429459-implicarea-moscovei-siria-lasat-
planul-doi-fac-rusii-ucraina-speculeaza-acest-lucru-fost-premeditat-catre-kremlin.
289
Ibidem
290
V.M., Vladimir Putin: Fore externe ar putea destabiliza Crimeea, available at http://
www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20368082-vladimir-putin-forte-externe-putea-
destabiliza-crimeea.htm, accessed on 15.04.2016, at 21:23
291
Ibidem
Comments: ProLibertatea - AntiMerkel - external forces

already destabilized Crimea Russian forces, as Putin admitted it was
necessary 292 .
7. European countries relation with the Russian Federation

- the favourable part
February 17, 2016: It shows the opinion of Prime Minister,
Viktor Orban who assured the Russian president that the EU
countries incline to cooperate with Moscow and said that sanctions
linked to Ukrainian crisis will no longer automatic 293 continue.
Comments are few and present an anti - Russian position.
November 12, 2015: It is remembered the visit of the five
French deputies who praised Russias intervention in Syria, asserting
that it promotes a realistic foreign policy. Acting in the general
interest of peace 294 . All comments are negative regarding Russia and
could be identified as trolls Soljenin and ProLibertate-AntiMerkel.
September 21, 2015: German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter
Steinmeier, welcomed Russias increased involvement in Syria and
spoke of a common position 295 on the bloody conflict.
292
V.M., Vladimir Putin: Fore externe ar putea destabiliza Crimeea, available at http://
www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20368082-vladimir-putin-forte-externe-putea-
destabiliza-crimeea.htm, accessed on 15.04.2016, at 21:23
293
R.M., Viktor Orban a fost primit de Vladimir Putin: Tot mai multe ri europene sunt
nclinate s coopereze cu Moscova / Sanciunile economice nu vor fi prelungite
automat, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20803282-viktor-
orban-fost-primit-vladimir-putin-tot-mai-multe-tari-europene-sunt-inclinate-
coopereze-moscova-sanctiunile-economice-nu-vor-prelungite-automat.htm,
accessed on 14.05.2016, at 16:21
294
R.M., Deputai francezi laud intervenia Rusiei n Siria: Eficient, Moscova promoveaz
o politic extern realist, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-russia_report-
20583912-deputati-francezi-lauda-interventia-rusiei-siria-eficienta-moscova-
promoveaza-politica-externa-realista.htm, accessed on 12.05.2016, at 13:21
295
Red. tiri, Ministrul german de Externe salut implicarea militar crescut a Rusiei n
Siria, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20440213-ministrul-
german-externe-saluta-implicarea-militara-crescuta-rusiei-siria.htm, accessed on
15.05.2016, at 19:34
Comments:
Kax - power system called US seeks democracy removal...296
8. Russia and the issues with Japan
October 22, 2015: Russian Minister of Defence, Sergey Shoygu

said that Russia will build a military base in the Kuril Islands, a
disputed territory with Japan. 297
Comments:
Real politik - Obama is overwhelmed and I am very happy.
Next will be based on Snake Island. 298
August 23, 2015: Japan protested against a visit of the Russian

Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev on one of four Pacific islands
with an ongoing territorial dispute between Moscow and Tokyo. 299
Comments:
Rov - is an international race on it... I hope that Russian
people will win.300
August 23, 2015: Russia is expanding its territory by 50 000

square kilometres in the Sea of Okhotsk
which resulted in Japan
complaint. The article presents a brief historical evolution of
Japanese and Russian interests in the region. 301
296
Ibidem
297
Red. tiri., Rusia va construi o baz militar n Insulele Kuril, teritoriu disputat cu
Japonia, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20521972-rusia-
construi-baza-militara-insulele-kurile-teritoriu-disputat-japonia.htm, accessed on
15.05.2016, at 12:12
298
Ibidem
299
V.M., Japonia protesteaz fa de o vizit a lui Medvedev pe una dintre insulele disputate
cu Rusia, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20374623-japonia-
protesteaza-fata-vizita-lui-medvedev-una-dintre-insulele-disputate-rusia.htm,
accessed on 15.05.2016, at 12:34
300
Ibidem
301
V.M., Rusia i extinde teritoriul cu 50.000 de kilometri ptrai n Marea Ohotsk, nfuriind
Japonia, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20374812-rusia-isi-
Comments: Nyk1 - After they poisoned the ocean with

radioactive substances they should be happy that Russia didnt ask for
other damages, since that is the closest neighbour to Fukushima.302
The other reviews are powerful anti- Russian combating the
allegations expressed above, or relied on other arguments, such as
Romanian treasure stolen by the Russians etc.
9. Today tense relationship between the Russian Federation

and Turkey
The theme of the relationship between Russia and Turkey
is detailed, by presenting the enunciation of all events conducted
lately between the two countries. This interest, both in terms of the
editorial Hotnews and comments, is because obviously shooting
down the Russian SU -24 aircraft by Turkish aircraft.
February 15, 2016: This article presents the point of view of
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu expressed in a press conference in
Kiev. About the situation in Syria, he stated If Russia continues to
behave as a terrorist organization, forcing civilians to flee, we will
oppose an extraordinarily strong answer303. Davutoglu also added
several other categorizations of Russia, reflecting the actual plight of
relations between the two countries.
Comments:
- Mazeta - Turkey has managed to argue with Russia, France,
Germany, the US and Israel... and silmix responded that Russia
succeeded to quarrel with the European Union, Norway, USA...304
extinde-teritoriul-50-000-kilometri-patrati-marea-ohotsk-infuriind-japonia.htm,
accessed on 16.05.2016, at 20:23
302
Ibidem
303
R.M., UPDATE Premierul turc Davutoglu amenin cu o ripost extrem de ferm:
Rusia se comport n Siria ca o organizaie terorist, available at http://www.
hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20796165-premierul-turc-davutoglu-ameninta-
riposta-extrem-ferma-rusia-comporta-siria-organizatie-terorista.htm, accessed on
17.05.2016, at 12:34
304
Ibidem
Except the comments above, all other positions show different

approaches against the Russian Federation.
February 3, 2016: Russian officials statement accusing the
Turkish state of not respecting the open skies treaty from 2002,
that do not allow flights over Turkish territory by a Russian plane in
between February 1-5, as required by this Treaty305.
Comments:
Soljenin - Were 5 reconnaissance f lights? What is extra it
can be refused and if needed, it can brought down.306
November 30, 2015: At the climate summit in Paris, Vladimir
Putin accuses Ankara that it had a number of specific interests, in
the context of felling Russian plane, We have every reason to believe
that the decision to take down our plane was dictated by the desire to
protect the means of transportation of oil to the Turkish territory.307
Comments:
Mazeta - The declarations game is more spectacular than the
article suggests. Putin warns that he has evidence of ISIS smuggling
oil through Turkish ports. Erdogan raises the stakes and announces
his resignation if the allegations proved true. US deals the cards308.
When a gentleman responds - poker game it plays, Red October is
the house specialty309.
This article has multiple comments. The two troll camps offend
each being supported, in part, and by individuals who appear to not
305
V.M., Moscova acuz Turcia c a interzis un zbor de recunoatere rusesc, available
at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20771479-moscova-acuza-turcia-
interzis-zbor-rusesc-recunoastere.htm, accessed on 16.05.2016, at 15:56
306
Ibidem
307
Ionu Baias, Putin: Turcia a decis s doboare avionul rusesc pentru a proteja traficul de
petrol al SI, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20633636-putin-
turcia-decis-doboare-avionul-rusesc-pentru-proteja-traficul-petrol.htm, accessed
on 14.05.2016, at 17:45
308
Ibidem
309
Ionu Baias, Putin: Turcia a decis s doboare avionul rusesc pentru a proteja traficul de
petrol al SI, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20633636-putin-
turcia-decis-doboare-avionul-rusesc-pentru-proteja-traficul-petrol.htm, accessed
on 14.05.2016, at 17:45
be enlisted and who express a personal position. These comments

show some historical arguments, more or less accurate.
November 27, 2015: Vladimir Putins impression regarding
Russian plane brought down by Turkey. He argues that the United
States, leading a coalition which includes Turkey, knew the place
and time of crossing our aircraft and precisely in this place and at
that time it was hit,310 excluding the argument that the Turkish Air
Force could not identify the plane SU -24. Besides the explanations
of President Putin it is presented Kremlin willingness to cooperate
with the coalition led by the United States on the Syrian issue.
Comments suggests an aggressive offensive against the Russian
Federation and President Putin, the Russian side accusing all users
of intent to manipulate events and explanations in order to support
their positions.
September 23, 2015: This article presents information about
opening the largest mosque in Russia, inaugurated by President
Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Erdogan.
Hotnews included only Russian president positions praising
humanistic virtues of Islam. 311
Comments:
ProLibertatea-AntiMerkel - If Putin is such a great humanist
why did he put Crimean Tatars to register as Hitler said the Jews?312;
Zizin troll added a comment giving details about the place
where the mosque is going to be built, the amount of Moslems who
live in Russia, and some Russian officials quotes that claim that are
310
Ionu Baias, Putin: Moscova a informat Washingtonul n legtur cu misiunea avionului
rusesc doborat de Turcia, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-
20626340-putin-moscova-informat-washingtonul-legatura-misiunea-avionului-
rusesc-doborat-turcia.htm, accessed on 12.05.2016, at 14:23
311
I.C., Una dintre cele mai mari moschei din Rusia, inaugurat la Moscova. Vladimir Putin
a ludat Islamul umanist, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-
20447371-una-dintre-cele-mai-mari-moschei-din-rusia-inaugurata-moscova-
vladimir-putin-laudat-islamul-umanist.htm, accessed on 21.05.2016, at 23:21
312
Ibidem
some groups that exploit religious feelings for political purposes.

Zizin is on the Kremlin side.
November 24, 2015: HotNews article shows images and
postings from Twitter with the topic of Russian plane brought down
by Turkey313.
Comments:
Real_politik - Hopefully this will not happen. It is clear
that Russian aircraft had no intention to attack Turkey and then why
had they shot down it?... 314 To which replied alex military rules
say otherwise. Airspace is sovereign315. Conversation in which got
involved troll bogdan_100, They can fly over Russia provided they
do not go over Moscow?... 316
November 24, 2014: Another article presents President
Vladimir Putins tough statements who categorize the incident with
Turkey as a stab in the back317, offering information in order to
defend Russian aircraft position.
Comments:
Mazeta - What Turkish pilot will have the courage to come
and enter Syrian airspace?318 and parzivall responded Turkey has
NATO technology, superior... they will go, then. 319 Mazeta - Turkey
weekly violates Greeces air space.320
313
R.M., Imagini cu avionul rusesc n flcri, dup ce a fost doborat de Turcia, available
at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20617834-video-imagini-avionul-
rusesc-flacari-dupa-fost-doborat-turcia.htm, accessed on 12.04.2016, at 12:23
314
Ibidem
315
Ibidem
316
Ibidem
317
R.M., Vladimir Putin, declaraii dure la adresa Turciei, dar nici o decizie de retorsiune:
Doborrea avionului rusesc, o lovitur de cuit n spate care ne-a fost dat de complicii
teroritilor, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-20618572-
vladimir-putin-doborarea-avionului-rusesc-injunghiere-spate-din-partea-
complicilor-teroristilor.htm, accessed on 12.04.2016, at 16:56
318
Ibidem
319
Ibidem
320
Ibidem
November 24, 2015: This article refers to the major crisis

between Russia and Turkey regarding aviation incident. It is also
included a liveTEXT section showing in chronological order the
various positions of officials or individuals relevant to the topic and
the latest information.
Comments:
Hotnews users who commented on this article were
involved in discussions about the historical relations between the
two countries. Some users have suggested that Turkey actions were
legitimate while others have called on other incidents of violation
of airspace, after which there were no so serious cases. This article
has accumulated 247 comments, one of the most discussed on the
website Hotnews, showing positions of users who were not identified
as troll. Being an ongoing event, trolls and other users comments
focused on issues ranging from the situation in Syria to the technical
elements of Russian planes.
Pro-Western troll Bogdan_100 was a very active user,
replying sometimes in a coherent and comprehensible manner, other
times less. On the other side, Russian trolls interventions have been
sporadic, being obviously in the minority and promptly criticized.
Real_politik troll said the plane that fell in Syria and it was shot
down by Turkey on the Syrian territory. I look awry at Turks.321 He
is trying to support Kremlins position.
321
Red. tiri, Criz militar major: Turcia a doborat un avion de bombardament
Suhoi-24 al Rusiei. Prima oar cnd un stat NATO atac deliberat echipamente militare
ruse. SUA nu au fost implicate n incident, available at http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-
international-20617533-avion-vanatoare-prabusit-flacari-langa-granita-turco-
siriana-nu-stie-carei-tari-apartine.htm, accessed on 12.04.2016, at 23:22
Chapter 10

DC News
Andreea Ibnescu
Information Warfare Qualitative and Quantitative

Assessment of DC News.ro
1. Covered period:
April 14, 2014 February 22, 2016
2. The entire volume of news:

Total 748 news about Russia/which make reference to Russia
within their content, of which 694 are political, economic, social
news.
Total of news which identify characteristics of Russias
Information Warfare: 34.
3. Patterns of manifestation of Information Warfare (IW)

which characterize the content of the news:
- The consolidation of Russias international position by
disinformation, propaganda, diversion, public signalling of successes
of the Russian state
- The consolidation of Russias international posture by

conveying warnings, intimidating gestures, placing the charge to
others state entities or invoking the need for self-defence
- The internal/external consolidation of Vladimir Putins
position as a strong leader
- Romania the consolidation of Russias position or
diminishing Romanias position with reference to Russia by warnings,
the minimization of Romanias/NATOs capabilities, intimidation,
propaganda, inoculating other meanings within the statements or
decisions of the Romanian leaders/institutions.
4. Ideas which were identified throughout all articles

Topic 1 T he military effort and Russias successes against the
Islamic State in Syria
Topic 2 T he consolidation of Vladimir Putins internal and external
position, in Russia inclusively
Topic 3 Russia behaves adequately toward Ukraine, it is not an
aggressor state
Topic 4 T he US pursues imperialism and represents the puppeteer,
while Russia refuses to be submissive
Topic 5 Warnings, intimidations that favour Russia
Topic 6 Russia is strong message to the internal and external
audience
Topic 7 Russias efficiency, the military and moral superiority in
comparison with Ukraine
Topic 8 Attracting other states on Russias side
Topic 9 Romania stands within a strategic error by aligning itself
with NATO and by exacerbating the Russian danger
Topic 10 M inimizing Romanias actions and potential, retouching
the idea of Russias manipulation
Topic 11 Romanian officials inadequate and incorrect attitude
towards Russia
5. Assessment of Trolls
The comments are allowed based exclusively on the users
Facebook account. The opinions expressed are broadly balanced:
a) Unfavourable to Russia
b) Trolls implicitly/explicitly favourable to Russia or critical of
Romania/the West/NATO (18 of 101)
c)
T he rest of the comments are broadly anti-system
(concomitantly anti-Russia and anti-West), anti-political
regime or neutral.
Total IW news: 34
Total TROLLS of 34 news: 101
Total TROLL Indirectly/explicitly favourable to Russia: 18
Redundant User IDs which are implicitly/explicitly favourable
to Russia: Maia Blaj, Cristiana Mbrg, CorneliuHuuui, Nipia Philip.
6. The Authors included in the IW news or of news taken from

other sources and published on DC News: IonuIordchescu, Elena
Badea, Cristina Alexandrescu, AncaMurgoci, CrianAndreescu,
Alexandra Petrovici, Laura Galescu, MdlinaBarbu, Andrei
Moisoiu (Google).
DC News topics related to the Informational

Warfare
I. Qualitative analysis
1. Positions favourable to Russia Unanimously, no article

published on DC News is directly favourable to Russias position
or actions, nor to Russian officials, by the connotation of titles, the
content of the news or the analysis of the author, where it is the case.
The single manner of conveying messages which can indirectly
favour Russia/the Russian leaders or can indirectly support Russias
disinformation/propaganda policy is the nature of the conveyed
information within the news themselves, declarations or information

taken from other media sources.
2. The DC News editors interference within the content of

the news the parts which are analyzed and inserted by editors are
quasi-inexistent, and if they do exist, they are minimal (news with
author), and they are generally critical or ironic of Russia; when the
analysis lacks, the critical tone emerges from the title of the news.
The single analyses on Russia are exposed by Romanian
analysts or foreign affairs officials, who are interviewed or whose
analyses are taken from other media sources they are generally
critical of or moderate in amplifying the Russian danger or in
diminishing Romanias relevance/defence potential:
A. I nterviews for DC News on Russias IW or analyses from

other sources are belonging to: George Maior, Mircea
Geoan, Radu Tudor, Alexandru Cumpnau.
B. T he rest of analyses belong to: Adrian Cioroianu, Bogdan
Aurescu, Corlean, Lazr Comnescu, Bogdan Chirieac,
Emil Hurezeanu, Sorin Roca Stnescu, Mircea Coea, Emil
Constantinescu, Val Vlcu.
3. Explicit news signalling Russias IW within the

monitored period, DC News published 17 articles which assume to
expose Russias information warfare/propaganda techniques, which
are conveyed through the nature of the news themselves, analyses,
direct interviews or interviews taken from other media sources.
4. Narratives main topics identified as part of the

Informational Warfare
Topic 1
T he military effort and Russias successes against the
Topic 2 T he consolidation of Vladimir Putins internal and external

position, in Russia inclusively
aggressor state
Topic 4 T he US pursues imperialism and represents the puppeteer,
while Russia refuses to be submissive
Topic 5 Warnings, intimidations that favour Russia
Topic 6 Russia is strong message to the internal and external
audience
Topic 7 - Russias efficiency, the military and moral superiority in
comparison with Ukraine
Topic 8 Attracting other states on Russias side
Topic 9 Romania stands within a strategic error by aligning itself
with NATO and by exacerbating the Russian danger
Topic 10 M inimizing Romanias actions and potential, retouching
the idea of Russias manipulation
Topic 11 - Romanian officials inadequate and incorrect attitude
towards Russia
II. Exclusive news on Information Warfare (IW), arranged

by topics
Topic 1 The military effort and Russias successes against the

The elements of IW express the intent to convey to the
international audience the inspired decisions of Kremlin, the success
on field and the assumed military effort regarding the fight against
the Islamic State, by minimizing or condemning the interests or the
actions of the West, the US inclusively
- The techniques imply propaganda by signalling Russias
successes in counter-terrorism, diversion and inducing the idea the
US represents the backstage supporter of the Islamic State
- The topic can be found within 3 news articles

The TOPIC
Publishing
comprised
date The Title of Central ideas exposed in the
The Author within the
on the the article news
content of
website
the news
Propaganda Sergey Shoygu announces
Russia stroke by signalling Vladimir Putin on TV that
9 for the first Russias Russia has hit for the first time
Alexandra
December time targets successes targets belonging to the Islamic
Petrovici
2015 of the Islamic in the fight State in Raqqa province, with
State against missiles from a submarine in the
terrorism Mediterranean.
Obama-Medvedev accusations
and replies: mutual accusations
of consolidating ISIS. Medvedev
says that the US represents
the hegemon in supporting
Diversion, terrorism, starting with Al-Qaeda:
TENSIONS!
inducing The US once contributed to
Russia and
23 the idea that fortifying Al-Qaida, which
the US accuse Cristina
November the US is the brought to the attacks on the
each other of Alexandrescu
2015 supporter of 11th of September (2001).
consolidating
the Islamic These lessons confirm the
ISIS
State idea that the fight against
the terrorist threat requires a
common effort, without any
split between allies in this
fight, between ours and
yours .
Propaganda, Andrei Karatapolov (official of
Russia heavily international the Russian Army Chief Staff )
18
bombs Cristina notification declaration: Russia heavily
November
terrorist Alexandrescu of Russias bombs positions of the Islamic
2015
positions successes in State; Russian air raids against
Syria the oil tank trucks.
Topic 2 The consolidation of Vladimir Putins internal and

external position, in Russia inclusively
Actions and narratives for lobbying in favour of president
Vladimir Putin, expressing the admiration for his political,
missionary, human posture, with mystical propensities; generally,
news of wide impact for a specific captive segment of population
with emotional news
- The techniques imply propaganda for maintaining or
accumulating political or public capital, humanizing his political
figure, displaying the rationality behind his political decisions by

justifying the war in Ukraine
The National Committee
Lobby for 60+ group of activists
Vladimir Putin,proposed Putins sanctification
Incredible! propaganda to Patriarch Kirill, who
23 October Putins Cristina about the heroically defend the
2015 sanctification Alexandrescu importance Orthodox Christians in
is demanded and the divine Ukraine and Syria, as a result
mission of the of numerous alleged demands
Russian leader that had been received from
Russian Orthodox Christians.
Gerard Gerard Depardieu launches
Depardieu: his autobiographical book
27 May Crian Lobby for Russia/
Iam ready his friendship with Putin and
2015 Andreescu Vladimir Putin
to die for the assertion that he is ready
Russia to die for Russia.
The most Propaganda for
important Putins political
Sputnik and Russia Today
victory capital, the
13 publish a survey about
for Putin: Ionu consolidation
February Vladimir Putins quotas of trust
historic Iordchescu of his position
2015 in Russia, which have reached
quotas of in front of the
a historical level of 85%.
trust in internal and
Russia external audience
Vladimir
Putin, Vladimir Putin becomes
Humanizing
7 sentimental: sentimental at the Geographic
Laura Putins negative
November The Society Congress from Russia:
Galescu image, emotional
2014 meaning of the meaning of live stands
impact to masses
live stands in in love.
love
Igor Strelkov, the ex-separatist
The consolidation
leader from Eastern Ukraine,
Rare picture of Putins
broadcast from the press
of Putin in position, mystical
11 conference in Moscow: he
the bureau Ionu propensities with
September denounces the fifth column
of the Iordchescu impact to public,
2014 which the West wants to build
separatist justification
in Russia and he announces
leader for the war in
the divine mission which had
Ukraine
been started by Putin.
The official conclusions of
The proof
the EU Foreign Ministers
that the
Overbidding reunion indicate that the
EU Foreign
23 July Anca Putins position member states did not
Ministers
2014 Murgoci (derived from the adopt any sanctions against
are afraid
title) Russia, despite the exposed
of Vladimir
indignation towards Vladimir
Putin
Putins regime.

aggressor state
The consolidation of Russias position in front of the internal
and international public with reference to the Ukrainian political
elite, inducing the idea that the Ukrainian leader is dehumanized
and indifferent to his own people.
- The techniques imply disinformation, diversion, blackmail
and intimidation
- The topic can be found in 4 news articles
DmitryKozak, declaration for Rossia
24: Russia will help Ukraine by
Russia supplies Disinformation,
providing the needed coal supply
Ukraine in fortifying
for electricity in Ukraine, during the
27 advance with Russias position
Mdlina harsh winter conditions. He expresses
December coal and in front of the
Barbu hope that this would be helpful for
2014 electricity internal and
Crimea as well, which also represent
without international
president Putins wish, who desires
payment audience
real support for Ukrainians for the
New Year.
Blackmail,
Russia about intimidation,
Sergey Ivanov (the chief of the
Poroshenko:He inducing the
22 Russian presidential administration):
started to Mdlina idea that the
September Maybe Poroshenko understood
understand Barbu Ukrainian leader
2014 the war till victory, till the death of
the war is not is dehumanized,
the last Ukrainian is not necessary.
necessary indifferent to
his own nation
Sergey Lavrov promises that Russia
Russias would not militarily interfere in
promise: We Diversion Ukraine, but he expresses concerns
1
are not going Ionu about Russias about the peace plan proposed
September
to militarily Iordchescu intentions in by Poroshenko. For that reason,
2014
interfere in Ukraine he demands the EU and the US to
Ukraine persuade Ukraine giving up using its
artillery.
Vladimir Putin declared that Russia
would withdraw its dislocated troops
for military exercises from the
border with Ukraine. This is the third
time when the leader from Kremlin
Why will Putin
makes such a statement. NATO
really withdraw
20 May Ionu each time responded that there
his troops from Disinformation
2014 Iordchescu had been no proof of Russian forces
the border with
withdrawal. Russia has maintained
Ukraine
aircraft, tanks and artillery at the
border with Ukraine for the last
months. Putin insisted these forces
were participating in simple planned
military exercises.
TOPIC 4 The US pursue imperialism and represent the

puppeteer, while Russia refuses to be submissive
The intention to blame the US, to consolidate Putins position
abroad as a powerful leader, in parallel with his actions of holding
back the Western imperialism.
- The techniques involves diversion and propaganda
- The topic can be found in 2 news articles
Vladimir Putin, the annual press
conference with 1259 journalists: the US
directly threatens Russia by unilateral
Putin: The
decisions and the anti-missile defence
Americans
Diversion, system in Poland and Romania; Russia
create
threats in strengthening wants equivalent relations, the Russian
Putins drink Kvas is better than Coca-Cola,
Romania.
18 position which is harmful. Putin: (the US)
How does Ionu
December abroad as creates threats to us. Not just in
he explain Iordchescu
2014 a powerful Alaska, but in Europe, too in Poland,
the leader, Romania. Who is the really aggressive
collapse blaming the one? I wont speak now about who is
of the US right in the Ukrainian issue. Them or
Russian
us. I consider we are right. But leave
ruble
that for now. We want equivalent
relations, but only provided our
national interests are respected.
Sergey
Lavrov
warns: Assuming Sergey Lavrov warns that Russia
Russia a strong does not intend to please the West
19 October will not Crian position of concerning the sanctions which had
2014 comply Andreescu Russia in front been imposed. The West is dominative
with the of Western and imposes its will against other
conditions imperialism nations will.
of the
West
TOPIC 5 Warnings, intimidations that favour Russia

Emphasizing the idea of Russias energy superiority which can
ensure Europes needs and the display of Europe-Russia dependency
relation, in view of directing the actions of the European states/
intimidation of the public from the European states which are
politically opposed, with the purpose of putting pressure on the
political factor; strengthening the idea that Europe cannot deal

without Russia in matters of energy.
- The techniques imply diversion combined with warnings
and intimidation
Sergey Lavrov Diversion, warning, Sergey Lavrov at the European
threatens: inducing the idea Affairs Association reunion: Europe
14 that Europe is
Europe wont Crian wont handle without the Russian
October dependent on
Andreescu
Russia and the US gas; he accuses that re-orientation
handle without
2014
the Russian gas manipulates from towards the US shale gas is being
for long behind pursued from backstage.
TOPIC 6 Russia is strong message to the internal and external

audience
Inducing the idea that Russia is a powerful state: minimizing
the effects of post-Crimea international sanctions, strengthening the
trust of Russians in their own country and maintaining the internal
political capital of the regime from Kremlin
- The techniques imply propaganda and possible manipulation
of surveys
Dmitry Dmitry Medvedev, at a meeting
Medvedev: with young people: Russia is not
Russia, a Propaganda, conveying afraid of sanctions. No matter
12 the idea to the internal
powerful Crian those who try to put pressure
August public that Russia is
state, is Andreescu on us, we will continue to live in
2014 strong and the impact of
not afraid sanctions is minimized our beloved country, continue
of Western to develop it, continue the
sanctions investments RIA Novosti tells.
One of four Consolidation of The survey published by Vtiom
Russian Russians trust in their Institute: 24% of Russians consider
Andrei
24 July believes own country, self- Russia inspires fear to other states,
Moisoiu
2014 his country mystification in a period an opinion which is widely spread
(Google)
inspires fear of international quasi- especially among those aged
abroad isolation of Russia between 18 and 24 (31%).
TOPIC 7 Russias efficiency, the military and moral superiority

in comparison with Ukraine
Minimizing, trifling and deterring the Ukrainian defence,
reassuring the Russian audience about the correct nature of
Russian troops action in Ukraine, invoking the need to protect the

Russophones from Ukraine, blaming Ukraine and justifying the
need of a military intervention of Russia in situations which call for
its interference.
- The techniques imply disinformation, propaganda and the
use of derisive words of Russian officials
Mutual information
warfare between
Russia and Ukraine,
Poroshenko: the use of derisive
Poroshenko:We destroyed the
We destroyed words of Russian
16 tanks. General Igor Konacenkov, the
the Russian Ionu officials in order
August spokesperson of the Russian Minister of
tanks. Russia: Iordchescu to trifle and
2014 Defence, denies there were any Russian
It is about a demoralize the
tanks to be destroyed.
ghost Ukrainian defence,
concomitantly with a
relieving attitude for
the Russian audience
The Russian Ministry of Defence denies
Russias the information about having sent a
reaction military convoy in Eastern Ukraine, AFP
concerning says. According to Igor Konacenkov:No
15 Disinformation
the attack on Russian military convoy has
August Elena Badea through a Russian
the military crossed the border between
2014 official
convoy inside Russia and Ukraine; he ridicules
the Ukrainian the announcement from Kyiv about
territory attacking and destroying several Russian
military vehicles.
Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Minister
of Defence, asked the government from
Kyiv to offer details regarding the use
MH17. The
of BUK missiles in Eastern Ukraine and
Russian
19 July Anca Disinformation, explanations why such systems exist,
wait for
2014 Murgoci blaming Ukraine considering that insurgents do not own
explanations
aircraft, Mediafax writes, AFP quotation.
from Ukraine
Moscow claims the Ukrainian army
possesses 27 BUK missile systems in
Donetsk region.
Disinformation,
Vladimir Putin explains why Crimea was
propaganda
annexed: Excuse me, but we could
self-justification,
VLADIMIR not have acted otherwise under these
the humanitarian
PUTIN conditions, when a territory with
5 June Crian mission of Russia,
explains why majority Russian-origin population
2014 Andreescu invoking the need
Crimea was is at risk to get into an international
to protect the
annexed military alliance, although the
Russophones and to
inhabitants of Crimea wanted to be
defend the Russian
inside Russia.
Federation
TOPIC 8 Attracting other states on Russias side

Tempting Bulgaria in view of aligning it to the political trend
of Moscow and exploring potential alliances, the aim of creating rifts
or divisions inside the EU, which can advantage Russias position.
- The technique implies diversion
- The topic could be found within 1 news article
Meeting between Konstantin Kosacev, the
Bulgaria Diversion, chief of the federal Russian Agency for the
can have stimulating Commonwealth of Independent States (CSI) and
8 a major divisions Mikhail Mikov, the spokesperson of the Bulgarian
Ionu
May role in inside Parliament. Mikov declares:Bulgaria can have
Iordchescu
2014 solving the the EU, a major role in de-escalating the situation in
Ukrainian alluring Ukraine, in normalizing relations between
crisis Bulgaria Russia and the European Union, but also
between Russia-NATO.
TOPIC 9 Romania stands within a strategic error by aligning

itself with NATO and by exacerbating the Russian
danger
Minimizing the capabilities of the anti-missile shield from
Deveselu, the military and technical superiority of Russia in
comparison with Romanias / NATOs, internationally consolidating
the image of Russia as a powerful state, diminishing the negative
image of Russia in Romania and, by the superior character compared
with NATO, noticing Russias capacity to launch warnings and
intimidations which aim at Romanian decision-making apparatus/
the Romanian public, in order to put pressure on the decision-
making apparatus.
- The techniques imply diversion, propaganda, intimidation
Russia: Sergey Lavrov, statement about
9 February NATO and Cristina hysteria and exacerbation of the
diversion
2016 Romania are Alexandrescu Russian danger in NATO leadership, in
hysterical! the Baltic states, Poland and Romania.
Diversion,
Russia, minimizing
warning the defence Declaration Igor Nasenkov, director
after potential KRET (the Russian group for radio-
25 Deveselu. of the anti- electronic technologies): Russia holds
Crian
December Jamming missile
Andreescu
2015 equipment shield from jamming technology for the systems
for the Deveselu, of communication, such as the one at
anti-missile Russias Deveselu, Sputnik says.
shield military
superiority
Russia warns Sergey Karakayev (Strategic Missile
Propaganda, Forces Commander): Russia possesses
Romania
promoting missiles which can destroy any anti-
16 again
Crian Russias
December because of ballistic element installed by the US,
Andreescu image as a
2015 the anti- inclusively the one at Deveselu; there
powerful
missile are missiles on Russias territory which
state
shield are still unknown by the enemies.
Russia-NATO
Commuting
war: the Oleg Malginov was interviewed
the public
trenchant (Russias ambassador to Bucharest):
attention,
15 August notice
Anca Murgoci diminishing he excludes the possibility of war
2015 made by
the negative between Russia and a NATO state
the Russias
image of (Romania inclusively).
ambassador
Russia
in Romania
Russians Vladimir Evseev (Centre of Political
Propaganda, Military Studies in Moscow),
firm warning
direct declaration for TVR 1: Russia has the
10 towards
Ionu intimidating
February Romania: capacity to annihilate the Romanian
Iordchescu gestures
2015 Well look for military fleet from the Black Sea, as a
against
annihilating consequence for having installed the
Romania
your fleet! anti-missile shield at Deveselu.
TOPIC 10 M inimizing Romanias actions and potential,

retouching the idea of Russias manipulation
Trif ling Romania, inducing the idea that the Holocaust is
being rejected in Romania; propagating erroneous associations of
Russian manipulation exercises about Romanian personalities or
institutions, which may perturb the Romanian public and the trust
in national institutions, with a risk of submitting false subjects to
debate in Romania
- The techniques imply disinformation, diversion, indirect
propaganda

Maria Zakharova about the Day of
Disinformation,
MAE reacts the Holocaust and the exposition
trifling Romania,
after the
5 February Anca in Bucharest: the lack of empathy
the idea that
attack of
2016 Murgoci the Holocaustof Romanian authorities towards
the Russian
is rejected in
the Jews; Romania retouches the
government
Romania history of the 2nd World War.
In Romnia Liber, journalist
Diversion, Sabina Fati claims the Romanian
BOR attacks Andrei
17 March allegations which Orthodox Church (BOR) is a
journalist Moisoiu
2015 support Russias geopolitical instrument for Russia.
Sabina Fati (Google)
propaganda BOR reacts through a notification
and rejects the accusations.
Indirect Adrian Nstase about Dughins
Dughins propaganda - list: he practices self-irony while
3 list: Nstase Nstase rejects rejecting the idea that he sustains
Ionu
December publishes his the mystification the Russian propaganda. He
Iordchescu
2014 own secret of him being an asserts Dughin is an amateur of
list agent of Russian Romanian culture, he is fond of
propaganda Liviu Blaga, Jean Prvulesco.
TOPIC 11. Romanian officials inadequate and incorrect attitude

towards Russia
Making the Romanian leaders vulnerable by ascribing them
inadequate and incorrect attitude towards Russia or deviation
from the desirable diplomatic vocabulary, promoting the idea that
Romania is imperialist and aims at annexing territories related to
the topic unification after 100 years (with Moldova).
- The techniques imply disinformation and conveying
perturbed messages about Romanias foreign approaches, through
the Russian ambassador
Making the
Bsescu - Lukoil. internal The release of the Russian
The Russian position of embassy: the ambassador
ambassador: president Oleg Malginov criticizes
unbalanced Bsescu president Bsescus position,
10 October Ionu vulnerable,
statements, who speaks of the Putin
2014 Iordchescu while being
unacceptable accused of blackmail and demands
language inside inadequate to send the shareholders
the international language, from Lukoil Petrotel-Ploieti
community implicitly refinery back home.
aggressive
The release of the Russian

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
sends signals: concerns about
Victor Pontas declaration,
when he was present
Russia: Victor Promoting amid activists from PSD
Pontas assertions the idea that Alba Iulia. He spoke about
16 Romania is
about the future the reunification with the
September Elena Badea imperialist
of Republic Republic of Moldova till 2018.
2014 and aims at
of Moldova, annexing Moscow accuses that this is
irresponsible territories the real plan of Bucharest,
which aims at annexation.
The Russian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs demands
reactions from the EU and
Chiinu.
The Russian ambassador
Oleg Malginov, interviewed
by Digi24: the country led
Russias Disinformation, by Vladimir Putin does not
ambassador to allegations intend to restore the borders
14 May Ionu
Bsescu: We wont about president of the USSR; the statements
2014 Iordchescu
accept it! Bsescus of president Bsescu
misinforming regarding the extension
of the Russian-controlled
territory till the mouth of the
Danube cannot be accepted.
Chapter 11

tiripesurse and Ziare
Irina Iacovoiu
stiripesurse.ro
In the recent past, the Russian Federation has been accused,
among other things, of violating the Turkish airspace and of
committing war crimes in Syria. For both charges, Moscow
responded that these are tactics of an informational warfare, which
is being waged against the Russian state, brief and to the point,
without giving any further arguments1.
On the 24th of November 2015, the Turkish army shot down a
Russian bomber, which accessed the Turkish airspace intentionally
and unauthorized, incident throwing the economic relations between
Turkey and Russia in a serious crisis. Moscow has adopted a series
of retaliatory measures against Ankara. In its turn, Turkey strongly
condemned this event, stressing that through the committed acts,
Russia has shown adopting an irresponsible attitude. According to
Russias reaction regarding the declarations of the administration
1
Article available at: http://www.stiripesurse.ro/rusia-replica-dura-pentru-turcia-
propaganda-fara-fundament_980868.html
in Ankara, the alleged violation of its airspace by a Russian SU-34

would be nothing more than groundless propaganda2 .
Also, regarding Russias activity in Syria, according to a report
realized by Amnesty International (AI), at least 200 civilians were
killed in air strikes carried out by the Russian Federation up until
now. The report names the Russian campaign as a war crime
since, according to some evidence, it violates the principles of the
humanitarian law. The Russian airstrikes in Syria killed hundreds of
civilians and caused massive destruction in residential areas, hitting
houses, a mosque and a crowded market, but also medical systems,
in operations revealing evidence of international humanitarian law
violations shows the AI report, according to Reuters3 .
Amnesty International has got hold of some audio visual
images, relating to the air attacks taking place in Syria, which have
subsequently been analysed. For this purpose, the international
organization advised with experts from the armament domain.
Moreover, according to witnesses and research works carried out
by human rights activists, there were no military targets near the
places bombed by Russia. Despite all the evidence showing that
the Russian bombardments targeted civilians directly, Moscow
repeatedly denied being responsible for their murder. In addition,
Kremlin stressed that the allegations were part of an informational
war plot directed against Russia.
The hybrid warfare waged by the Russian Federation is an
asymmetrical war in which conventional tactics are replaced by
occult tactics, including special and undercover operations (little
green men), cyber-attacks and misinformation on the territory of
the opponent. What can be observed with certainty from Russias
actions is that the Russian state is not the victim of psychological
2
Article available at: http://www.stiripesurse.ro/rusia-replica-dura-pentru-turcia-
propaganda-fara-fundament_980868.html
3
Article available at: http://www.stiripesurse.ro/rusia-acuzata-de-crime-de-razboi-
in-siria-amnesty-international_977133.html
operations designed to change the attitude and behaviour regarding

the current international relations map and power games.
On the contrary, as states before, Moscow is the one that
successfully combines the tactics of hybrid warfare. Informational
War/deliberate misinformation, part of hybrid war, complements
other methods used in order to achieve the aspirations of the Russian
Federation. Thus, strategic communications implies achieving the
disinformation of various means of media, of misinforming the
public, as well as the so-called psychological operations (PsyOps)
- to inf luence the public opinion in order to obtain support for the
operations and policies desired by Russia.
Therefore, Kremlin uses deliberate misinformation in
support of actions such as the annexation of Crimea, weakening the
determination of the West to conduct fights, feeding doubts about
Western structures (NATO and EU), exploiting the disagreements
already existent between the European countries, in order to
undermine the missile shield and to seek the annulment of the
sanctions imposed on Moscow after Ukraines destabilization,
as well as to sabotage initiatives through which the EU, currently
dependent on Russias energy, would like to find other sources of
energy supply.
According to Igor Sutyagin, senior expert at the Royal United
Services Institute in London, at the moment, Russias informational
war is very active, while the campaign waged by Moscow is
conducted in a grey area, under cover, in order to avoid possible
political responses4 . Among the parties suspected to be financed
by Russia in Europe we include Jobbik (Hungary), the Golden Dawn
(Greece), the Northern League (Italy) or the National Front (France),
all of which, last year, received a loan of nine million euro from a
4
Article available at: http://www.stiripesurse.ro/sua-acuza-ii-grave-la-adresa-rusiei-
ce-pregate-te-moscova-e-diabolic_979431.html; http://www.stiripesurse.ro/nato-
lucreaza-la-un-proiect-de-contracarare-a-razboiul-informational-al-rusiei_980521.
html
Russian bank, according to stiripesurse.ro. Obviously, their primary

role is to divide the European Union.
In an article published by The Telegraph, later undertaken
by the news website stiripesurse.ro, Russias extensive connections
in Austria are highlighted, as well as Moscows desire to influence
the political developments in the United Kingdom, particularly
regarding the referendum on its continuation within the European
Union. According to the publication, Jeremy Corbyns election at
the leadership of the Labour Party could be seen by Russia as an
opportunity to weaken Europe. In order to support Kremlins desire,
an exhaustive presentation was brought by the TV channel Russia
Today regarding Corbyns campaign, his appointment at the Labour
Party leadership being classified by Russias Ambassador in London
as a major progress. Additionally, the Russian diplomat noted that
the new Labour leader considers NATOs reason to exist after the
Cold War as being lost 5.
Moreover, in the report entitled Russias influence activity
and consulted by The Telegraph, influencing operations conducted
by the Russian secret services in France, Holland, Hungary, Austria
and the Czech Republic are mentioned 6.According to The Telegraph
and to the statements of Londons high officials, in Europe, at the
present time, a new Cold War is carried out, while the scale and
the real power of the Russian Federation in this confrontation are
still underestimated.
In this regard, the US Congress instructed the intelligence
services of the United States to carry out an investigation on the
guiding of the European political parties by the Russian Federation
through illegal funding in the past 10 years. This practice is part of
Moscows strategy, divide et impera, operation targeting Europe as
well, according to The Telegraph.
5
Article available at: http://www.stiripesurse.ro/sua-acuza-ii-grave-la-adresa-rusiei-
ce-pregate-te-moscova-e-diabolic_979431.html
6
Ibid.
Since the Western structures, NATO and the EU, are concerned
about Russias ability to use television and internet for achieving
the purposes of the instrument defined as propaganda, the North
Atlantic military bloc might thwart this means of obtaining the
Russian Federation desiderata by creating stronger communication
and by declassifying some sensitive material, according to a document
in draft, consulted by Reuters, later taken over by the news website
stiripesurse.ro.
Regarding the countermeasures adopted by the European
Union, the European Community established in 2015 a unit to counter
Kremlins opened propaganda. Regarding NATO, the proposals in
the document consulted by Reuters, a sensitive document of 23 pages,
describe how the military tactics - understanding your opponent and
influencing foreign audience - could become part of a new line of
communication within the Alliance. NATO is considering strategic
narratives that would lead to words and actions (...) appropriate
and culturally tailored, in order to resonate with the public and to
counteract the opposing narratives. With all the advantages that
might foreshadow, the idea is viewed with reserves by the United
States. The US are reluctant to any strategy that could be considered
as propaganda because the credibility of the Alliance lies precisely in
its transparency and in trust: we cannot fight propaganda with more
propaganda. According to the proposal of the document presented
by Reuters, NATO might turn more towards declassifying images,
in order to support the warnings of the Alliance regarding Russias
threatening activities, as well as enhancing communication through
social media7.
In order to counter Russias desire to achieve a virtual reality
designed to confuse and attain certain goals, the Alliance has already
created a division for strategic communications and a YouTube
channel and increased its presence on social networks, as well as it
intensified its responses to requests from the press. However, these
7
Article available at: http://www.stiripesurse.ro/nato-lucreaza-la-un-proiect-de-
contracarare-a-razboiul-informational-al-rusiei_980521.html
measures do not seem to be enough, argue some voices in the face of

unconventional warfare techniques, as unidentified troops (the so-
called little green men)military unmarked in Crimea and Eastern
Ukraine, misinformation operations and cyber-attacks 8.
Referring to the security situation of our neighbouring state,
the Moldovan Defence Minister, Anatol elaru, affirms that Moldova
is the target of a hybrid war waged by the Russian Federation9.
The Moldovan official stresses that this risk is not reflected in the
new draft of the National Security Strategy. Also, Anatol elaru
emphasizes that certain television stations and newspapers, which
appear in Russia and the Republic of Moldova, have already started
an attack against the Republic of Moldovas sovereignty, therefore
started a campaign of deliberate misinformation, although some
voices say this is only the right to speak. The Minister of Defence
of the Republic of Moldova explains, in his turn, that this process
is in fact a defamation of reality, according to an interview for Free
Europe and taken over by stiripesurse.ro and notes that the new
strategy does not define as a security threat the presence of Russian
troops in Transnistria.
It is observed that the activity of the Russian Federation through
the deliberate misinformation tactic, also known as propaganda,
PsyOps or informational warfare, is becoming more and more
intense. At the moment, according to the covered articles, Moscow
seeks the destabilization and disintegration of the European Union,
to keep Crimea, to continue to maintain chaos in the Republic
of Moldova and Russian troops in Transnistria, to continue the
destabilization of Ukraine, to discourage the US and NATO to fight
against it. Certainly, further measures from the Western structures,
NATO and the EU, are needed, but also from the individual state
apparatus, in order to eradicate corruption and the influence of the
Eastern vector and to fathom the democratic principles.
8
Ibid.
9
Article available at: http://www.stiripesurse.ro/continua-haosul-in-republica-
moldova-strategiile-de-securitate-sunt-in-aer_985442.html
ziare.com
If we are to regard the matter from Romanias decision
perspective, the Romanian state started to be targeted more and
more intense by the Russian informational warfare starting with
our countrys preparations for gaining membership in NATO, the
European Union and afterwards for placing the US antimissile
shield at Deveselu. If instead, we are to look at the matter from an
angle outside Romania, we can say that we find ourselves in the
informational warfare concept paradigm, once with the beginning
of Russias revisionism from the XXI century, throughout Europe
and Asia.
Russia spreads false stories (disinformation, propaganda,
rumour) by means of social networks, blogs or news websites, through
Russian commentators (Russian trolls) who write commentaries on
articles or on comments of other trolls, messages that supplement
or support the ideas transmitted by the statements of the Russian
officials, or by injecting certain ideas with the help of the pro-
Russian media. As soon as there is observed a disease within the
adverse society, a media campaign is launched in order to change
radically the opinion of the citizens. Since this injection is not
sufficient for planting ideas in the collective mindset, the Russian
trolls play the role of the catalyst in the reaction aiming at a
successful manipulation of the masses. Through trolls, among others,
the idea, that there are citizens belonging to the same country who
already know the truth and argue it seem quite pertinent, is induced.
This instrument, propaganda, known also as deliberate
misinformation, is part of Moscows hybrid warfare
instrumentation. The method must be countered with a rapid
response from the West, along with a rapid response from the
affected states. Distorted or untrue information spreads very rapidly
through the Internet and Radio Television and must be combated
through its exposure, to bring it to light, as emphasized by General

Phillip Breedlove, NATO commander in Europe.10
Regarding the tactics of the hybrid warfare, that undeclared war
by the aggressor state, in which the military component is not explicitly
assumed and is not unique, to this component another aspect being
added, namely the informational warfare, side that complements the
irregular military forces and the secret transport of weapons across
the border. In the case of hybrid warfare the internal weaknesses of
the victim-state are also essential, including the military ones, but
particularly the societal ones, which are exploited by the aggressor. We
are talking here about interethnic tensions (often artificially created
and fuelled - Crimea, Donbass, Transnistria), economic dependence
(particularly energetic Ukraines and Moldovas dependence to the
Russian gas import) and weak and corrupt state institutions, which
create an environment favourable to the unfriendly penetration of
foreign elements et cetera.11
Moscows propaganda machine leads, in parallel with the
battlefield actions in eastern Ukraine, Crimea, Transnistria, Syria
et cetera, an informational warfare against Europe and the United
States. As mentioned by the US Secretary of Defence, Ashton Carter,
Russia leads a rambling rhetoric regarding Moscows threats to
increase its military arsenal12 . We can add here the Russian rhetoric
about the inclusion of a preventive nuclear strike on the US, as part
of Moscows new military doctrine.
Putins propaganda sometimes self-discloses. A good example
is the video posted on YouTube, in which an employee of Russias
Parliament, Maria Katasonova, claims to be transmitting from
somewhere near the battlefield from Donetsk, when in reality she
10
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/international/nato/un-general-
nato-avertizeaza-ca-pierdem-razboiul-cu-rusia-nu-pe-cel-din-campul-de-
lupta-1354513
11
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/europa/ungaria/este-romania-in-razboi-
hibrid-ungaria-destabilizatorul-nato-interviu-cu-dan-dungaciu-1349463
12
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/international/america/secretarul-
american-al-apararii-putin-are-o-influenta-maligna-in-estul-europei-1369473
was in a dark room and the sounds of explosions, that can be heard
on the background, are actually recorded13.
Errors regarding Moscows actions disclosure were encountered
also within the postaci army (the ones who post opinions that
do not belong to them), Putins so-called Russian trolls. According
to an article published by ziare.com and belonging to BBC, an
investigation made by the independent newspaper Moy Rayon (My
District) suggests that in Moscow there is a real postaci army
paid to manage blogs, social media accounts, accounts to launch
comments on news sites and on social media platforms14 .
During a working day, which meant 12 hours, I had to write
126 comments on the posts of other employees and about 25 comments
on posts of real people. I also wrote 10 stories on the blog, recounted
Anton, a former employee of Moscow, quoted by Radio Liberty 15 .
One of the recent tasks, according to the statements of another
former Russian troll, Lena, for Radio Liberty, was addressed to the
assassination of the prominent Kremlin critic, Boris Nemtsov. It
was mandatory to write that Nemtsovs murder was a challenge before
the opposition march in March and that he was murdered by its own
partners, said the troll16 .
So that the idea transmitted could be as credible as possible
and for it to penetrate the minds of the people, sometimes their
hearts (cultural affinity), the message must be served in many forms
and come from many sources, such as those mentioned above.
The Russian press is also interesting to observe, articles taken
over by ziare.com, where we encounter propaganda methods such as:
exaggeration, insidious titles, dishonouring the enemy, irony, blatant
13
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/international/rusia/esec-lamentabil-al-
propagandei-lui-putin-stire-falsa-de-pe-frontul-din-ucraina-deconspirata-1379266
14
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/vladimir-putin/presedinte-rusia/
dezvaluiri-din-armata-de-postaci-a-lui-putin-cum-functioneaza-propaganda-rusa-
pe-internet-1354036
15
Ibid.
16
Ibid.
lies, unnamed sources which declare that..., bombastic tone, the

collection of Moscows worldwide friends, who express their opinion
as if it was shared by masses of Western citizens, the idea of state
besieged from all sides, nevertheless it resists, it is strong et cetera17.
Thus, reading the press from Russia or the news agencies websites, as
well as pursuing Russian televised emissions, the intense propaganda
rapidly stands out through the declarations of the belligerent leaders
in Moscow, putting highlight on the Russian president Vladimir
Putins statements and on the ones of the minister for Foreign
Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, while criminalizing the US, NATO, the EU or
Ukraine18.We can observe easily in the indicated material that these
are also some of the messages spread by the Russian trolls by means
of the internet in Romania or in other countries of interest.
Some headlines encountered in the mentioned article:
*)Pravda:America wants to invade Ukraine, Washington
leads the world to war, The WC type of Diplomacy: Western
Corporate Diplomacy , Most of the people living abroad understand
that the Western media demonizes Russia, Medvedev: Russia was
held in the hallway for 17 years, but now its time to show its teeth,
Why is the American police causing riots;
*) Voice of Russia the international edition: Most Russians
believe that Russia is a great power, The media in Estonia reports:
in Donetsk, we are talking about people uprising against Kiev rather
than the intervention of Russian troops;
*) RIA Novosti: Lavrov - Unlike the US, Russia does not
blackmail other countries, Scientists say: the US nuclear fuel could
cause a second Chernobyl disaster, A Russian Deputy: Russia
prevented the plans of the West to change the regime in Ukraine,
Dmitri Kiselev: The conduct of the West is at the schizophrenia
limit, Russia could create a new military bloc with China;
17
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/international/rusia/o-zi-cu-propaganda-
moscovei-cele-mai-desantate-titluri-din-presa-ruseasca-1295772
18
Ibid.
*) Voice of Russia, the version dedicated to Romania: Kiev

strangles Crimea through water shortages. Last time, the Nazis
proceeded likewise, An American destroyed his passport in
order to stay in North Korea , Romanias interests in Ukraine ,
Migrant workers want to be part of the Russian army to oppose the
aggressive pressure of the West.
We restate that, since Romanias proximity steps towards
NATO, then from Romanias integration in the North-Atlantic
military organisation, later with the emplacement envision of the
US antimissile shield at Deveselu and the actual achievement of
this desideratum, Russia warned/threatened Romania in different
ways. The Russian officials said that Romania must be aware of the
responsibility and the consequences of its actions or that NATOs
plans to deploy military forces in Romania are inadequate and
conflictual19.
Regarding the question how far would Russia go with these
threats?, we have received the answer from Iulian Chifu, former
presidential advisor for Strategic Affairs and International Security
to President Traian Basescu. In an exclusive interview for ziare.com,
the former presidential adviser states that the situation should be
treated with calm, restraint and balance. It should not be ignored,
but neither should we play the informational warfare game against
the Western European population and Romanias population, by
promoting such excessive standpoints, even when they are coming
from a diplomat, even Russian. He mentions how Russia promotes its
propaganda within the state: it has an enemy that is about to invade
it or to harm its interests, in order to install insecurity, fear and
rupture at the European level or between the banks of the Atlantic.
Furthermore, the prospect of the Russian Federation invasion in
Romania does not exist as Moscow lacks the required resources and
capabilities. At the moment, Russia has great problems in paying
19
F or security reasons I removed the link. The title of the article: Are the Russians
coming over us? Do we have enough reasons to fear Moscows veiled threats? Interview
with Iulian Chifu
the salaries and pensions of its citizens, in supplying the annexed

Crimea and to support with troops, equipment and material the
effort from eastern Ukraine20.
As a conclusion of analysing the ziare.com site, we can state
that the Russian propaganda techniques, if we are to divide them
into categories, consist of 21:
Victimisation, in order to arouse sympathy among the
worldwide population (Example: Russia upset with Johannis:
We didnt forget on whose side Romania fought during the Second
World War22 , Russia warns Romania: Absolutely revolting and
unacceptable. No reason for good relations23 et cetera)
Forming a superlative image Russia: the greatest army /
the most powerful country, etc. (Example: The biggest warship in the
world is back and much stronger. And it belongs to Russia 24)
Conferring legitimacy to its expansionist trends by blaming
the actions of the West, hence creating the feeling that Russia acts
only for defensive purposes (Example: Military expert for the Voice
of Russia: Romanians, the idiots the US, will be targets of Moscows
missiles25, Russias Defence Minister: NATOs exercises in Eastern
Europe are against Russia 26)
20
Ibid.
21
NOTE: For a thorough understanding of the significance of the articles used in this
section of conclusions, see their analysis in the document regarding the proposed
themes for theziare.com news website.
22
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/international/rusia/rusia-suparata-
pe-iohannis-n-am-uitat-de-partea-cui-a-luptat-romania-in-al-doilea-razboi-
mondial-1407509
23
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/international/rusia/rusia-avertizeaza-
romania-absolut-revoltator-si-inacceptabil-niciun-motiv-pentru-relatii-
bune-1299260
24
Article available at: http://m.ziare.com/international/cea-mai-mare-nava-de-
razboi-din-lume-se-intoarce-mult-mai-puternica-si-este-a-rusiei-1412406
25
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/international/rusia/expert-militar-pentru-
vocea-rusiei-romanii-idiotii-sua-vor-fi-tinta-pentru-rachetele-moscovei-1245645
26
Article available at: http://m.ziare.com/international/ministrul-rus-al-apararii-
exercitiile-nato-din-estul-europei-sunt-impotriva-rusiei-1358518
Direct threats, in order to induce fear and determine its

opponents to start or cancel certain strategic decisions (Example:
the Russian MFA, veiled threat? Romania must be aware of the the
consequences of supplementing NATOs capabilities27)
Demonizing its geopolitical opponents, particularly the West,
and placing Russia in the position of the last bastion of normality and
justice (Example: Putins ideologist: A Eurasian empire is needed,
inclusive of countries such as Romania 28, Russian political scientist: the
political crisis in Romania does not represent a problem for Russia29).
Narratives
stiripesurse.ro
Theme 1. Russia denounces the consolidation of NATOs
military presence in Eastern Europe
Article:ALERT: Russia threatens NATO and makes offensive
statements: They have ridiculous phobias
Publication date: 10 th of February 2016
Article Summary:
Mikhail Ulianov, director for Non-proliferation and Arms
Control within the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that NATO has
ridiculous phobias concerning the borders of Russia, given that
Russia does not represent a real threat to NATO member states or
to the military alliance itself. He warns that Moscow intends to
adopt symmetric measures. Quoted by the Tass news agency website,
Ulianov said Russia will react adequately to any change in the
politico-military configuration in Europe.
27
Article available at: http://m.ziare.com/international/mae-rus-amenintare-voalata-
romania-trebuie-sa-fie-constienta-de-consecintele-suplimentarii-capacitatilor-
nato-1356382
28
Article available at: http://www.ziare.com/vladimir-putin/presedinte-rusia/
ideologul-lui-putin-este-necesar-un-imperiu-eurasiatic-care-sa-includa-tari-
precum-romania-1345774
29
Article available at: http://m.ziare.com/international/politolog-rus-criza-politica-
din-romania-nu-este-o-problema-pentru-rusia-1391848
The North Atlantic military alliance decided to supplement its

military presence in the Black Sea: in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey,
said NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, according to the
Italian news agency Nova.
The employed propaganda techniques and the transmitted
messages:
The main aim of Mihail Ulianovs declaration is to demonize
NATO and to victimize Russia, through:
1) Blaming the strengthening of the Alliances military presence
in Eastern Europe, a region which obviously has an obsessive fear,
but lacks an objective or a precise cause regarding Russia and the
border with Russia.
2) Underlining the uselessness of this action, whereas Russia
would not represent a threat to the Euro-Atlantic structure.
3) The justification of Russias subsequent arming at the
European border.
Theme 2. Romania augments to hysteria the myth of the

Russian threat
Article: Russia launches new accusations against Romania: It
stirs to hysteria the threat myth
Article Summary:
The Russian Foreign Minister, Serghei Lavrov, accused NATOs
administration and several European countries, including Romania,
of exaggerating the myth of the Russian threat.
The leadership of NATO and a number of European countries,
especially the UK the Scandinavian countries, our neighbours the Baltic
countries, Poland, Romania and some other countries simply stir until
hysteria the myth of the Russian danger and that we intend to threaten
Sweden and the Baltic countries with nuclear weapons, said Lavrov in
an interview published in the Russian press, according to RIA Novosti.
The statements of Serghei Lavrov succeed the annual report
of the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, exposing that,
in March 2013, Russia simulated nuclear strikes against countries

belonging to the military structure of the North Atlantic (as part of
the Zapad military exercises) or against NATO partners, as in the
case of Sweden. The report shows that Moscow has deployed only
during 2013-18 large manoeuvres.
The Vice President of the Defence Committee from the State
Duma, Andrei Krasova, catalogued the information of the report
as a new horror story belonging to NATO and another attempt
to demonize the successful actions of Russia in the fight against
international terrorism, according to agerpres.ro.
messages:
The main purpose of the statements of the Russian Foreign
Minister Serghei Lavrov is to portray Russia and the measures taken
by Moscow as angelic, by:
1) Intentionally exaggerating the supposed myth of the Russian
threat by NATO and several European countries, including Romania.
2) Giving a demonic character to the North Atlantic military bloc,
since NATO is actually the part that tries to assign a negative character
to the successful actions taken by Russia against international terrorism.
3) Discrediting the annual report of the NATO Secretary
General, Jens Stoltenberg.
Theme 3. Washington and Bucharest plotted the political

crisis in Chisinau, plan resulting in the unification of the Republic
of Moldova with Romania in 2018
Article: BOMB statements in Chiinu: the US created the
crisis to force the unification with Romania
Publication date: 4th of February 2016
Article Summary:
In an interview for the Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya
Pravda, Igor Dodon, the leader of the Socialist Party (PSRM), assigned
the terrifying scenario of the unification of the Republic of Moldova
with Romania to the United States. The American terrifying plan,
called the Union 2018, aims at uniting the two countries in order to
mark the passing of a century after the 1918 Great Union, says Dodon.
For Dodon, home means the USSR and advocates for the
integration of the Republic of Moldova into the Eurasian Economic
Union, an organization created by Russia.
messages:
The main purpose of Igor Dodons statement, the leader of the
Socialist Party (PSRM), left-wing orientation, from Chisinau, is to assign
the guilt for the political crisis, taking place in Chisinau, to the United
States and Romania, as well as to clean the image of the extreme left
party, implicitly of the Russian Federation, which is funding this party.
Techniques:
1) Questioning the good intentions that lie beyond the wish
of the USA and Romania to assist the Republic of Moldova:
Why should money be invested in a small country like the Republic
of Moldova, why should anyone get involved in the problems of this
country in order to save it from starvation?! Dodon asked rhetorically
during the interview, according to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.
2) The West is supporting the Moldovan authorities, in order
to disperse the protests from the Republic of Moldova (according to
Dodon).
3) Supporting the Republic of Moldovas accession to the Asian
Economic Union and its return home, in the USSR.
Theme 4. The union of Romania with the Republic of

Moldova is a trap to start war with Russia
Articles:
1) Stratfor: Romania unites with the Republic of Moldova,
Russia will fall apart
Article Summary:
Regarding Romania, the Stratfor experts announced, by means
of a report, significant changes in the geopolitical and economic
landscape. According to it, Romania will regain its lost territories,

which were captured by the Russians.
Moreover, by 2025, Russia will disappear due to the arming
process, which requires too many funds, the falling cost of oil, but
also due to the internal pressures. Romania, Hungary and Poland
will regain the territories lost to Moscow and will cooperate closely
in an anti-Russian alliance, backed by the US.
The EU will resist only due to some isolated bilateral and
multilateral treaties. The European Union member states will focus
more on securing their borders and the local economies. Berlins
inf luence in the region will diminish, while the US will keep its
economic, political and military leading position in the world. The
Jihadist groups will continue to exist and to commit attacks, but it
will be an isolated movement in the Middle East.
2) The United States speak, for the first time, about the union
of the Republic of Moldova with Romania: What did the Americans
announce?
Article Summary:
The US Embassy in Chisinau rejected the accusations of the
socialist leader, Idor Dodon, according to which a plot belonging
to Washington would result in the unification of the Republic of
Moldova with Romania. Moldova is a sovereign state and the
United States fully supports the independence and sovereignty of this
country, highlighted the American Embassy in Chisinau, addressing
the allegations made by Igor Dodon, according to which the US and
Romania would be orchestrating the political crisis in Chisinau.
The opinion of Igor Dodon, the leader of the Socialist Party
in Chisinau (PSRM) it is also presented, who, in an interview for
the Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, assigns the terrifying
scenario for the unification of the Republic of Moldova with
Romania to the United States. The terrifying plan of the Americans
named Union 2018 is aimed at unifying the two countries, in
order to mark the passing of a centenary from the 1918 Great Union,
declares Dodon.
For Dodon home means the Soviet Union and he advocates
for integrating the Republic of Moldova in the Eurasian Economic
Union, an organization created by Russia.
Regarding these articles, the trolls commentaries support
the idea that the unification of the Republic of Moldova with
Romania represents a trap through which Romania should start
war with Russia. According to Russian trolls, the US and Russia
aim at triggering a new war, both countries being in a deep
economic crisis, whose only viable solution remains waging war.
The pretext? The unification of Romania with the the
Republic of Moldova.
Troll comments: Quis ut Devs
The unification of Romania and the Republic of Moldova is a
trap to start war with Russia, the US and Russia want the same, war!
Because both have economic interests, Russia in the crisis caused by
the millionaires appeared overnight, the former KGB, the current
Russian mafia, which runs the country. Also, the American dream is
sinking ever since the emerging of the EU and the euro, so the only
solution is war. Pay attention... nobody wants to help anyone! Only
to rob through the force of arms. Europe is good for being milked by
the US and Russia.
Quis ut Devs
The unification of Romania and the Republic of Moldova is just
a trap to step in a state of war, which is what Russia actually wants,
only the economic crisis that reached Russia, due to the former KGB,
the current Russian mafia leading Russia, the Russian millionaires
and billionaires, riches appeared overnight, many live in London!
The USA is bankrupt, the euro is a thorn stuck in the Statue
of Liberty and in the American dream, which turns out to be the
blackest nightmare, parents make rates and live on credit, while the
children who are born work to pay their parents rates, American
type of modern slavery!
Russia and the US can only do one thing, the only solution for
the deep crisis in which they find themselves in is WAR.
The EU is led by the masons, traitors, the servants of Soros,
who bring intentionally waves of refugees to uproot Christianity and
to oppress it in its home, Europe, everything is precisely calculated!
The world crisis is brought on intentionally, to make paper
money disappear and replace them with a microchip + electronic
money. Germany announced that in no more than 10-year, paper
money will disappear! The EU is agitating and working hard, France
is overall in debt, the microchip will connect the human brain to
artificial intelligence and people will live with virtual images going
to their brain and then to their retina! The miracles of the antichrist!
This is how lies will be seen!
The false Prophet is here! Mohammed! As long as his people
is astride on Europe? Isnt he already in their minds? And so came
the false prophet! THE BEAST Follows! and the presidents of state
from around the world will gather, due to the world war tensions in
the Orient, chaos in Europe, they will lead one hour during that day
and at the end of the 24 hours, they WILL FIND AS LEADER THE
ANTICHRIST, the devil messiah!
They have already started, the laws for Christians will
become more and more restrictive, they will say that in the name of
multiculturalism and not to disturb the Muslims, Merkel said: Is it
my job to save Christianity around the world?, referring to the Iraqi
and Syrian Christians martyred and crucified by ISIS!
Her job is to bring terror and sharia in Europe, afterwards
the people to be easier microchipped, the fools believing that it is
for their own good and safety! Measures increasingly diabolical,
Norway kidnaps children, what are they doing with them?????
messages:
The propaganda messages of the two trolls, Lorena Bt. and
Quis ut Devs, are anti-US. The US is the villain who tries to push
Moldova and Romania towards the union, this being the alibi for the
outbreak of the Third World War. War would be beneficial both to

the United States and to Russia.
Techniques:
1) The US economy is deeply affected. Russia is also in
economic crisis. Both countries intend the outbreak of a new war.
However, Washington is pushing the Republic of Moldova and
Romania towards their union. Once accomplished, the union will
trigger war with Russia.
2) Romanians are the laughingstock of Americans from all
Europe, since all but the Romanians refused the anti-missile shield
the Czechs, the Poles, and the Hungarians.
Theme 5. The US is an empire, NATO is an American

Empire; Romania, Ukraine and Moldova are in fact colonies
of the US Empire; The military troops of the North Atlantic
military bloc are occupation troops; The United States maintain
themselves as a state through wars
messages:
The main aim of the messages of the Russian troll marin is
to assign a demonic character to the United States, to assign the
blame for everything bad that is happening today to them. The
United States are in fact an invader Empire, which along with
their occupation troops, namely NATO, bring their colonies
(Romania, Ukraine, Moldova et cetera) to ruins, in order to seize
their wealth. Only this way, argues marin, the United States can
maintain themselves as a state.
Techniques:
1) Blaming the US for the current wars and for everything
bad happening nowadays
2) Supporting the idea that the US are supporting the terrorists
in the Middle East
3) All the US partner states are actually their colonies;
Washington takes advantage of their wealth and leaves them in ruins.
Theme 6. The European cooperation with Russia would be

beneficial to the first, especially with regard to its energy security
Article: Russia wants to be in Europe: We are a country on
this continent. We deserve the place
Article Summary:
The President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the
Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian Parliament,
Konstantin Kosachev, declared for TASS that Russia is a European
country and that it is willing to resume anytime the cooperation
with other European countries. He claims that the Russians will
always be European, having a European mentality even in the Far
East of the Russian Federation.
However, maintaining the current political direction of Europe
regarding NATO and the EU, including the Eastern Partnership,
lead the discussion to a dead end, Konstantin Kosachev further
claiming: [...] Russia reacts to these processes. We cannot remain
indifferent, not because were trying to stop them, but because we do
not see our own role and place in Europe, even if we consider Russia a
country just as European as other European countries.
Worthy to be considered, emphasizes Kosachev, is that solving
the problems that Europe is currently facing could come from Russia
and from cooperation with the Russian state. Among these issues we
could include energy security.
messages:
The main purpose of Konstantin Kosachevs statement is to
present Russia as a real solution to the current problems of Europe, by:
1) Presenting Russia as a European country, defined by a
European mentality from west to east. This fact places an emphasis
on the common features of Europe and Russia
2) Russias readiness to resume at any time its collaboration
with other European countries, sister countries, nevertheless these
should not be partisans of Europes current policies, referring here to

NATO or the EU Eastern Partnership
3) Presenting Russia as the saving solution for Europes
problems, among them assuring its energy security.
Theme 7.The endowing of the Russian army surpasses the

one of NATO
Article: Russia makes big announcement about a super
weapon: We are 10 years ahead of the West / VIDEO
Article Summary:
Kremlins armament industry representatives claim that the
new series of Russian armoured vehicles exceeds any similar vehicle
of the NATO armament industry. The Russian TV station, REN TV,
said that Russia tested simultaneously 20 tanks T-14 and T-15, these
being part of the Army project, their main characteristic being the
ability to be very difficult detected by the enemy.
Viaceslav Halitov, deputy director for special machinery
of the Uralvagonzavod company, says that Russia surpassed the
Westerners with 8-10 years, because, while the West will try to
create something similar to the Army Russian model, Russia will
continue to progress during the time. Russia declared that it will not
commercialize these new models of armour-plated until it will have
its army team completely equipped.
messages:
The main purpose of the declarations transmitted by Kremlins
representatives regarding its armament industry is to position
Moscow above the NATO countries in terms of the industry of
armament. Techniques:
1) Russia has developed a new generation of armour-plated,
difficult to be detected by the enemy
2) Kremlin possesses information that Germany and France

have initiated a joint project for building tanks, however, until their
completion, the Russian armament industry will be superior
3) Kremlin will not commercialize the armour-plated until the
Russian army will be fully equipped.
Theme 8. The new Cold War

Articles:
1) Gorbachev gives warning: The world is going through a
very dangerous period
Article Summary:
In an interview for the Russian TV station REN TV, Mikhail
Gorbachev, the former Soviet President, argues that the world is
currently crossing a dangerous time, which could lead at least to
the outburst of a new Cold War. Many consider that (...) The Third
World War has already begun. Weapons are already in use. Even the
nuclear ones. Weapons of mass destruction are used. There is a huge
increase in military spending. Everything that once almost brought us
to the brink of the abyss is repeating. Therefore, it is necessary to stop
it, said the former Soviet leader.
The relationship between Kremlin and Washington represents
the worst crisis since the Cold War ended, as a result of Moscows
role in the situation in Ukraine. Moscow accuses the West of trying
to create a cordon sanitaire around it, while the West accuses
Russia of leading a revanchist and revisionist politic.
2) The scandal between Russia and the West continues: Its a
new Cold War
Article Summary:
Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian Prime Minister said that the
relations between Russia and the West are in a new Cold War.
What is left is an unfriendly and closed policy, from our point of
view, of NATO towards Russia, said the Russian Prime Minister.
He underlined the need to create mutual trust between Europe and

Russia: The European politicians believe that by creating a so-called
belt of friends at the EU borders, a security guarantee is also created.
The result? There is no ring of friends, but a belt of exclusion, said
Medvedev. According to the Russian Prime Minister, creating trust is
difficult, but is a process that should be started.
messages:
The main purpose of the declarations offered by Russias
current Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, and former Soviet leader,
Mikhail Gorbachev, is to highlight the current tense relations between
Russia and the West / NATO. Also, the need to develop a relationship
of trust between Europe and Russia is mentioned, especially given
the failure of the European and Euro-Atlantic structures to ensure
security in Europe. The natural conclusion coming from Russia is
that this desideratum cannot be achieved by continuing the current
EU and NATO policies in Europe, but becoming more close to the
Russian state:
1) Russia and the West have stepped into a new Cold War;
the Russian-Western relations are at the most strained point since
the Cold War
2) Engendering a sense of fear among the European population
and decision makers in front of a possible World War III and
underlining the need to establish friendly relations, based on trust,
with the Russian Federation
3) Russia condemns the unfriendly and closed NATO politic
towards Russia
4) The Russian Prime Minister argues the failure of trying to
create a belt of friends at the EU borders by the European states and
therefore the dissipation of the security guarantee for them.
Theme 9. The Hungarian secessionism

Article: Hallucinating announcement: The great powers aim
at triggering a great conflict between Romania and Hungary

Article Summary:
Gabor Vona, the leader of the radical nationalist party in
Hungary - Jobbik, declared for a television channel in Romania, Digi
24, that he noticed many signs indicating that the great powers are
seeking to deepen the conflicts between Hungary and Romania, in
order to promote their own interests. He said that he does not exclude
the possibility that behind the dreadful actions of the Romanian
authorities against the Hungarians, might be the US. Vona said he
doesnt have evidence that such actions could be happening at the US
request, but he stressed that such a scenario cannot be excluded.
Vona considers that what is happening in Transylvania is
rather a struggle between the US and Russia, than a problem between
Hungarians and Romanians. He said that it is important both for
Hungary and for Romania to be very careful in their foreign policy
and to prevent the development of conflicts.
messages:
The main purpose of Gbor Vonas declarations, the leader of
the radical nationalist party in Hungary, is to indict Washington,
to categorize it as the main culprit for the dissension between
Hungarians and Romanian in Transylvania. The possibility that the
Hungarian extremist party, Jobbik, to be financed by Russia, is not
excluded. Techniques:
1) The fact that he noticed several signs, according to which
the great powers would be the reason behind the dissentions between
Hungary and Romania, namely Russia and the US
2) Vona refers only to the USA as the main culprit; although it
cannot prove this speculation, it can neither exclude it.
Theme 10. Russia, the reliable ally that warns his friends
of the possible future dangers
Article: Russia WARNS Romania: A HUGE wave is following
Publication date: 15th of March 2016
Article Summary:
The Russian propaganda Agency Sputnik News has published
a map indicating the future directions of the migrant f lows in the
Balkans. Romania appears as well on this map, being crossed by
a stream of migrants coming from Turkey via the Black Sea and
crossing Romania to get to Hungary, according toromanialibera.ro.
The route that crosses Romania is called the alternative
route, while the route that follows the path of Greece, Macedonia
and Serbia is called the Balkan route. The explanation offered by
the presented map is that migrants are following the Balkan route
in order to reach the richer countries of the EU, through Greece
and Macedonia. Whereas, on March 7th, 2016, the EU and Turkey
signed a deal to stop the entry of refugees through this way, it can
be deduced, according to Sputnik News, that following the closure
of the Balkan route, the influx of migrants will deviate towards the
alternative route, thus through Romania.
In the article we are reminded that, at the end of 2015, there
were voices saying that the influx of migrants causing problems in the
Western Europe is managed by Russia. One of Romanias analysts said

this idea and named it a military operation, we are talking about
General (r) Constantin Degeratu, former Chief of the General Staff.
Source:http://www.stiripesurse.ro/rusia-avertizeaza-romania-
urmeaza-un-val-uria_986324.html
messages:
The purpose of the article published by the Russian propaganda
Agency Sputnik News is to portray Russia as a reliable ally to Romania,
which warns his friend on the forthcoming hazards:
1) Russia is the good guy that does not abandon the Romanian
State when in need, facing imminent risks expected to happen once
with the change of the migration route, from the Balkan route to
the alternate route.
Narratives
Ziare.com
Theme 1. Russia is concerned about Romanias attempt to
retouch/rewrite the history of the Second World War and accuses
Bucharest of using a strong anti-Russian rhetoric
Article: Russia, upset with Johannis: We did not forgot on
whose side Romania fought in World War II
Article Summary:
Maria Zaharova, the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign
Ministry, in a conference in Moscow, talked about an exhibition that
took place in Bucharest and approached the deportation theme of the
Transylvanian Saxons in the USSR, in 1945. During this conference,
the Russian official accused Romania of trying to retouch or to
rewrite the history of the Second World War.
From the press release on the website of the Russian Foreign
Ministry results that the exhibition itself and its approach regarding
the deportation of the German ethnics in the USSR, in 1945, had
open anti-Soviet and anti-Russian tones, focusing on condemning

the cruel, inhuman actions of the Soviet occupation forces against
the German ethnics and is instead leaving aside widely known facts
proving the guilt of Berlin and Bucharest in the genocide of the Jews
and the Gypsies.
Although that day, at the international level, the Holocaust
Day was commemorated, marked in Bucharest by rather modest
events, the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that
the exhibitions opening ceremony on the deportation of the Saxons
made no reference to the Holocaust, while no words of compassion
were addressed towards the Romanian Jews. Additionally, Zaharova
accused Bucharest of forgetting the fact that the Romanian
administration put together the lists of Germans who were to be
exiled from post war Romania, which is obviously a way to ensure
the reduction of German community and also the reduction
of Hungarians from Transylvania, in favour of the Romanian
population, declared the Russian Foreign Ministrys spokesperson.
messages:
The main purpose of the statement of the Russian Foreign
Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zaharova, consists in Russias
victimization and presenting Romania as a denigrator of history,
using the following techniques:
1) The exhibition of the Transylvanian Saxons deportation in
the USSR, in 1945, was made on the day when, at the international
level, the Holocaust Day was commemorated. Hence, according to
the Russian officials, Bucharest has an anti-Russian attitude towards
Moscow; the anti-Russian tones emerging from the fact that during
this exhibition, the emphasis was placed on the Transylvanian
Saxons deportation, while the Holocaust was briefly brought into
question and the events in Bucharest commemorating the Holocaust
Day were quite modest.
2) Romania may try to slander the history of the Second World
War, as it focused on the actions of the Soviet forces during the
war, leaving aside the facts that would imply the guilt of Berlin and
Bucharest regarding the Jews and Roma genocide.
3) The Romanian administration profited of the Transylvanian
Saxons deportation context and helped at building the lists that
ensured the reduction of the Saxon community and also of the
Hungarians, a clearly favourable aspect for the Romanian population
in the area. Of course, as reported by Maria Zaharova, the Romanian
officials would have omitted these details in order to preserve
Romanias victim character.
We present also the reaction of the Romanian MFA:
Article: Romanian MFAs reaction after Russia reminded
Johannis Romanias role in WWII
Article Summary:
The spokesperson of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
was surprised by the statements of his Russian counterpart, regarding
the celebration of the Holocaust Day in Romania, saying that it is
unfortunate and strange the way they are mixed in confusion, events
and public information, through a message whose purpose is difficult
to understand.
The spokesperson of the Romanian MFA said he was
disappointed by the deformed information, which was offered to his
Russian counterpart, because, as it is well known at the public level,
the central and local authorities in Romania organize every year
commemorations in the memory of the Holocaust victims, with the
occasion of the 9 th of October (National Day for the Commemoration
of the Holocaust Victims in Romania), January 27th (The International
Holocaust Remembrance Day) and august the 2nd (The Day for
Commemorating the Victims from the Roma Communities during
the Holocaust).He pointed out that this year as well, on the 27th of
January, specific events took place for the commemoration of the
Holocaust victims, while the media exposure provided sufficient
information for the observers of the official activities in Romania.
Wrongly and literally incomprehensible, the reaction of

the Russian MFA spokesperson ignores these realities and instead
refers to an exhibition that has no connection with the program of
the official events marking in Romania the International Day for
the Commemoration of the Holocaust Victims, said the Romanian
spokesperson.
Moreover, he was surprised by the erroneous deductions of
his Russian counterpart, relating to the fact that Romania would
not assume its historical past. Romanias active contributions to the
international efforts, in order to prevent such historical tragedies,
are well known, while the report of the International Commission
on Holocaust from Romania Elie Wiesel was completed in 2004.
The article mentions that the press statement of the Romanian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson concludes as follows:
At the same time, we invite to an updated documentation upon the
international responsibilities that Romania has assumed in the line of
the IHRA organization, as well as in other multilateral organizations.
Theme 2. Russia can destroy any installed antiballistic

element of the US. Russia can destroy the shield at Deveselu.
Article: Moscow threatens again: Russia can destroy the shield
at Deveselu
Publication date: 16th of December 2015
Article Summary:
Russian General Sergei Karakaiev, head of the Russian Strategic
Forces, referring to the NATO missile defence systems in Romania
and Poland, warned that Russia has missiles that can destroy any
antiballistic element installed by the US. As quoted by the Russian
news agencies, the Russian general pointed out that the US missile
defence shield could not withstand a heavy attack conducted by the
Russian strategic units. Furthermore, the Russian military official
has provided assurances that in Russia there are modern systems of
ballistic missiles, whose positions remain unknown to the enemies:
There are missile systems on the territory of Russia - from the central
region of Tver up to Irkutk, Siberia - which are hidden from enemy

attacks.
messages:
As no statement is made without a reason, the main purpose of
the message transmitted by Russian General Sergei Karakaiev is to
discourage Romania in regarding the utility/capacity of the Deveselu
defence shield and to inoculate panic in front of Russias upper/
stunning military capability, absolutely nothing being able to stand
in its way. Certainly, Romania does not want to prove the truth/
falsity of the statement on its territory. The employed techniques are:
1) Emphasizing the superiority of the Russian military
capacity in front of those belonging to the US/NATO. (Russia is able
to destroy NATOs missile defence elements in Romania and Poland,
as the US missile defence systems could not withstand an attack
from the Russian units).
2) Highlighting the fact that across the Russian Federation
there are modern ballistic missile systems, undetected by its
enemies.
3) As resulting from the statement, to ignore a warning coming
from Russia can be extremely risky. The Deveselu base becomes a
potential target in the event of war, fact meant to trigger the feeling
of fear in Romania.
In order to consolidate the argumentation of the Russian

manipulation techniques, we propose the following articles as
well:
1.
Article: Putin threatens again: We will develop nuclear systems
that would cancel the missile shield
Publication date: 10 th of November 2015
Article Summary:
According to Reuters, the Russian President Vladimir Putin
said that Russia will take measures to strengthen the capacity of
its nuclear forces and will develop their own missile systems: We
said from the beginning that we will develop attack systems to destroy
any antiballistic plants. Also, the Russian leader said that the ideas,
according to which the missile defence in Eastern Europe would
target the antiballistic threats from Iran and China, are just pretexts
hiding the intention of the US to acquire military superiority and to
neutralize the nuclear potential of Russia and its allies.
At the end of October, Russia warned that the missile defence
elements, which are to be installed at the Deveselu base represent
a violation of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF),
demanding Romania and the United States to realize the magnitude
of the responsibility of this system and to renounce this plan
before its too late. Vladimir Putin added that expanding the US
missile defence system in Eastern Europe is a threat to the Russian
nuclear capabilities, expressing concern that NATOs offensive
infrastructure is approaching the Russian borders. Furthermore,
the Russian president wished to emphasize the very dangerous
imminent scenario.
Moscow accused several times that the defence missile systems,
which were to be installed in Romania and Poland, violate the
provisions of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). Sergei
Riabkov, the deputy of the Russian Foreign Minister, said, in March
2015, that the MK-41 systems (Aegis) are used for medium and long-
range action missiles systems that are prohibited by the Treaty of the
intermediate nuclear forces.
Following Moscows allegations, the USA Presidency
announced on several occasions that the US missile defence system
that will be located in Romania does not violate the Intermediate
Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). The US, along with NATO, explained
that the missile defence elements in Europe are designed to counter
the threats installed in countries not complying with the international
rules, such as Iran, and are not directed against Russia. The Aegis
system is installed on military ships or maritime platforms and is
designed to intercept short-range and medium-range missiles. At the
moment, there are at least 24 Aegis systems installed on US Navy

ships, mostly in the Pacific Ocean. In order to create a NATO missile
defence shield in Europe, namely in Romania and Poland, Aegis
systems are to be used, the stated goal being countering threats
posed by countries like Iran.
2.
Article: Rogozin: the US missile shield, a bluff, we solved the
problem of breaking through
Publication date: 17th of April 2013
Article Summary:
Dmitri Rogozin, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister at that
time, said that the US missile shield does not represent a threat to
Russia and that it could be easily penetrated by the Russian forces.
The missile shield is nothing for us, it is a bluff. There is no military
threat, but remains a political and economic problem, since the US
would waste money on defence systems, oblige Russia to do the same.
Russia asked the US and its NATO allies to engage the Russian state
in the implementation project of the missile shield in Europe, meant
to respond to a possible attack from Iran, as it would represent an
attempt to undermine Russias national security.
Theme 3. The need for an Eurasian empire, one that would
include Romania
Article: Putins ideologist: an Eurasian empire is required,
one that would include countries like Romania
Publication date: 30 th of January 2015
Article Summary:
The philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, a close friend of Russias
President, Vladimir Putin, adviser to the President of the State
Duma, former adviser to Kremlin and member of the United Russia
party, highlights the need for an Eurasian empire which should
be dominated by Russia and that would include European countries
such as Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Austria. According
to Austrias edition of the publication The Local, Aleksandr Dugin
made these statements in an interview for the Hungarian Alfahir.

hu site, which is close to the Hungarian far-right movement,
Jobbik. Among other things, referring to the nationalist Hungarian
formation, Jobbik, Dugin believes that the movement has a realist
doctrine.
Regarding the future of Europe, Dugin says that he anticipates
the end of the nation-states era and that countries such as Romania,
Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and Austria could be integrated into an
Eurasian empire, to counter the influence of the nihilist West.
There will be a new bipolar order, consisting of the US and Western
Europe (led by Germany), on one side, and the Eurasian Union, on
the other, dominated by Russia, according to Dugin.
He added: In a globalized world, it is necessary to protect the
cultural identities of the individuals, reduced until now to migratory
flows.
messages:
The purpose of Aleksandr Dugins declaration is to inculcate
the idea that Romanias future, characterized by stability, security
and the preservation of the existing cultural traditions, translates
into the integration of the Romanian state into the Eurasian Union,
using the following techniques:
1) The West is nihilist; if the European countries want to
preserve their cultural traditions, then the answer is not by its side.
2) Europe is rapidly approaching the end of nation-states,
the only salvation for countries such as Romania, Hungary, Serbia,
Slovakia and Austria lies in their integration in the Eurasian empire
dominated by Russia. Moscow will be the only power in the globalized
world that will defend the cultural identities of each nation.
3) Emphasizing the augmentation of Russias power in the near
future, the world order turning again into a bipolar one dominated
by the US and Western Europe, on the one hand and Russia on the
other.
Theme 4.Romanians will be the idiots of the US if they

accept to host the American missile defence shield; they will
become the target of Moscows missiles
Article: Military expert for the Voice of Russia: Romanians,
the idiots of the US will be targets for Moscows missiles
Publication date: 11th of July 2013
Article Summary:
Igor Korotcenko, a Russian colonel in reserve who received
diplomas of merit from SVR, GRU and the FSB, declared for the
Voice of Russia that Romanians will be the idiots of the US
if they will give their permission to host the US missile shield.
Furthermore, he added that Romanians would be naive to believe
that Russia will not take Romania as a target country for its strategic
missiles. He argues that Romanians just read from papers or repeat,
like a mantra, the directives elaborated for the collective planning
process, Because the US State Department said so. According to the
statement of Igor Korotcenko, Romania understands perfectly that
the anti-missile shield undermines Russias strategic stability and
if Romania is undermining the stability of Russia, then Russia will
undermine, in its turn, Romanias stability, responding with equal
measures to the military threat that will be created for our country .
Being premature to discuss details, Korotcenko said that the
Iskander M system is the weapon they will be using actively in order
to counter the threats generated by the European shield, stressing
that Russia will react if things take a negative turn.
The Russian reserve colonel stressed that discussions are
necessary, but not with the governors, important being addressing
the public opinion. They need to be told: if you do not want trouble,
concern yourself that the shield will be located in France, Spain, defend
assuredly Europe without reaching our areas, missiles and our zones
for positioning. If you want to play the role of the idiots of the US and
further and say such things, but at the same time think that we will
not take you as target, then you have naive expectations. The answer
will be clear and strong enough, added Korotcenko.

messages:
The purpose of the retired Russian colonel Igor Korotcenkos
declaration is to inoculate panic among the political elites and the
citizens of Romania regarding the placement of the US missile shield
on Romanian territory. In addition, this statement defines Romania
also as a rag in the hands of the US, completely lacking initiative:
1) Romania is only a puppet of the United States, which repeats
the US directives as a sacred formula.
2) Romania did not measure the effects of placing the missile
defence shield on its territory. Leaving aside the fact that it lacks
initiative and is at the command of the US, the Romanian state is
naive to believe that it will not become a target of the Russian state.
3) By placing the US missile shield, Russias strategic stability
is undermined, being threatened from a military perspective, fact
that will certainly bring a countermeasure from Moscow, in its turn
undermining Romanias stability.
4) Following the induction of panic among the population,
regarding Russias imminent counterattack against Romania,
asking the citizens about the placement of the US missile shield is
proposed. This aims at removing the shield from Russias borders.
In order to strengthen our arguments, we propose the
following article as well:
Article: Russia insists regarding the missile defence shield: The
Romanian citizens, hostages to the irresponsible practices of the US
Publication date: 2nd of July 2014
Article Summary:
The Vice President of the Russian Security Council, Evgheni
Lukianov, said that Russia was not treated as a partner by the United
States, regarding the missile defence shield in Europe and warns
Romania, Poland and Turkey that they will become hostages to the
irresponsible American practice. According to the RIA Novosti news
agency, Moscow has never received any information regarding the
US defence system in Europe. Moreover, Evgheni Lukianov stressed
that the final decision regarding the placement of the US missile

shield in Europe belongs to the states involved in the project, namely
Romania, Poland and Turkey.
The plans of the United States, to build a comprehensive
missile defence system in Europe, became a source of conflict in the
relational sphere between the US and Russia. The USA holds two
missile systems on its territory, in Alaska and California, while
Russia has only one such defence system, in the Moscow area. The
United States is planning a third missile shield placement in Europe.
Moscow considers this a threat, while NATO says the system is far
from being directed against Russia.
The message sent: The purpose of this statement is to emphasize
that Romania would be hostage to the USAs irresponsible practices.
However, the states involved in the US missile shield project, namely
Romania, Poland, Turkey, are the ones that make the final decision
in this regard, so the blame belongs to them as well.
Theme 5. There is no reason for good relations between

Russia and Romania
Article: Russia warns Romania: Absolutely outrageous and
unacceptable. No reason for good relations
Publication date: 16th of May 2014
Article Summary:
The spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry transmitted
for Itar Tass that the anti-Russian rhetoric of the Romanian state
can affect the Russian-Romanian bilateral relations and hence their
constructive development. Together with the increase of the anti-
Russian rhetoric from the leaders in Bucharest, it would be wrong for
anyone to expect that the relations between the two countries would
continue to develop constructively.
As if being an order, the Romanian leadership intensifies its
anti-Russian rhetoric, some public statements against the Russian
president being even insulting, which is outrageous and unacceptable,
says the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Lukasevici
also recalled the manner in which the plane of Dmitry Rogozin,

the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, was treated by the Republic of
Moldova and how Romania reacted to this incident.
He stresses that it is difficult for the bilateral relations to
develop constructively in this rhythm. We expressed our protest
most strongly against Romania. Representatives of the Romanian
authorities have tried to give some explanation, but we find them
absolutely unconvincing. Such incidents do not contribute to
confidence and do not give any reason to hope for good, normal and
good-neighbourly relations between our countries.
Prior to the declaration of the Russian Foreign Ministry
spokesman, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitri Rogozin, said
that Russia will respond strongly to Romanias statements and actions
regarding the plane carrying a Russian governmental delegation to the
Republic of Moldova and which transited the airspace of our country.
messages:
The purpose of the statements belonging to the Russian MFA
spokesperson and the Russian vice Prime Minister is to bring about
fear among the leaders in Bucharest regarding their anti-Russian
rhetoric and to restrain the expression of certain opinions coming
from Bucharest concerning Russia, which apparently are disturbing.
Thus, the techniques are:
1) The rhetoric is openly anti-Russian and according to the
statements of the Russian officials it appears to be directed from
behind the curtain.
2) Obviously, by expressing their opinion on the actions taken
by Russia, the Romanian officials will trigger the deterioration of
their bilateral relations.
3) Romania is warned/threatened with having to deal with a
strong response from Russia regarding the declarations coming from
Bucharest on the topic of the plane carrying a Russian governmental
delegation to the Republic of Moldova and which transited the
airspace of our country.
Theme 6. Russia, future military superpower, worthy of

being feared
Article 1: The biggest warship in the world is back and much
stronger. And it belongs to Russia
Publication date: 10 th of March 2016
Article Summary:
According to the Russian news agency Tass, the Russian army
holds the largest and heaviest military surface ships in the world,
Long of over 240 meters and with a weight of about 25 000 tons,
the Kirov cruisers look like monsters in comparison with any other
battleships or aircraft carriers.
But genuinely impressive is the introduction into the f leet,
by 2019, of the Nakhimov Admiral ship, equipped with the latest
missiles. The modern equipment from the endowment of the
ship, which are brought into discussion, are: the Kalibr missiles
that recently hit targets in Syria from the Caspian Sea, the Zircon
hypersonic missiles and an adapted version for ships of the missile
defence system S-400, according to Alpha Foxtrot.
messages:
The purpose of the declarations coming from the Russian news
agency Tass is to portray Russia as a great military power, worthy of
being feared by its neighbours, especially by the states bordering the
Black Sea. The methods and techniques are:
1) Promoting the image of an indestructible weapon with
unrivalled capacity for the Kirov action cruisers (element typical to
Russias superlative rhetoric throughout history - the biggest weapon
the most powerful army, etc.), that look like monsters in comparison
with any other battleships or aircraft carriers
2) Equipping the Russian military ships with the latest
technology in order to bring about panic amongst the powers of
the Euro-Atlantic structures, that want to impede the initiatives for
territorial expansion, and also for emphasizing the success of the
missions that used these technologies: These include Kalibr missiles
that recently hit targets in Syria from the Caspian Sea, the Zircon
hypersonic missiles and an adapted version for ships of the missile
defence system S-400, according to Alpha Foxtrot.
Article 2: Turkey should be afraid? Americans discovered that
Putins super army is stronger than they thought
Publication date: 27th of November 2015
Article Summary:
Vladimir Putin is a leader able to cope with any external
challenges, and as example, the Russian-Turkish conflict is used
following the fall of the Russian plane after it was borne down by
the Turkish army in the autumn of 2015. The Americans from the
Popular Mechanics magazine wonder how dangerous Russia is in
reality, given these events.
Although the Russian army is just a shadow of the military
power that the Soviet Union had the defence costs of Kremlin
represent only 12% of the ones of the US yet in reality, Russia is
innovative when it comes to weapons, sometimes even one step ahead
of the West. The Russians have some unsurpassed weapons, even by
the US, show the American journalists. And all of this is happening
despite the fact that Many Westerners have the impression that the
Russian military equipment is outdated or copied from others and
they also believe that Moscow has no money for new investments.
messages:
The general message consists in inducing feelings of insecurity
regarding Russias military capabilities, the aim being to discourage
the implementation of the international sanctions and of any kind of
restrictions at its address. The used techniques are:
1) Firstly, Vladimir Putin is directly portrayed as a successful
leader, able to handle any external challenge.
2) It is suggested that Russia is, in reality, much stronger
than generally expected, element that intends to induce fear to not
getting Kremlin upset and not to counter its actions. The Russians
have shown to have an astonishing ability to surpass themselves.
They developed the Shkval torpedo, which forms a bubble around it,
reducing friction, so it can achieve the great-speed of 370 kilometres per
hour underwater, four times higher than any western torpedo... The
Americans have caught up with the Russians only 20 years later when
the AIM-9X version was developed. Meanwhile, the Russians have
improved multiple times their R-73 systems, and analysts could not
yet determine which of the two missiles, the American or the Russian,
is better. The aim of these statements is to highlight the military
superiority of the Russians before the US military technology.
3) It is indirectly suggested that the West is uninformed about
Moscows military potential (hence the poor capacity of the relevant
Western institutions to provide information and interpretations):
Many Westerners have the impression that Russias military
equipment is obsolete or copied from others and believe that Moscow
has no money for new investments.
Theme 7. Russia, future superpower in terms of energy

Article: The plan through which Russia might reach to control
over 70% of the oil market
Publication date: 10 th of March 2016
Article Summary:
OPEC might conclude a partnership with Russia. Causes: Its
influence (Saudi Arabias) in the market is significant, but has been
threatened in the recent years by the advance of the US producers who
have profited of unconventional resources. For that reason, OPEC did
not want to reduce the production at the time the oil prices began
to fall, in mid-2014, in order to ensure a boost to the recovery of oil
assessments. But the elements of the equation were different. Given
that the price of oil fell to 30 dollars per barrel, at the beginning of
2016, OPEC is now in the situation to make some concessions. And
so, the organization could conclude a partnership with Russia.
The first step in this regard is the encounter, in February 2016,
between the leaders of Russia and the representatives of several
OPEC countries: Qatar, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. And at the
next meeting, in March, the land of Vladimir Putin could de facto

obtain the leading position of the oil producing states in the name of
stabilizing the price.
The Saudis are disappointed by the improvement of the
American-Iranian relations, thus Riyadh can count on strengthening
ties with Russia, at the expense of the traditional ones with the US.
The resultant decision was that all Gulf countries (excluding Iraq)
to freeze the production of oil. And if the Russians will promise
to defend Iraq from the danger posed by the Islamic State, then
Baghdad would cave in as well.If this scenario will come true, then
Russia will become the leader of the biggest producers of black gold
in the world, controlling 73% of the planets oil reserves. Also, Russia
could also have a hidden intention. The country led by Vladimir
Putin began to drop the oil transactions denominated in dollars, after
concluding agreements with several countries, for these transactions
to be taking place in their national currencies. And if the ROPEC
cartel (OPEC nations plus Russia) will take form, then petrodollars
will be soon forgotten.
Although a solution for Syria would be welcomed, a cartel of
the major oil producers in the world led by Russia would alter the
balance of power in the world.
messages:
Russia will become a superpower in terms of energy,
particularly as a result of the US geopolitical actions. At the same
time, the presence of Russia in the global politics will become
legitimate. The used techniques are:
1) The idea that the US actions are detrimental to his old
ally, Saudi Arabia, is promoted, Saudi Arabia being forced to shift
towards Russia, pictured in the image of the saviour ally.
2) Russia will become the world leader on the energy market
following the erroneous geopolitical actions of the US: betraying
the trust of Saudi Arabia by lifting the sanctions on Iran, which will
become a new major exporter of oil in the region and because of the
fall of the oil prices.
3) Russia is growing in popularity at the international level, by
attracting partners, OPEC members, such as Qatar, Venezuela, Saudi
Arabia and even Iraq, to which it will provide security guarantees
for the danger produced by the Islamic State.
Theme 8. Allegations that NATOs exercises in Eastern

Europe are directed against Russia
Article: The Russian Defence Minister: NATOs exercises in
Eastern Europe are against Russia
Publication date: 16th of April 2015
Article Summary:
The exercises organized by NATO in the Arctic region and
in Eastern Europe are directed against Russia, as reported by the
Russian Minister of Defence, Sergei Shoigu, with the occasion of
the fourth international security conference in Moscow.NATO
countries are trying to occupy geopolitical space by developing their
military potential in Eastern Europe and by getting closer to the
Russian borders. The geographical concentration of their exercises,
only on the Eastern flank of the Alliance and in the Arctic region,
exposes the anti-Russian orientation, said Shoigu, according to Itar
Tass.
Shoigu pointed out that Russia continues to be afraid of the
American missile defence system located in Europe, including in
Romania, as being a threat to its strategic stability.
Instead, a Russian official defends the sale of a Russian missile
defence system for Iran, considered by Israel to be a threat.
messages:
The main message may consist in assigning the image of the
aggressor to the North - Atlantic Alliance, to try, somehow, to justify
Moscows attacks in Europe, through the following techniques:
1) Attempting to portray NATO as a threat to Russias security

and to attribute the character of the aggressor to the North Atlantic
organization.
2) The fact that the Eastern European states, including
Romania, support an aggressive and offensive organization -
NATO, hence the lack of legitimacy of the missile shield, especially
regarding the base at Deveselu.
3) Legitimizing the act of providing to the Iranian army S-300
type of missiles.
4) Attempts to place Israel, by definition, as an aggressor state,
Limiting the possibility of an air attack on Iran represents a threat
to Israels security, statements attributed to some senior Israeli
politicians by Alexei Pushkov, the chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs in the Duma.
Theme 9. Russia, attempts to lure the political class in

Bucharest - insinuations that Romanias sovereignty rights are not
being respected. Instead, Russia promotes itself as a country that
respects the sovereignty of other states
Article: Russian political scientist: The political crisis in
Romania is not a problem for Russia
Publication date: 5th of November 2015
Article Summary:
The Romanian political crisis does not constitute a problem for
Russia, and Moscow is ready to collaborate with any political force
in this country, according to the statements of the Russian political
analyst Aleksei Martinov, director of the International Institute for
New States in Moscow, for the Russian publication Vzgliad (referring
to the crisis that triggered the change of Pontas government with the
Ciolo government).
The political scientist pointed out that by maintaining contacts
with Bucharest, Russia recognizes Romania to be a NATO member and
that it situates itself among the interests of Germany.Traditionally,
Romania has been under the tutelage of Germany, politically, as well as
economically. But, maintaining contact on equal basis with Bucharest,

Moscow understands and takes account of the fact that behind this
country stands Berlin, said Martinov.As a conclusion of his analysis,
on the subject of the political situation in Bucharest, after the resignation
of the Victor Ponta Prime Minister, the political analyst from Moscow
framed the developments in Romania as being part of the political
processes taking place throughout the region of Eastern Europe.
messages:
The main message is Russias goodwill to be open to bilateral
relations with any government in Bucharest, with the result that,
unlike other European powers, which do not respect Romanias
sovereignty, Russia respects it. The used techniques are:
1) Attempts to promote a neutral image for Moscow, suggesting
it is not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries and
respects the sovereignty of other states.
2) Indirectly, the inoculation of the idea that Romania, as a
NATO member, is coordinated by Germany, which, unlike Russia,
is involved in the process of taking political decisions in Bucharest.
3) Taking into consideration the issues mentioned before the
phrase: To conclude its analysis on the subject of the political situation
in Bucharest, after the resignation of the Victor Ponta Prime Minister,
the political analyst from Moscow framed the developments in Romania
as being part of the political processes taking place throughout the region
of Eastern Europe, indirectly, it is insinuated that the political changes
throughout Eastern Europe are coordinated from Berlin, which does
not respect the territorial sovereignty of the states in the region (unlike
Moscow, which is the good neighbour and respects it).
Theme 10. Russia - attempts of intimidation against

Romania regarding its strategic decisions
Article: Russian MFA, veiled threat? Romania must be aware
of the consequences of supplementing NATOs capabilities
Publication date: 2nd of April 2015
Article Summary:
The Russian Foreign Ministry has labelled as dangerous the
actions of the North - Atlantic Alliance regarding the supplementation
of the NATO effectives in Romania, while Romania must be aware of
the responsibility and the consequences of this fact.
Strengthening NATOs forces in Eastern Europe represents an
unprecedented step, which violates all existing agreements... In the
absence of clarifications regarding the substantial fighting effectives
and if the Romanian government considers it possible to supplement
the presence of the NATO units on its territory, inclusively through the
creation of a force so powerful, you must be aware of the responsibility
and the consequences of such a step, said Aleksander Lukasevici, the
spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Romanian Government approved a law project on the
stationing, the deployment of operations and the transit of foreign
armed forces in the country.The areas covered by the project relate,
mainly, to the prepositioning of some military goods, equipment
and materials from the endowment of the foreign armed forces,
accompanied, where necessary, by the maintenance personnel, for
the adaptation of the procedures regarding the crossing of Romanias
the state border, for the needs of training, optimizing the modality
for offering support to the host nation, in the context of the collective
defence effort, adapting the procedures for the installation/dislocation
of commandments, entities/elements or multinational structures to
the requirements of the collective defence efforts or in order to make
them available to NATO.
messages:
The sent message is centred on the idea to inoculate the feeling
of fear, in the case that Romania would go forward in strengthening
the transatlantic partnership. The main purpose is to determine the
states of Eastern Europe, especially Romania, not to conclude joint
projects for defence and security with the United States, through the
following techniques:
1) Romania must be aware of the risk it assumes - this is an

aggressive warning, direct, having the role to discourage.
2)Strengthening NATOs forces in Eastern Europe represents
an unprecedented step, which violates all the existing agreements-
through this phrase, putting the actions of NATO in Eastern Europe
in a light that lacks legitimacy is attempted, practically providing
legitimacy to Russia to take defensive action, in order to defend
(actions that may include any kind of methods, techniques and tools,
which can affect neighbouring countries).
Chapter 12
Social network analysis

Facebook groups & pages
Radu Arghir
Overview
Unlike an organized institution (news agencies, government
bodies) Facebook pages have no rules of operation or a coherent
message and are instead composed from a number of members which
share broadly the same visions relating to international relations at
the moment and what happens in Romania. Some sites have a news
or blog with the same name (Eastern Alternative, Anonymous, the
Resistance) to back it up while others are simply post different updates
and news from various sources (Good Day, Russia). Apart from the
members, who are not very active, only posting occasionally, there is
a moderator/s who posts most of the materials on the group. Materials
usually are of two types, pictures / movies with comments attached
(very often are posts that are pictures of Putin in different poses and he
gets praises) or news (possibly with a comment). Most news comes from
small news sites with low quality content, only rarely are mainstream
media sources used in such posts, and even then only short stories.
Examples or news outlets being used by these groups are: Aktual-24.ro,
Fluierul.ro, active-news.ro, expunere.com, dzr.org.ro etc. None of then
is an actual news agencies, at most they are aspiring news sites. These
pseudo-news pages are as much a part of propaganda as the groups and
it is possible that members of such groups are among the authors who
write for these sites (in the cases where the group / page has a news
portal this is self-evident). One of the common features of these sites is
they copy news from other international sites, especially news articles
with strong wording, sometimes without giving credit to the original
authors. This makes easy targets for Kremlin supported propaganda
media such as sputnik.
The predominant presence of these alternative news portals,
although sensational news stories can be found on larger, well-known,
news portals suggest that groups (as in people that are active on these
pages) either attempt to promote them or prefer them as an information
source. There is also an anti-system message that is being repeated,
where the mainstream media (actual news agencies) are nothing more
than the propaganda tools for the West (usually US, NATO or the EU)
while these small sites are being honest and presenting the reality as it
is. Basically the opposite of what is actually going on.
In addition to the pro-Russian positions, with all its
implications (criticizing opponents such as Turkey and praising allies
such as Hungary or the Assad regime in Syria) it is also noticeable a
pro Iranian vision, although Tehran is barely present group activities
(posts). However when mentioned its praised. Group members also
tend to have xenophobic / racist, attitudes at least in the comments,
although this is difficult to assess objectively.
Pages or groups have between 1,000 and few thousands of
and likes (Resistance has 20 000 it had 13 000 at the beginning of
the year 2016) but the constantly active members (posting and / or
comment) mare maybe 10-20 at most (usually less).
Trolls are not an issue, people in groups share the same views,
and if someone does not agree he simply leaves the group or is kicked
out by the group /page administrator(s). Debates or arguments rarely
occur and they are very short.
There is some political involvement for example the United

Romania Party (a small xenophobic party) is lauded and supported
on some of the groups and during the campaign trail of local elections
a candidate with supposed links to Soros was criticised1 but overall
since there are no major pro-Russian parties in Romania political
involvement of these groups is minimal.
Groups
After going trough a few media platforms we found out
Facebook is by far the most popular one and has the biggest as
well as the most groups/pages that could be included in this study.
While the study is far from being exhaustive, and it is difficult, if
not impossible (for example secret groups can avoid scrutiny), to
identify every group/page used for propaganda purposes, the groups
and pages presented are varied enough to represent a representative
sample for the overall situation. Also there are the most popular
public groups, which means they have the most significant impact on
the public. Pages of official institutions (e.g. the official page of the
Russian Embassy in Bucharest) were not included in the study even
if they sometimes posted propaganda material, as they are directly
associated with Moscow and can not claim to be objective. Also its
really hard to tell if the groups/ pages used for propaganda do so
willingly and independently, because it suits their purpose, or because
there is some direct association with Moscow (for example the group
administrator is on the payroll of Kremlins propaganda machine),
but this is ultimately irrelevant as long as propaganda materials is
being spread by the group, or to put it in Facebook terms, shared.
1
Fluierul, Nicuor Dan:Am fost pltit cu 300 - 400 de euro de Fundaia Soros ca s merg
la o conferin. Numai cu 300-400 de euro, Nicuor? Dar cei peste 120.000 de euro luai
doar n ultimul timp de la FDSC.ro, puculia lui Soros i a Norvegienilor?, 24.04.2016,
http://fluierul.ro/mobile/article/indexDisplayArticleMobile.jsp;jsessionid=8286EB9
FEF71A73CB323C8D3CD5FBC24?artid=709805&title=nicusor-dan-am-fost-platit-
cu-300-400-de-euro-de-fundatia-soros-ca-sa-merg-la-o-conferinta-numai-cu-300-
400-de-euro-nicusor-dar-cei-peste-120-000-de-euro-luati-doar-in-ultimul-timp-
de-la-fdsc-ro-pusculita-lui-soros-si-a-norvegienilor-
The biggest group sharing such material is Rezistena (the

Resistance) a Facebook group that promotes nationalistic religious
visions and although is not directly linked to Russian ideology, it
promotes it very often. On top of that the group administrator is
a big Putin fan and many of its active members are nostalgic for
the communist are, even though some of them are too young to
actually remember it. Overall its one of the most active propaganda
platforms on Facebook posting biased materials almost daily from
various sources. It even goes further and sometimes creates its own
propaganda materials rather that take already existing materials
and post them on Facebook. One such example is a post 2 made
public a day after the NATO day in Romania, which presented the
destruction caused by US bombardment of Bucharest during the
Second World War, criticising the US. On the same note, on some rare
occasions the complete opposite happens and materials posted by
certain groups are quoted by Russian news agencies for propaganda
purposes. 3 This highlights the synergy exiting between the groups
and the Kremlin propaganda teams, regardless if its intentional
or just a coincidence. The group has 11, 400 members and 21, 500
likes/ followers, however only a few, no more than 100 are active on
the group and post and comment constantly. Still, unless you chose
otherwise, liking/ following the group is enough to get a constant
almost daily stream of propaganda material on your Facebook. As
its the case with all other groups it becomes more active in response
to certain events (like the ceremony organised when Deveselu base
became functional), but this is to be expected as most members are
casual Facebook users and react to trends, rather then create them.
2
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1030601113696352&id=93
1675910255540&substory_index=1
3
Sputnik Moldova, Tinerii romni refuz s lupte ntr-un posibil rzboi cu Rusia,
28.03.2016, http://sputnik.md/moldova_romania_society/20160328/5540219.
html
The group even decided to create a party after the local elections is
Romania4 , however its hard to tell if it will succeed in this attempt.
Another similar page/ group is Anomimus (Anonymous).
It may be a reference to the famous group of hackers but they are
in no way related. The page describes itself as An information,
discussion and analysis platform. The Facebook is nothing more
then an extension of the web site anonimis.ro which is some sort
of news platform. On Facebook its easier for people to comment
on and share their news. It too posts almost daily mostly, but not
exclusively, articles published on the anonimus website. The site,
and inevitably the Facebook page, present news sometimes what
appears to be analyses that are blatantly pro-Russian propaganda. It
describes itself as an independent news outlet, not under the control
of Western propaganda, a theme recurring theme on most Facebook
pages covered by this study. It has 6, 700 likes but the number of
active people that constantly comment or like (very few actually post
with the exception of page administrators) is around 60-70 people.
However some post do get shared a few hundred times (most popular
one at the time of the study had more than 400 shares), doing what
the page is supposed to do, boost the popularity of the anonimus
website. Although its pro-Russian and anti-Western vision does give
it a political orientation (at least when it comes to foreign policy), it
does not seem to have a clear political agenda.
Alternativa Est meaning literally the Eastern Alternative is
a Facebook page very similar to Anomimus. It is the Facebook page
of a news portal that post pro-Russian and anti-Western articles.
Its not as popular as the previous pages and is not even a group or
platform. Its a simple Facebook profile (like that of a person) where
the administrator posts mostly, but not exclusively, articles from the
Alternativa Est website. It has significantly fewer followers (probably
less than 100 difficult to tell as statistical data is not available for
profile pages but the likes and shares on individual post can be
4
https://www.facebook.com/groups/618093511624981/
permalink/867212180046445/
considered a valid indicator) than the previous pages and is not as

active posting around 2 or 3 times a week rather than daily. It too
does not seem to have a political orientation with the exception of its
obvious foreign policy preference (present in its name).
Another pro-Russian page is Buna ziua, Rusia (that translates
to Good day, Russia) a page that describes itself as the page of those
who like Russia and agree with its policies. The page is not (at least
publicly) affiliated with any official Russian institution and is more
of a fan page. The page administrator(s) post very often, several
per day, news articles usually from Russian news sources and adds
short description. Despite being so active it only has around 1, 800
followers and does not seem to care much for politics. Also some of
its post (although very few) are not related directly or indirectly to
Russia, and touch or completely random topics.
Amicii lui Putin that translates to friends of Putin is a group
that post pro-Putin propaganda on average once every 2-3 days. The
name is self-explanatory in relation to its activity and even though
its an open group (any member can post) the administrator(s) seems
to be the only one posting. Its not very popular as is only has 230
likes, however its also new (created this year -2016) and may grow
in the near future (supporters of previously mentioned groups will
probably like this group too).
Other groups that post propaganda materials but cover
a broader topics and are only indirectly related to Kremlin
propaganda include Anonymus Dacia (23, 000 likes) that has some
connections to Anonimus but is a different group, where posts have
different sources and covers a wider area of interests (it is more of a
nationalistic group), Noua ordine mondial (around 15, 000 likes)
that translates to new world order and is a conspiracy theory group
that clearly favours Moscow and supports Putin and NU VREM SA
LUPTAM IMPOTRIVA RUSILOR! (8, 200 members) that translates
to we dont want to fight the Russians that advocates against a war
with Russia, as well as well as Stiri Yemen (500 likes) and Sirianul
(8, 100 likes), Facebook news pages (that also have a web page with
the same name) that offer a pro-Iranian and pro-Russian/ pro-Assad

perspective of the conflicts in Yemen and respectively Syria. The
previous two news pages have some relations (they share some if
not all page administrators) with the Rezistena group.
On the opposite side there are also a few anti-Russian groups
such as A 5-a Coloana Rusa in Romania. The group posts anti-
Russian articles from different sources almost daily. It does not
have a website and does not seem to prefer a certain source or a
certain type of sources. The group administrators select randomly
news articles and post them on the group as lung as they are critical
towards Russia. The group has around 1, 500 likes however the only
people who seem to be posting are the group administrators.
Message
Obviously every group focuses on certain aspects (e.g.
Rezistena and Anonymus Dacia have more of a nationalistic focus
while Alternativa Est and Buna ziua, Rusia focus strictly on foreign
policy), however across the board there are some messages that are
being repeated constantly. Firstly the current leaders or Romania
(president, government) are weak corrupt and nothing more than
puppets of western organisations (be it NATO, EU or US bankers
who seek to control the world). They seek only exploit Romania and
use it against Russia who is the only strong state in the region that can
oppose the western organizations and their expansion, and therefore
is Bucharest only long term true ally, which has its best interests in
mind. As an extension of this message, the same can be said about
the press. Most mainstream media is nothing more than propaganda
machines of the western organization. This is important from an
informational warfare point of view because its main tactic that is
being used. Russian propaganda is presented as independent news
while mainstream media that present a different story is dismissed
as western propaganda. This woks to some extent because since
independent news sources are clearly outnumbered and smaller
that mainstream media agencies they can play the victim against
any form of criticism (in other words say the western propaganda
machine is out to get them).
Also, unlike Russia, western organisations are constantly
expanding and want to pick a fight with Moscow only because it has
different values. NATO and the US are portrayed as aggressors who
want to impose there values in Eastern Europe. Here nationalistic
and elements come into play as Russia and Romania have the same
dominant religion (Christian Orthodox) and share some values.
These are presented as incompatible with the western world values.
Racist and xenophobic views are exploited especially in relations to
refugees (which are Muslim and cannot possibly be integrated) or
general human rights topics (abortion, same sex marriage). Further
more, the western institutions cannot be long term viable choice
because, mostly as a result of their values, they are on the brink of
collapse. Especially the EU is presented as weak and about to torn
apart by the refugee crisis and economic issues (some related to the
sanctions against Russia). By comparison Russia is doing well, in
fact its getting stronger, and has a strong, determined leader who
will keep it united and defend against all threats. Here Putin cult of
personality is starting to show.
Last but not least allies of Kremlin (Hungary, Assad, Iran etc.)
are presented in a positive light while its opponents and strongly
criticised (Turkey is a major topic, US, Germany recently etc.).
This narrative is present to some extent in all groups through
its post over a long period of time. Some parts of it may be present
more often than others depending on the group and its focus, as
well as events that may lead to more posts regarding some parts of
this story (the Deveselu debates draw attention to NATO expansion,
news about refugees stir nationalistic and xenophobic views) at a
given time, however overall this is the overall reality that the groups
are trying to depict.
Tactics
In order to send this message and make it believable certain
tactics are employed. Obviously they are not equally present in all
groups and may vary wildly within the same group (especially if it
uses different sources. However in every article or post one of this
tactics is being almost certainly being employed. Before starting a
quick note, the aforementioned tactic of brushing off criticism as
western propaganda is used quite often in both articles, especially
long ones, with an analytical content, and comments, should
somebody post a comment that challenges the content of the post.
However this is not a manipulation tactic itself, but more a way
to defend and enforce the exiting message, thus it was mentioned
earlier, as part of the message. Examples include both articles5 on
this topic and blog posts 6. Returning to manipulation tactics:
The false title: Its similar to click bait a media trick where
the title of an articles is exaggerated to the point where it almost no
longer reflects the content of the article in order convince people
to click on it. The false title has a more malicious reason behind
exaggerating the title but is essentially the same thing, with the
difference that the title is actually false in relation to the body of the
article. You read the title and are presented with information that
is refuted in the body of the article. Anybody who will not read the
entire article will be given false information, and this is basically
what this kind of article relies on (reading only the title) to sent its
message. This is probably the most common tactic. A few examples
are an article where the title state that Angela Merkel took a picture
with a Brussels Terrorist (after the Brussels attack) when in the
articles is clearly sais the person she took the picture with looks like
5
Sputnik Moldova, Ruii sunt ri, americanii sunt buni e o prejudecat a romnilor,
24.03.2016, http://sputnik.md/moldova_romania_society/20160324/5464207.html
6
Justitiarul sibian, Dac nu eti de acord cu ocupaia american, propaganda te
eticheteaz ca rusofil, 29.02.2016, http://sibiu.justitiarul.ro/daca-nu-esti-de-acord-
cu-ocupatia-americana-propaganda-te-eticheteaza-ca-rusofil/
the terrorist but its not him (and this is still racist since the only
thing this person and the terrorist has in common were the Arab
ethnicity and a beard); an article where the title sais NATO will not
help Turkey in case of a war with Russia7 when the articles actually
states NATO will not intervene in Syria (if Turkey decides to do so)
and an article where the title sais Russia will defeat NATO forces in
36-60 h8 but the actual full text states that will only defeat troops
stationed currently in the Baltic states in that time interval (and it
did not include the actual army of those states that would definitely
fight side by side with their NATO allies, which means it would take
even longer to occupy the Baltic states).
The implied relation tactic: It means that if two evens have
something in common or happen in quick succession then they are
related (or one caused the other) even though no other argument
is brought to support that assumption. This includes reaching
a conclusion without having enough arguments to back it up or
rhetorical questions which, by definition, have an implied answer.
Basically a relation is implied between the question and the answer
or hypothesis and the conclusion even if the isnt any or the existing
one is not enough to support the conclusion/ answer. Examples
include a post that implies the current Romanian Prime Minister
received its previously held post as EU Commissioner in exchange
of approving the usage a dangerous fertilizer in Romania9, an post
that suggests the failure of the US and EU to deal with ISIS was
intentional and Washington and terrorist organizations (including
7
Anghel Liviu, Lovitura dura pentru Turcia: NATO nu va interveni in cazul unui RAZBOI
cu Rusia, 21.02.2016, http://www.aktual24.ro/lovitura-pentru-turcia-nato-nu-va-
interveni-cazul-unui-razboi-cu-rusia/
8
Clin Marchievici, Simulare: Rusia ar nfrnge forele NATO n 36-60 de ore, 27.02.2016,
http://www.cotidianul.ro/simulare-rusia-ar-infrange-fortele-nato-in-36-60-de-
ore-275697/
9
Lzreanu Rzvan, Dacian Ciolo, un nume direct legat de experimente cu substane
cancerigene pe agricultura romneasc, 10.112015, http://www.expunere.com/
dacian-ciolos-un-nume-direct-legat-de-experimente-cu-substante-cancerigene-
pe-agricultura-romaneasca.html
ISIS) in the Middle East are allies10 and a post suggesting Putin is
a reincarnation of Julius Caesar (the Roman emperor) because they
look somewhat similar11, and therefore a very strong, able leader.
Selective argumentation (cherry picking)/ omission of
arguments: It means a situation is described in such a way that
portrays a certain reality by ignoring certain aspects of it or its
context. Simply put relevant details regarding certain facts are left
out completely if they go against the message that the article/ post is
trying to transmit. This includes a somewhat common mistake made
media companies in a rush to get the news out as fast as possible:
not offering any context. Only in this case its done intentionally.
Examples include a post that blames EU for all that is wrong with
Romanias economy (even though there are many other causes)12 , a
post that questions the supplementation of US troops in Romania
in times of peace13 (this happened soon after the Ukrainian crisis
and the resulting Russia NATO tensions) and a petition that sais
Romanias strained relation with Russia is caused solely by the
politicians belief that the population has a strong anti-Russian
sentiment14 , belief which is reflected in foreign policy choices
(leaving out a long history of relations, and the current context).
Hate speech: This is in a way part of the next tactic which is
fear mongering, but does not use anything that can be considered a
real, actual threat, but instead prays on peoples irrational fear of the
unknown (things, people that are different). This includes almost
10
DZR, SUA si UE deranjate de faptul ca Rusia doreste sa distruga toate celulele teroriste din
Orientul Mijlociu! Este normal, caci doar au investit in aceste celule teroriste!, 9.09.2015,
http://www.dzr.org.ro/sua-si-ue-deranjate-de-faptul-ca-rusia-doreste-sa-distruga-
toate-celulele-teroriste-din-orientul-mijlociu/
11
https://www.facebook.com/931675910255540/photos/a.931677123588752.10737
41827.931675910255540/999804040109393/?type=3&theater
12
Vt, Metode prin care UE extrage bogiile Romniei, 13.06.2014, http://vremuritulburi.
com/2014/06/13/metode-prin-care-ue-extrage-bogatie-din-romania/
13
tirea Zilei, SUA trimite INCA O MIE de soldati in Romania! Ce rost au daca e liniste
si pace?!, 23.02.2016, http://m.stireazilei.com/sua-trimite-inca-o-mie-de-soldati-in-
romania-ce-rost-au-daca-e-liniste-si-pace/
14
https://petitieonline.net/sondaj-s48482053.html
all xenophobic, racist, or sexist posts and anything related to values.

An important aspect present here and used intensively by Russian
propaganda is religion. Examples include news about Syrian refuges
being uncivilized by nature15, news about controversial human
rights issues attacking rights of sexual minorities16 or hate messages
spammed on Facebook chat17.
Fear mongering: The good old fashion tactic of scaring people
in order to get your point across. This is very straight forward
tactic and usually requires presenting false information or greatly
exaggerated facts to support the imminent threat and its catastrophic
outcome. In can be used in conjunction with other tactics especially
selective argumentation, but in most examples found for this study
it relies completely false information, and that means it will only
work if the reads cannot or does not want to check the information
being presented to him (by reading other stories on the subject).
This includes empathy based fear, meaning threats to loved ones
or people of the same nationality or ethnicity (something along the
lines of immigrants attacked Romanians in Germany), something
15
51 de REFUGIATI au fost BATUTI ZDRAVAN de RUSI pentru ca le-au molestat femeil,
4.02.2016, http://alternativenewsromania.blogspot.ro/2016/03/51-de-refugiati-au-
fost-batuti-zdravan-de-rusi.html?m=1
16
Aliana Familiilor din Romnia, Preedintele Poloniei se opune prin veto legii gender,
9.10.2015, http://www.culturavietii.ro/2015/10/09/presedintele-poloniei-se-opune-
prin-veto-legii-gender/
17
Message text: Am tacut destul! De azi inainte voi vorbi! **** Pantru (pentru) ca nu ne
mai plac cei cu numele Ion, Gheorghe, Vasile...sau cei cu -escu, tinerii si diaspora au
ales!!! Ei sunt Romanii care au preluat conducerea tarii!!!! * Presedinte: Klaus Werner
Iohannis (german)* Premier (posibil?): Dacian Ciolos* Seful SRI: Eduard Hellvig *
Seful SIE: Mihai Ungureanu__Cei uneste (?):*** niciunul nu arenume de roman
si nici sange pur romanesc! *** pe unii locul nasterii*** pe toti: acelasi partid ***
Fundaia George Soros*** Religia: iudaismul (EVREI) *** Toti au sutinerea Clubului
si a americanilor *** Toti au un singur mandat: sa vegheze la procesul de trecere
a Romaniei sub ocupatie toatala straina! *** Toti vor sa distruga mama neamului
romanesc - BISERICA ORTODOXA si implicit CRESTINISMUL!*** Toti vor ca Armata
Romana, un alt pilon al neamului romanesc, sa fie instrainata si desfiintata!va urma...
(gandurile unui roman) in short its a messaged signed by a Romanian person
saying that the president, the prime minister and the chiefs of secret services all
have other ethnicity than Romanian and have no Romanian pure blood, thus serve
the interest of foreign organizations.
that would not threaten the reader directly. Examples include fake
reports about what is happening is Greece18 with the migrants or
Belgium19 after the terrorist attacks, or even fake reports about what
is happening in Romania. 20 There was actually a quite successful
propaganda campaign started after the Ukrainian crisis (2014)
starting from fake news claiming that the army will recruit all youth
below 30 years of age in preparation for a possible war with Russia.
Even though the news was completely baseless it caused quite a bit of
turmoil on social media, generating reactions from the youth. The
group called We dont want to fight the Russians! was created in that
context, but it became irrelevant as nothing happened (nobody was
recruited). However, the group still exists.
Conclusion & impact assessment

Given the huge number of Facebook users in Romania the
groups do not seem very popular. Also some users/ followers are
very likely shared between groups, resulting in a lower total number
of people who actually use them as a source of information, and not
everybody that liked (enough to get a news feed from the group/
page) or joined a group or page considers it a reliable information
source. The number of actually active people is really small even
if we combine all these groups (around 100). This would suggest
they have a minimal impact on the whole Facebook community and
beyond it.
18
Imigranii au declanat iadul n Grecia!, 15.03.2016, http://www.accestotal.ro/
imigrantii-au-declansat-iadul-in-grecia/ (no author mentioned but there is a
reference mentioning Lucia Epure as the author of the source article)
19
O romanca din Bruxelles rupe tacerea: e mult mai groaznic, nu se mediatizeaza tot,
vrem acasa dar nu putem veni, 26.03.2016, http://descrieri.ro/o-romanca-din-
bruxelles-rupe-tacerea-e-mult-mai-groaznic-nu-se-mediatizeaza-tot-vrem-acasa-
dar-nu-putem-veni/
20
Ionu ene, De ce nu vor tinerii romni s se nroleze i s lupte n viitorul rzboi cu
Rusia, 02.2015, http://www.napocanews.ro/2015/02/de-ce-nu-vor-tinerii-romani-
sa-se-inroleze-si-sa-lupte-in-viitorul-razboi-cu-rusia.html
Still, some of them are fast growing and can become more
significant in the future. Rezistena had 13, 000 likes at the
beginning of the year (2016) and now has 21, 000, a 50% increase in
just five months. One of the issues here is that many Facebook users
are very young and therefore easily susceptible to propaganda. The
effects of propaganda on teenagers are almost invisible now but they
will become visible in a few years when the youth become adults.
This is essentially how the We dont want to fight the Russians!
group was created (young people believing fake news). Future similar
campaigns can be just as successful. This does not imply in any way
adults are completely immune to propaganda.
Beyond Facebook the impacts is even smaller as shown by
results of the local elections. The United Romania Party (supported
by some of the biggest groups listed here) got only 2%, which
was probably one of the reasons why the group administrator
of Rezistena decided to create its own party. In Romania there
arent many parties with pro-Russian agenda (in a submissive way)
so they cannot impact politics or foreign policies significantly by
manipulating groups of people (manipulation that could turn into
votes, petitions, protests etc.). There are individual political figures
with pro-Russian views but their ability to inf luence policies of the
Romanian state has more to do with political maneuvering than
popular support. However, should such a party be created in the
future, Facebook groups can be used to shore up the support behind
it, especially if those groups continue to grow at the same pace (more
than 50% a year).
All and all propaganda over Facebook is a represents a very
small risk but it should be monitored as it can grow very fast.
Chapter 13
Social network analysis

Propaganda on social media an instrument of the
hybrid war
Case studies
CPCEW monitoring department
While for the EU and NATO counteracting the hybrid war not
only became a common problem, but also led to the realization that
joint efforts are needed to deal with it, in Romania the effects of
this form of inf luencing the public are being felt in one of the most
dynamic public spaces - social media.
Romanians are among the most frequent users of Facebook in
Europe. In Romania there are over 8.4 million users, or 41% of the
population and 87.12% percent of Internet users, according to data
provided this year by facebrands.ro.
Of these, 41% are women and 58.8% men. The most numerous
segment are the Romanians aged between 25 and 34 years - 28.5%,
followed by the Romanians aged between 18 and 24 years - 22.6%
and the Romanians between 35 and 44 years - 20.5%. In total, over
70% of the 8.4 million of Romanian with a Facebook account are
aged between 18 and 44 years. They are an active segment, with the
right to vote, which can clearly influence the public, economic and
political life of the country in the coming years. The example offered
by the 2014 presidential elections clearly showed the importance of
new technologies in general, and of Facebook in particular, when
collective emotions can lead to radical changes in the political game.
In carrying out forms of hybrid warfare, the attempts at
inf luencing behaviour are distributed among the individual,
group or general levels, focusing on beliefs individual beliefs and
conspiracy theories.
Key narratives found in the case studies generally try to justify
the Russian positions, attack Western values, promote nationalism
and connect seemingly unrelated topics, which reinforce each other.
In this context, the analysis of instruments and means specific
to hybrid warfare, aimed at influencing opinions, behaviour or
even beliefs, using the Facebook social media platform, can become
useful, or, at the very least, the analysis of the case studies that we
are presenting to you.
Case I (Appendix 1)
The group named Institutul de investigare a crimelor
capitalismului, which changed its name to Institute for the
Investigation of the Crimes of Capitalism (the English translation
of its name) - 2055 members. Closed group.
April 2015 posts contain: clips promoting socialism, complaints
regarding the excessive number of MPs, shared images of the President
of Uruguay, without bodyguards, waiting in line at the hospital, disused
CFR (Romanian Railway Company) locomotives, an article about the
Islamization of Romania shared from fn24.ro, articles about US
companies that have hidden in tax havens several billions of dollars and
an article about Romanian farms destroyed by imports - agroinfo.ro,
shared from Adevarul (a Romanian newspaper), with a comment about
how capitalism and American domination were brought here.
News from Hotnews were also posted here, like A quarter
of Romanians face severe poverty, with comments saying that is
was better in 1989 and we should thank the political class for its
achievements: cash leaving the country and the destruction of the

defence industry.
News are also shared from websites like alternativenews,
ivoline.ro, anonymous, catchy.ro, but also sites like inlinedreapta.
net, accompanied by malicious comments like: the Holy Trinity
of intelligence feels the need to warn us against the dangers of
communism... they are not bothered by corruption or the standard
of living, however anticommunism is profitable... it was the
description of a photo showing Liiceanu, Andrei Plesu and Horia
Roman Patapievici together.
The group can be found using the following link: https://www.
facebook.com/groups/142228005974472/
CASE II (Appendix 2)
Romania belongs to all Romanians. Try to discover the
truth (in Romanian: Romnia este a tuturor romnilor. ncearc
s descoperi adevrul)
Group description: my country is Romania. No restrictions.
ROMANIA belongs to all ROMANIANS... Seek to uncover the
hidden truth found behind the gifts and promises of the rich and
complains and pleas of the poor.
Group activity:
alternativenewsromania.blogspot.com (origin of material)
example: Until 2020 Romania should become a food sovereign country,
which eats Romanian food (article name)
expresmagazin.ro - Kusturica accuses Soros over the refugee
crisis he wants to create a Europe without identity
infoalert.ro, April 20 The Romanian state handcuffs a mother
who defended her child against the abuses of her former spouse
Aktual24, April 20 - Senators disregarded again the will of
Romanians. They do not want to reduce the number of MPs
altrenativenewsromania.blogspot.com SRI (Romanian
intelligence service) blackmailed by the CIA, engaged in espionage
against Europe. Snowden Photo shown.
f luierul.ro, April 20 Stressed to death. The organizer of the

shepherds rally died a week after being indicted by DNA
expunere.com, April 19 - Austria prospers from Romanian oil,
while Romanians pay the highest price for gasoline in Europe.
infoalert.ro, April 19 - photo collage of Klaus Johannis and
Bashar al-Assad, alleged quote attributed Klaus Johannis - I would
be pleased if, in the future, a Syrian became president of Romania - a
statement attributed (falsely) to President Klaus Johannis in September
2015, likely to exploit nationalistic and anti-immigration sentiments.
onlinereport.ro, April 19 - Klaus Johannis alleged quote - maybe
we can opt for desertification, countries without forests are lucky when
in comes to finding oil. False message, designed to direct towards the
President grievances generated by the deforestation of Romania.
The group can be accessed using the following link: https://www.
facebook.com/groups/467557053415957/?ref=suggested_groups
CASE III (Appendix 3)

We do not want to fight against Russians (in Romanian:
Nu vrem sa luptm mpotriva ruilor) - over 7900 members
Its description talks about the fact that all young people aged
between 15 and 35 will be drafted into the army, mobilized and send
into battle against the Russians who will slaughter them, and those
who want to avoid this should join the group, including in real life, as
the group provides contact information. This erodes the Romanian
Armys recruitment pool and discourages volunteers. Its trying to
create a reaction in order to undermine the potential for military
recruitment and mobilisation of the population.
Group posts describe intense moments from the fighting in
Syria and, in addition anti-Western messages, it hosts and promotes
messages regarding military operations in Syria, amid the Russian
involvement in this area. We do not want to fight against Russians
has numerous posts regarding the battlefield in Syria. It uses a
communication channel The Syrian Facebook page (also analyzed
in this material) - to justify the Russian intervention and intimidate.
Further more, the group hosted discussions about the possible

banning of Sputnik (April 15), hostile remarks regarding US and
NATO, alleged sanctions against Sputnik, and promoted the April
9 rally, organized by The Syrian in Bucharest, which conveyed the
message that Romanians do not want to fight against Russians.
Group posts also presented images highlighting the preparations
of the Russian military and the results of an online petition which
proves that Romanians decided in numbers exceeding 90% to say
YES to friendship with Russia (petition initiated in February 2015).
Overall, the group distributes messages highlighting the strength of
the Russian Army.
The groups internet address is: https://www.facebook.com/
groups/654524471326324/
CASE IV (Appendix 4)
The Syrian Facebook page (in Romanian: Sirianul)
The Syrian is an example of an online tool (official Facebook
page) used for propaganda purposes. This page has been created on
October 10, 2015, ten days after Russia began its military offensive
in Syria, to help Syrian government forces (September 30 th, 2015).
Based on its description, the Facebook page, that has 7
700 followers, considers itself the only page that offers exclusive
information, videos and pictures from Syria in Romanian. At the same
time it criticises Romanian mainstream media for taking information
from trusts such as Reuters, BBC - Western news agencies, which are
biased and do not reflect the truth (unlike this page).
Among the posts present on this page there is an article from
Aktual24 Shocking statement from EU official: Stop detaining
jihadists returning to Europe from Syria. The statement belongs
to Gilles de Kerchove, EU coordinator for terrorism, and is quoted
from The Guardian. Although European officials statements are
translated according to the quoted source, the title of the article
misinforms, taking out of context Kerchoves statements. The title
Stop detaining jihadists returning to Europe from Syria is not
actually present in the article and misleads public opinion, as it uses

direct quotation for a phrase that is not present in the article.
An interesting connection between The Syrian page and
other tools of propaganda is created by the member Vlad Steiner.
He presents himself as a war correspondent for The Syrian and Co-
founder of the Resistance Facebook group.
The Resistance is also a Facebook page with 17 000 followers and
a website which promotes three doctrines: nationalism, Christianity and
socialism. The web page campaigns for regaining nationalism, while on
the Facebook page can be found at least three types of messages:
1. Nationalism and anti-Europeanism
2. Manipulation of information using nationalistic influences
an editorial presents an excerpt from his speech, delivered at the
International Conference Our Europe, the Europe of Nations in
Sinaia, with the participation of Marine Le Pen.
3. Last, but not least, the site promotes its team, composed
from: Andrei Salazar as leader and local representatives, Bucharest:
Vlad Steiner, Arges: Velicu Victor Stanculescu, Bacau: Florin Marin,
Bihor: Sorin Bele.
The Facebook page of the leader - Andrei Salazar - has as its
profile picture an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
One of the posts on his page is a somewhat secessionist
commentary, which supports territorial disintegration of a state:
Before we can talk about the unification of Romania and the
Republic of Moldova, I think we should first solve the problems in
Transylvania, because there separatism is f lourishing. Personally,
I would send the army there to knock some sense into the locals,
maybe they will lose their appetite for autonomy.
CASE V (Appendix 5)
The Facebook page named Permanent neutrality (in
Romanian: Neutralitate Permanent)
The motivation of the group is striving for peace and, as a
consequence, the conclusion is that Romania should embrace the
position of permanent neutrality and, as a result, leave NATO.

The last part is implied and not referred to as such, counting on
appeal and resonance pacifism without bringing up, even avoiding
deliberately, the issue of losing the strategic relations we have with
NATO, the strategic partnership we have with the US and even our
strategic orientation.
Permanent neutrality is a profile page with 255 connections:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011640253965
Most posts are articles from the Sputnik network. It aims to
promote Euroscepticism or anti-European messages, pro-Russian
stances and the nationalism.
On April 25 it shared an article published by sputnik.md,
which cites a Russian political scientist saying the existence of the
Romanian people is seriously threatened. Bovdunov (his name)
argues that Romania is underdeveloped because it belongs to a
supranational structure. Romania and the Republic of Moldova were
established as national states, although these projects of modernity
did not have and still have no space for development. And now, said
Bovdunov, Romania is a supranational unit where the nation state is
perceived as something from the nineteenth century, but also a unit
that lacks development opportunities.
Romania lost its sovereignty and, at the moment, the existence
of the Romanian people is seriously threatened. - Sputnik Moldova
The following posts are also from sputnik.md:
April 22 Its official - more than 100 billion euros laundered
annually in Germany.
April 22 - Poll - most of Moldavians are against joining NATO.
April 21 - Stratfor advises Romania to become a regional leader,
working together with Russia.
April 18 MEP: the EU is blackmailing member states and the Euro
was a mistake - quoted from the speech of nationalist leader Marine Le
Pen, who attended the meeting of European nationalists in Sinaia.
April 18 - Le Pen welcomed the establishment of the new
nationalist party in Romania.
April 18 - Peskov regarding Putins fortune - information on

income that was not declared by the President is an attempt to defame
the head of state and an absolute fiction. Material meant to counteract
the effects generated by the publishing of some articles regarding secret
sums of money supposedly owned by the Kremlin leader.
April 15 Putin: The Euro was an EU mistake. National
economies were too different.
April 12 - Opinion from Moscow - Romania is no longer a
sovereign state.
April 11 - Chizhov - US plans in Eastern Europe negatively
influence EU-Russia relations.
CASE VI (Appendix 6)
The Facebook page of the Romanian Ministry of Defence
March 29, 2015. Eleven years after becoming a NATO member,
the Romanian Ministry of Defence, on its official Facebook page,
praised the contribution of the USSR Division Tudor Vladimirescu
to a free and independent Romania.
For a free and independent Romania!
March 29, 1944
Soldiers of the Tudor Vladimirescu division take their oath
of allegiance to the Romanian people, a day before leaving for the
front, on the battle flags of the division it was written: For a free and
independent Romania.
The material was posted just hours after the publication of
an extensive interview with the Russian ambassador in Bucharest,
made by the National News Agency Agerpres, interview that detailed
Romanian-Russian relations in the context of the tensions caused by
the annexation of Crimea and international and European sanctions.
Among the key messages transmitted at the end of the
interview, the Russian ambassador remarked the discretion used
when Romanian authorities promote battles fought along the
Russians, towards the end of the Second World War, which ended
70 years ago.
I was surprised that last year the authorities here have tried to
avoid mentioning that we were together during the last stage of the
Second World War.
Unlike many other posts about the activities of Romanian
troops in operations or training, reader reactions were critical,
even severe: Traitors, communist partisans, Russian weapons,
garbage of history or An shameful episode were some of the
reactions of the over 100 000 people that liked the Facebook page of
the Ministry of Defence. The harshest criticism came from Iulian
Chifu, former presidential advisor: Why is this picture here??? We
recognize and respect our history. With everything it had, good and
bad. But presenting this here, without context, without saying what
the Tudor Vladimirescu division was, who it was made of and what
it did in Romania after, bringing a 400 members party PCR to
power by fraud, is a bit too much, even as an attempt to please the
Russian Ambassador Malghinov after the interview given to the
official agency Agerpres.
Perhaps as a result of this, just a few hours later, the Ministry
of Defence deleted the post that praised the liberation work done
by the Tudor Vladimirescu division.
The same day, the US Mission to NATO posted on its
Facebook page pictures of joint USA-UK-Romania exercises.
Romania - Training for Operation Spring Wind, multinational US,
UK, Romanian security cooperation #AlliedStrong are the words
accompanying the images of ground troops.
Some conclusions
The online environment provides opportunities to connect in
real time with the general public. Amid a pro-Western clear choice at
the political and strategic, and also social, levels Romania does not
provide a friendly environment for conventional mass media agencies
who take up the role of disseminating anti-Western propaganda. In
the equation of communication, in this context, the message sender
faces from the start the issues of the credibility and effectiveness,
lacking impact at this time.
However, by taking advantage of the large number of users of
Facebook in Romania, entities that manage forms of hybrid warfare
may aggregate forms of spreading the anti-Western and pro-Russian
messages, using persons who claim to be Romanian, running
themes the general public has access to from conventional media,
but presenting them in a deformed way in order to achieve their own
strategic communication goals.
These groups, which were increasingly active in the last year,
can become training and development centres for those willing to
promote, later, in other communication environments, including
conventional media, information, opinions, or other types of
messages.
In this context, it is essential for public institutions in particular
to avoid generating flawed perceptions regarding their activity or
context of communication, so they will not be used, subsequently, by
the genuine mechanisms of disinformation.
Appendixes
Appendix no 1 - Institutul de investigare a crimelor
capitalismului, which calls itself in English Institute for the
Investigation of the Crimes of Capitalism. Closed group.
Appendix no 2 - Romania este a tuturor romanilor. ncearc

sa descoperi adevarul (Romania is for all Romanians)
Appendix no 3 - Nu vrem sa luptam impotriva rusilor (we

dont want to fight the Russians)
Appendix no 4 - Pagina de Facebook Sirianul (The Syrian

Facebook page)
Appendix no 5 Neutralitate Permanenta (permanent

neutrality)
Appendix no 6 Case study Ministry of Defence

Part three
The Republic of Moldova. Control over public

space, infiltration of politics and alteration of
state decisions
Chapter 1
Vulnerabilities and actions of the Russian soft

power policies in the Republic of Moldova
Oazu Nantoi
The reasons behind Moldovas vulnerability

The Republic of Moldova (RM) is circumstantial state, whose
territory does not identify with a collective ethnic identity, with a
precedent or tradition of statehood in the past, with the predecessors
conscious struggle to create an independent state, or the conscious
struggle of those who became citizens following independence and
international recognition.
Both the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
(MASSR) which was part of Soviet Ukraine (October 12th, 1924)
and the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic (MSSR1) which was
part of the USSR (August 2nd , 1940) were artificial entities created
by the USSR Stalinist regime for strictly ideological reasons, meant
to justify forceful land occupation (May 16, 1812; June 28, 1940),
and create a bridgehead for the expansion of communist ideology
in Romania. Respectively, using the ideological and coercive means
of the authoritarian regime in the USSR, policies aimed at shaping
1
The Republic of Moldova is the legal success of MSSR the soviet republic that
was part of the USSR
the collective mentality of the population were implemented, in

accordance the goals regime. After applying these policies, the
behaviour and mentality of the population in the annexed territories
should have changed in accordance with the official ideology of the
Soviet regime.
In the case of MSSR this meant creating a Soviet man with
a distinct local twist. First, it referred to the parameter of ethnicity.
An Iron Curtain along the river Prut, the physical extermination
of social segments carrying the (Romanian) national culture and
memory, annihilating any spirit of opposition by starvation and
repeated deportations, forced russification and deliberate medication
of ethnic composition of the population MSSR - all aiming to
create / impose the ethnic identity of Moldovans, who speak the
Moldavian language and are not Romanian. Moreover, the Soviet
regime consistently implemented Romanian-phobia (hate towards
Romanians) as a key element of moldovenism. According to the
ideological system of the USSR, this meant creating the Moldovan
socialist nation, while the MSSR was created on the 2nd of August,
1940 as the statehood of this socialist nation.
At the time of the USSRs disintegration, following the forced
russification, about 35% of MSSR citizens considered themselves
Russian-speakers, and did not know the native language. For
most of them the concept of homeland meant the USSR, while
the MSSR was perceived as an administrative unit of the USSR
with purely decorative local ethno-folkloric elements. Russian
language dominated in all social spheres, as a result of imposing
an inferiority complex on Moldovans in relation to the Russian
speaking liberators. The national culture of the Moldovans
was reduced to a series of ideological surrogates, strictly censored
by the communist regime. Censorship, primarily involved the
total elimination of the terms Romania and Romanian, and the
history class taught in schools in the MSSR was from the axioms
that in on May 16, 1812 and June 28, 1940 the Moldavians were
liberated from the Romanian bourgeois and oppressive yoke.
Following these policies, the phenomenon of Romanian-phobia was

strongly ref lected not only on those who came to MSSR territory
from other soviet republics, but also the representatives of ethnic
minorities which settled in Bessarabia since the early nineteenth
century. In particular, it was felt among the ethnic Gagauz, which
allowed federal authorities to recruit them for anti-state projects.
This artificial ethnic identity - the Moldavian, unlike in the
case of the Baltic countries, could not be used as the foundation for
creating a viable state, capable of resisting the specific challenges of
former Soviet space. After starting the policy of perestroika, the
political processes of MSSR were a pale and late replica of those in
the Baltic States, and were conducted to the extent permitted by the
erosion of central power in the USSR. Unlike the Baltic countries,
which formed states before their annexation by the USSR, MSSR was
composed from a population fragmented into different groups, and
not people, while the precedent that occurred before Bessarabias
annexation by the Soviet Union could not act as a catalyst for the
consolidation and mobilization of the population of the MSSR to
create an independent and sovereign state.
In the case of MSSR that precedent had an impact on the
specifics of the political processes. The aforementioned precedent
is the Unification of Bessarabia and Romania on the 27th of March,
1918. In MSSR the lack of statehood before 1940 kept in the collective
memory, despite the repressive policies of the Soviet regime, the
precedent which occurred in the time interval of 1918-1940, when
Bessarabia was part of Romania.
But the ideological machinery of the political regime in the
USSR used this precedent to impose Romanian-phobia, presenting
the realities of 1918-1940 in Bessarabia in a deliberately distorted
way. As a result, in the collective memory of the population of MSSR,
the time period when Bessarabia was part of Romania was perceived
in two antagonist versions. On the one hand, a segment of the
population which considered themselves Romanian survived. This
segment believes that the USSR illegally annexed Bessarabia on the
28th of June, 1940 and believes that Bessarabia should reunite with
Romania following the model of the March 27, 1918 unification.
On the one other hand, in accordance with clichs imposed by Soviet
propaganda, the other segment of population believes that Romania
occupied Bessarabia in 1918. Thus on the 28th of June, 1940, Bessarabia
was liberated by the USSR from the Romanian occupation.
As we would later observe, the advocates of unification with
Romania were vocal, but few, while those terrified by the prospect
of unification with Romania were numerous, easily manipulated
and even aggressive. For this reason all the enthusiasm regarding
a national revival of the MSSR was consumed by adopting the
contradictory linguistic legislation of August 1989 (the struggle for
language and alphabet), and did not have a logical follow-up, either
by unification with Romania, supported by the majority population,
either by building an independent, viable state.
Then the union centre still harboured hope that it can keep the
Republic of Moldova in the Soviet Union, therefore it has resorted
to gross manipulation of the population, using Romanian-phobia,
among other things with the intent to incite anti-state separatism in
the southern and eastern parts the Republic of Moldova.
Overlapping consequences of the policies meant to create
the Moldovan socialist nation determined the attitude of the
inhabitants of the former MSSR towards Moldovan statehood, which
was perceived as the lesser evil when the USSR was collapsed.
From the USSR the citizens of the new state inherited conformism
and parochial mentality, provincialism and the lack of knowledge
regarding the realities of the democratic world, the hypocrisy as a
condition of survival / success, distrust and collective inferiority
complexes. In addition, in the case of the Republic of Moldova,
there is no notion of diaspora that is in relation with and can
lobby democratic countries, and no national elite, able to face the
challenges of building a new state.
The consequences of ruining the structure and

social hierarchy in the MSSR
In MSSR Soviet style planned economy model was imposed.
As a result, about 53% of the population lived in rural areas. Firstly,
it referred to Moldovans, 83% of which were scattered in the
countryside, as working in collective farms (kolkhoz). Meanwhile
the Russian-speakers were concentrated in the cities, being
positioned at the top of the unwritten social hierarchy. As a result, in
the cities of MSSR was used language was almost exclusively Russian.
In addition, about 30% of industry was concentrated in the eastern
bank of the Dniester (Nistru) river (12% of the territory and 17%
of the population), while the right bank remained mostly agrarian.
From an economic perspective, the MSSR was a tiny agricultural
annex of the command economy of the USSR, and the right bank of
the Dniester the domination of the agricultural sector was enforced.
The entire infrastructure (energy, transport etc.) was an extension of
the former Soviet Unions infrastructure.
The disappearance of the USSR was followed by the collapse
of that economic model, which determined the structure and social
hierarchy of the Soviet past, and to which the population of MSSR
adhered. As a result an extremely painful, from a social point of view,
process of de-industrialization began in the Republic of Moldova,
overlaid with the degradation of Soviet agricultural sector. The first
was due to the fact that most industrial enterprises, built in MSSR
were part of the Soviet military-industrial complex and, therefore,
were left without orders and without a market. Also, most Russian-
speakers, who dominated the industrial sector, went through a
phase of collective frustration linked to the collapse of the USSR and
the fact that Romanian language became the official language of the
new state, so some of them preferred to go to Russia.
The agricultural system in its Soviets version was absolutely
unsuited to the rigors of the free market and inefficient. Chaotic
land privatization has accelerated the ruination of the Soviet style
agricultural system. As a result, in rural areas there has been a

huge growth in unemployment on top of the destruction of the
technological base inherited from the USSR. The rural population
has proven to be totally unprepared to face the challenges resulting
from the disappearance of collective farms and the search for some
optimal forms of organizing the business in agriculture, based on
private ownership of land, and penetration of new markets. Further
more, the countrys leadership was lacking entirely (and is still
missing up to the now) any knowledge regarding ways in which it
can rebuild the agricultural sector based on private ownership of
land and expansion to other markets.
From a social standpoint the situation got worse as a result
of the fact that the new Moldovan leadership was totally lacking
any vision regarding the creation of a national economy for the
new state, that would absorb, as much as possible, unskilled labour
in rural areas and create a national industry. This lack of vision
contributed to the degrading of villages as they inherited from the
USSR. No government ever announced that of the 898 village halls
in rural areas, following the deliberate and controlled transition
to a different economic model, for example, only 20% of them will
remain. As a result, adaptation processes related to everything that
can be called national economy, to the new rigors, take place in a
chaotic manner and resulted in a massive exodus of the socially active
population. Today the few foreign investors that come to Moldova
not only have to face corruption and lack of a proper judicial branch,
but also shortages of labour with the necessary qualifications.
The shock experienced by the population of the former MSSR
linked to the collapse of the USSR, the armed conflict (1992) in
the eastern districts (Transnistria), plus the social shock and the
inability of most people to adapt to new challenges, determined
the specifics of the internal political processes. Thus, during the
first parliamentary elections based on party lists which took place
in February, 1994, citizens of the new state voted heavily for the
Democratic Agrarian Party (56 seats) and the internationalist
movement Unitatea-Edinstvo (28 seats) that identified themselves

with the Soviet past. These two parties were the embodiment of the
former Communist Party of MSSR, which, at the time, was banned.
Later the parliamentary elections of 25 February, 2001 had been won
by the Party of Communists (PCRM) with 50.07% of the votes and
a constitutional majority (71 seats out of 101) in the Parliament. The
first three Presidents of the Republic of Moldova had been members
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of MSSR,
therefore representatives of the communist nomenclature.
It is necessary to note that, during the life of the statehood of
the Republic of Moldova, neither politicians nor society as a whole,
for a quarter-century, failed to rise to the challenges of the process
involved in building a new state in all their complexity. This was
felt even in the attitude of the political class towards the countrys
Constitution. Both the content of the Constitution adopted in 1994,
after agrarians came to power, and its subsequent amendments,
were determined by the immediate political context and balance of
power between different political groups.
External assistance policies (EU, USA) did not have the desired
effect because of a striking contrast between the values declared
and
the ones actually held by society as well as the contrast between the
complexities of building a new state and the intellect potential of the
corrupt and immoral political class.
At the moment (spring 2016) it can be concluded that the
very project of Moldovan statehood is in deep crisis - the captive
state phenomenon, the compromised political class, corrupt and
amoral, the compromised European perspective of the Republic of
Moldova, striking social contrasts and massive impoverishment of
the population, the unresolved conflict in the eastern districts, made
worse by the illegal presence of Russian troops, the mass exodus of
the active population, the isolated ethnic minorities that are easily
manipulated trough xenophobic messages (anti-Romanian), populist
political projects (Our Party headed Renato Usati), or official
political projects of Kremlin (PSRM headed by Igor Dodon) that
dominate the polls - all this confirms the statement regarding the
crisis in which the statehood project finds itself and state of chaos
within the society.
The main soft power tools used by the Russian

Federation in the Republic of Moldova
The essence of the soft power policies used by Russia in the
Republic of Moldova starts from exploiting nostalgia, difficulties
and frustrations which became chronic, and which have not been
overcame by the Moldovan society. In the absence of positive moments
in the collective mentality related to the statehood of Moldova, the
Russian Federation exploits intensively the nostalgia related to the
existence of the USSR. In addition, to manipulate the significant
segment of Russified inhabitants of the Republic of Moldova, it
successfully advocates the mythology of continuity linking the
Russian Empire, the USSR and Russia headed by Vladimir Putin.
Firstly, in the Republic of Moldova the Kremlin heavily
promotes the idea of belonging to the Russian world (Russkiy
Mir). Taking advantage of the widespread usage of the Russian
language, inherited from the USSR, and the isolation and
Russification of ethnic minorities, Russia promotes policies that aim
to maintain the spiritual relationships within the former Soviet
space. As mentioned, the Russian Federation imposes the feeling of
belonging to this space by glorifying the Russian Empire and the
USSR and presenting Russia as the successor of this glorious past.
As part of its soft power policies the Russian Federation
targets with concrete policies several segments of Moldovan society.
Distinct policies target specifically the people of Transnistria
and Gagauzia. The Russkiy Mir 2 foundation is a sample of the
mechanisms created and used by Russia in this regard. Moscow
intensively promotes the idea that, following the collapse of the
USSR, the Russian people became / was scattered. At the same
2
http://russkiymir.ru/
time, Russia strongly supports the idea of belonging to the Russkiy

Mir, not only in the case ethnic Russians, but also in the case of
compatriots, a notion used in an abusive and speculative manner,
which is more extensive and confusing than the univocal notion of
citizen of Russia. Also, in Russia, a legal framework 3 has been
adopted based on the idea of responsibility of Russian for all
compatriots who live outside its borders.
Russian policies are addressed to the all age categories of
Moldovan citizens. In particular, they heavily exploit the mythology
regarding the Great Victory in the Great Patriotic War (May
9 th). This mythology became part of a state quasi-religion, which
combines the imperial past of Russia, Christianity as seen by the
Russian Orthodox Church, the purely propagandistic presentation
of the role played by the Soviet Union in World War II, Vladimir
Putins version of sovereign democracy and the explosion of
velikorus chauvinism, caused by the illegal annexation of Crimea
and the aggression against Ukraine.
The Russian Federation, with the help of local left wing
politicians, imposes a black and white perception of events related
to the Second World War, which suggests that anyone who questions
the role of liberator of the USSR is automatically considered a
Nazi follower. With the involvement of NGOs financed by Russia,
against the background of the propagandistic hysteria presented by
the Russian controlled media, and with the help of political parties
loyal to the Kremlin, every year are organised noisy actions with
Saint George ribbons, marches etc. This policy ignores completely
the fact that the population of MSSR, after the Great Victory and
liberation in August, 1944, was subjected to the inhuman practices
aimed at creating the socialist Moldovan nation which included
crimes against humanity (intentionally provoked famine between
1946-1947, resulting in hundreds of thousands of people dead and
many cases of cannibalism; repeated deportations etc.).
3
http://rg.ru/2010/07/27/sootech-dok.html.
It is necessary to mention that, especially after the aggression

of Russia against Ukraine, the Saint George ribbon was no longer
the symbol of military glory during the Russian Empire (starting
from November 26, 1759) and the USSR, and was turned into the
symbol of velikorus chauvinism, containing obvious fascist ideas,
unequivocally identified with the regime of Vladimir Putin. It is also
important to note that these ribbons unite the representatives of
all separatist and criminal regimes, whose ideological foundations
are based on loyalty to the Putin regime and velikorus chauvinism
(Transnistria; Crimea; Donetsk and Lugansk regions etc.), and which
were created and survive thanks to the support coming from Russia.
In the case of the Republic of Moldova, in addition to strengthening
the notion of belonging to the community of inheritors of the Great
Victory and encouraging aggressive supporters of the velikorus
chauvinism, Moscow also seeks the annihilation of the impact of Europe
Day, celebrated all over Europe in the same day, 9th of May.
In order to obtain the maximum possible outcome from
propaganda campaign, Russia resorts to creating international
structures, led by the Kremlin, which cultivate the spirit of belonging
to the inheritors of the Great Victory area. Thus, under the auspices of
the International Union4 of Victory successors actions are organized
each year celebrating May 9th in Gagauzia, with an emphasis on youth
involvement. In (the administrative territorial unit of) Gagauzia the
local administration is also involved in organizing these events.
Another example of soft power policies is the Gorchakov
Foundation 5, named after a Russian diplomat. This Foundation
describes itself as a unique state-popular (e.g. involving both states
and peoples) partnership mechanism in the field of foreign policy.
The activities of this Foundation target the youth in the former Soviet
space and have the purpose of cultivating the spirit of belonging to
the glorious heritage of the Russian Empire.
4
http://naslednikipobedi.ru/
5
http://gorchakovfund.ru/.
The spectrum of activities also extends to children. The

Compatriot games 6, which gather children from 46 countries
and receive the support of sport legends from the Soviet era, aim
to maintain the community spirit within the representatives of that
generation of children - Russian-speakers, who normally, should
already be fully integrated into the countries they are coming from.
Therefore, the Russian Federation skilfully exploits any weaknesses
in the integration policies that allow the cultivation of the spirit of
belonging to the United Russia, including among children, which
are already are required to study Russian language.
A very special role in promoting the soft power policies of
Russia in the Republic of Moldova is played by the Russian Orthodox
Church. It is well known that the Soviet regime implemented in the
MSSR extremely harsh policies opposing religion. Both the KGB and
CPSU advocated for atheism and consistently fought to annihilate the
religious feelings and traditions. Compared with atheistic policies in
the territories annexed by the USSR on 28 June, 1940, but became
part of the Ukrainian SSR, in the MSSR the fight against religion
was much more vicious. Massive destruction of churches, closing
monasteries, destruction of religious books, persecution of believers
involving the KGB, became common practice in the MSSR. The KGB
Committee of the MSSR there was a fifth department tasked with
recruiting priests as informants. The administrative apparatus of
the Soviet regime monitored very carefully the mood of the society
and punished any attempt to reopen the places of worship initiated
by local communities.
Despite these practices, the first steps towards the liberalization
of the Soviet regime (Perestroika) led quickly to the rehabilitation of
the Church and Christianity. Moreover, some clergy representatives
were actively involved as candidates in the first democratic elections
in the USSR (May, 1989, Father Peter Buburuz, for example) and
MSSR (February-March 1990). An interesting trend emerged - the
6
http://ria.ru/interview/20160422/1417017565.html.
priests were seen as opponents of the local communist nomenklatura

candidates in these elections and usually won. However, the Church
of the Republic of Moldova did not distanced itself from its Soviet
past and did not universally condemned the communist ideology or
the cases of collaboration with the system involving representatives
of the clergy.
The return of nostalgic parties, with ideologies rooted in
the communist past, on political scene, was accompanied by the
consolidation of the status of the Russian Orthodox Church in the
Republic of Moldova. Thus, according to the Statute of the Russian
Orthodox Church adopted in 2000, the Moldovan Orthodox Church
holds special status7 for as a self-governing church. In reality, this
self-governance means a docile subordination to the interests of
the Russian Orthodox Church which, in turn, is an extension of
the political regime and ideology currently known as the regime of
Vladimir Putin. The very title of Patriarch of Moscow and all of
Russia, held by the head of the Church, shows an indisputable imperial
inclination. Precisely because of this the visit of Patriarch Kirill to
the Republic of Moldova (8-11 October, 2011)8 generated confusion,
his message was in flagrant contradiction with the national interests
of the Republic of Moldova. Despite the fact that representatives
of the Russian Orthodox Church have repeatedly denied the
existence of any political reason behind the visit, the appearance of
Patriarch Kirill in Tiraspol, along with representatives9 of the anti-
constitutional regime found there, and his chauvinistic message that
tried to justify the territorial expansion of the Russian Empire, were
a direct support offered to that anti-state regime (in Tiraspol).
A special role in the ideological expansion of Russia in the
Republic of Moldova is played by the Diocese of Tiraspol and
7
http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/133132.html
8
http://eparchia.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1642643.html
9
http://www.vesti.md/?mod=news&id=22189
Dubsari10. This ecclesiastical structure, that only on paper is part

of the Moldovan Orthodox Church,11 openly serves the interests of
the anti-constitutional regime in Tiraspol and the military units of
the Russian Federation, which are illegally deployed in the Republic
of Moldova.
Regarding Gagauz autonomy, the religious factor is used not
only to strengthen the mental association with the Russian World,
but also as an additional argument in favour of the federalization
of the Republic of Moldova. In Comrat, the need to create a
Gagauz Diocese12 , modelled after the one in Tiraspol, is mentioned
increasingly often. It is interesting that these discussions have
intensified during time in office of Mihail Formuzal (17 December,
2006 - 14 April, 2015) as Bacan (head of local executive). Formuzal
was re-elected as Bacan, while facing strong competition, thanks
to the direct support coming from Moscow - a few days before
the runoff election, when there is no clear sign that Formuzal will
win, Dmitry Medvedev, Russian President at the time, decorated13
Formuzal with an Honorary Diploma for the development of the
Moldovan-Russian cultural cooperation.
During the electoral campaign, both Mihail Formuzal and
Nicolai Dudoglo, his main opponent, tried to use the image of the
Russian Orthodox Church for electoral purposes. Dudoglo tried to
impress voters in the autonomous region through disseminating
the information about his meeting14 with Patriarch Kirill, who
blessed him for (election) victory. Formuzals team, with the help
of Protodeacon Andrei Kuraev, vehemently denied this, accusing
Nicolae Dudoglo of deliberately distorting the truth about what
10
http://diocese-tiras.org/
11
http://mitropolia.md/
12
http://gagauzmedia.md/index.php?newsid=1705
13
http://ru.interlic.md/2010-12-15/prezident-rf-dmitrij-medvedev-nagradil-
bashkana-gagauzii-mihaila-formuzala-pochetnoj-gramotoj-19200.html
14
h ttps://point.md/ro/noutati/obschestvo/patriarh-kirill-blagoslovil-nikolaya-
dudoglo-na-pobedu
happened during the meeting. Subsequently, Formuzal got involved

in several anti-state political projects and activities. At this moment,
the topic of the Gagauz Diocese is in suspense, which does not mean
that this far-reaching project is forgotten.
Moldovan Church representatives are actively involved in
media campaigns aimed at compromising the EU in the eyes of
believers in the Republic of Moldova. In particular it relates to the
hysteria provoked by Moldovas commitment to adopt legislation on
equal opportunities. Clergy representatives were actively involved in
a media campaign whose aim was associating the European space
with debauchery, homosexuality, family degradation etc. As RM-EU
relations strengthened, proponents of the Euro-Asian vector from
Gagauzia and the moldovenists became more active15 and attracted
the open involvement of questionable representatives of the clergy.
The fact is that these actions were (and still are) orchestrated from
an area controlled by the Russian Federation and the Moldovan
Orthodox Church plays a significant role in promoting the interests
of the Russian state.
Of special interest for Russia is the population of the eastern
districts of the Republic of Moldova (Transnistria), namely the mass
media in the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic(TMR). The
population of the region, especially after installing the cable TV, is
deliberately isolated from Moldovan media, the only TV channels
with access there being Russian TV channels, accompanied by the
local state television channel. In recent years, in TMR, the idea
regarding the existence of a new identity, the Transnistrian, was
strongly promoted - a local version of Moldovenism in its Stalinist
form. The purpose of this idea is obvious - to justify the existence
of TMR and enforce the idea of incompatibility between the local
population and the realities of the Republic of Moldova.
15
h ttp://deschide.md/ro/news/politic/2177/SURSE--ntlnire-SECRET-la-Bli-Ce-
lovitur-pregtete-Formuzal.htm
In Transnistria, over the last years, the project of the Eurasian

Integration16 Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisation
(ANO) was implemented. ANO founders include the State Duma
deputy, Alexei Juravleov. Juravleov is the right hand of Dmitry
Rogozin, deputy prime minister in the Russian government and co-
founder of the Russian nationalist party Motherland (Rodina).
It is important to note that Russian leading figures with democratic
views have labelled this party as fascist. ANO activity in Transnistria
demonstrates, on the one hand, the care with which Russia treats
its compatriots in Transnistria. On the other hand, its expected
to compete with the policies of confidence building, promoted
especially by the EU. The youth in Transnistria, with the complicity
of local administration, is heavily engaged in all soft power
projects initiated by the Russian Federation, while the Republic of
Moldova is passive and does not try to compete with Russia in terms
of information dissemination.
On the 11th of March, 2014, in Tiraspol, the Prut-Dniester
Centre of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies17 was opened.
This institute is an instrument of Russian Secret Services and its
used to support the policies of Russia in Transnistria - part of the
territory of the Republic of Moldova controlled by Moscow, among
others things by using illegally stationed troops. The work of this
institute is so controversial that the Republic of Moldova has
blocked the access some of its representatives its territory, given that
the Chisinau Airport became the only access way to Transnistria
from Russia. However, this Institute continues its activities in
Transnistria through its subsidiary created in Tiraspol.
What is more absurd is that representatives from Institute
repeatedly participated in a series of public events organized by
the pro-Russian political parties in Chiinu. For example, Tamara
16
http://eurasianintegration.ru/
17
http://riss.ru/tags/pmr/.
Guzenkoca participated in a conference organized by the RMSP18 at

the end of May, 2014, during which the federalization of the Republic
of Moldova was advocated under the pretext that it would settle the
conf lict present in the eastern districts of the country.
The Gagauz and Transnistria regions are targets of the
policies pursued by Russia. Moscow consistently uses positive
discrimination policies in Gagauzia the unjustified embargo on
exports to Russia, imposed on the Republic of Moldova as a whole,
does not apply in relation to economic agents from Transnistria and
Gagauzia. In Gagauzia, humanitarian aid was repeatedly sent from
the Russian Federation. The Russian Embassy in the Republic of
Moldova is very active in Gagauzia, doing anything, from massive
donations of books in Russian, to direct interference in the internal
political processes.
Thus the most recent elections for the Bacan of Gagauzia (22nd
of March, 2015), turned into a farce - Irina Vlah has been backed in
various ways, so overtly and massively by Russia, that all the other
candidates stood no chance against her. However, any attempt to
question the fair election of Vlach looked like a lack of loyalty
towards Great Russia, which is unacceptable in the mentality of
the population of the autonomous region. As a result, Irina Vlah
won in the first round. Subsequently, as one can easily predict,
once she became Bacan and, therefore, member of the Moldovan
government she engaged in various activities19 subordinated to the
interests of Russia. Also in the local government controlled media in
Gagauzia any mentioning of EU assistance is thoroughly eliminated.
In contrast, all contacts with regions of Russia are presented in a
triumphant manner. Irina Vlachs visit to Romania and her high-
level meetings20 have been kept secret.
18
http://www.kp.md/daily/26235/3117867/.
19
http://tribuna.md/2016/03/28/la-comrat-va-avea-loc-un-mars-al-aparatorilor-
statalitatii-moldovenesti/
20
http://www.mae.ro/node/33547.
The impact of these policies in the southern areas of the Republic

of Moldova is extremely serious. As an example I can provide some
results from an opinion poll conducted by the Institute for Public
Policy 21 during the RM between East and West: as seen in Gagauz
and Taraclia Project, carried out with the financial support of the
Embassy of the Netherlands in Bucharest, via the Human Rights
Fund. Suffice to say, for example, that 64% believe that RM belongs
to the Russian World and about 35% see RM in the future as part
of Russia. About 85% would vote in a possible referendum in favour
of RM joining the Eurasian Union. The results show unambiguously
that Russias aggression against Ukraine was perceived exclusively
through the messages of the Russian propaganda. As a result, about
70% believe that after the Maidan, the fascists came to power in
Ukraine and 80% endorse the annexation of Crimea by Russia.
Given the abovementioned figures we can safely assume that this
category of Moldovan citizens live in a virtual reality, created by the
propaganda machine of the current Russian political regime.
The media domination of Russian TV channels amplifies the
impact of Russian soft power policies within the Moldovan society.
This is highlighted by the existence in the Moldovan society of a set
of positive stereotypes regarding Russia and, in particular, Vladimir
Putin. In the meantime acts of corruption such as the billion theft
and others, perpetrated by political leaders who exploited abusively
the slogan of European integration, have discredited the European
idea among the less initiated Moldovans.
Some sociologists are extremely sceptical about the
disposition of the Moldovan society. They found that, following
Russias aggression against Ukraine, among the Russian-speaking
population aggressiveness and chauvinist attitudes increased, while
in the Romanian-speaking population a general feeling of fear
and confusion is dominant. The same sociologists discovered that
21
http://www.ipp.md/libview.php?l=ro&idc=150&id=772
Russian-speaking young people are a lost cause for the Republic of

Moldova.
Taking into account all of the above it becomes clear that the
soft power policies promoted by Moscow have a particularly serious
impact due to the complicity of the political class in the Republic of
Moldova. No government and no political party have been able to
adopt policies that strengthen the civil society based on the spirit
of citizenship, by moving away from the Soviet past, purposefully
overcoming ideological clichs and ethno-linguistic rifts inherited
from the USSR in order to achieve that level resilience within society
that would have made both the Russian version of soft power and
the informational war unleashed by Russia useless.
Despite all this, the EU Association Agreement signed on the
27 of June, 2014 constitutes a legal commitment of the Moldovan
th
state in terms of reforming the state in accordance with European

standards, but the Moldovan political class chose the path of
pretending to carry out reforms. Key-people who identify with
the status of captive state do not want to lose control over state
institutions and any possibilities to extort public funds. For this
reason they ignore all claims made by the Moldovan society and
development partners. Instead, they seek opportunities to establishing
personal relationships with the Kremlin administration and do
not try, using state resources, to countervail the consequences of the
informational war and the soft power policies used by the Russian
Federation.
Bibliography:
- http://deschide.md/ro/news/politic/2177/SURSE--ntlnire-
SECRET-la-Bli-Ce-lovitur-pregtete-Formuzal.htm;
- http://diocese-tiras.org/;
- http://eparchia.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1642643.html;
- http://eurasianintegration.ru/;
- http://gagauzmedia.md/index.php?newsid=1705;
- http://gorchakovfund.ru/;
- http://mitropolia.md/;
- http://naslednikipobedi.ru/;
- http://rg.ru/2010/07/27/sootech-dok.html;
- http://ria.ru/interview/20160422/1417017565.html;
- http://riss.ru/tags/pmr/;
- http://ru.interlic.md/2010-12-15/prezident-rf-dmitrij-medvedev-
nagradil-bashkana-gagauzii-mihaila-formuzala-pochetnoj-
gramotoj-19200.html;
- http://russkiymir.ru/;
- http://tribuna.md/2016/03/28/la-comrat-va-avea-loc-un-mars-al-
aparatorilor-statalitatii-moldovenesti/;
- http://www.ipp.md/libview.php?l=ro&idc=150&id=772;
- http://www.kp.md/daily/26235/3117867/;
- http://www.mae.ro/node/33547;
- http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/133132.html;
- http://www.vesti.md/?mod=news&id=22189;
- https://point.md/ro/noutati/obschestvo/patriarh-kirill-blagoslovil-
nikolaya-dudoglo-na-pobedu;
Chapter 2
The nformational war: practices, tools and

impact on the National Security of the Republic
of Moldova
Elena Marzaci, Danu Marin
1. The practice of the Russian informational war:

general presentation
Information warfare is conducted in a space where there
are no borders, thus every country is part of a mixed information
environment where numerous variants of different events and
phenomena are circulated. These variations taken cumulatively create
specific narrative through which a state presents or imposes its view
of reality. Of course each country communicates through the prism
of national interests, but the way in which narrative is presented
is the difference between propaganda and public diplomacy. By
analyzing the pattern of international communication of the Russian
Federation, we conclude that it largely consists of propaganda and
very few of elements of public diplomacy. The purpose of both public
diplomacy and propaganda is to alter the attitudes and opinions of
other peoples so as to exert influence on the foreign policy decisions
of their states. However there is a considerable difference between
these two types of communication. Propaganda is a unidirectional
communication channel - from transmitter to receiver, while public

diplomacy is a two-way channel - transmitter and receiver exchange
of views and opinions. Public diplomacy is based on truth and
verifiable sources, while propaganda uses half-truths and sources
are either missing, or are often obscure and unreliable. Finally,
public diplomacy is based on a code of ethics, while propaganda is
largely devoid of it.
In the case of Russian propaganda, its transmitted trough

several narratives that can be divided into three distinct levels:
Global level the narratives devised for the entire international
community. Here we can find the following central notions: (1)
Russia is a global player in a multipolar world and its interests must
be taken into account; (2) The West engages in an aggressive and
expansionist policy based on hypocrisy and double standards; (3)
Russia wants cooperation but is forced to compete with the West;
(4) Russia is an exceptional state with a distinct identity, expressed
through the so-called Russian World ( ). Promoting
this identity serves as raw material for national chauvinism and
justifying its hostile foreign policy (Annex 1).
Regional level: narratives specifically designed for certain
regions, especially those aimed at post-Soviet space. These narratives
exploit Russias role as a regional leader and focuses on the socio-
political, socio-economic and socio-cultural predispositions of the
Soviet man. Here we can find the following central notions: (1)
former Soviet countries have related peoples who share a common
history and have a common destiny (future); (2) post-Soviet space
is the sphere of influence of Russia and neighbouring states are
treated as secondary partners the older sister policy; (3) Russia
is a exporter of stability and regional security while the Euro-
Atlantic structures act as a destabilizing force; (4) Euro-Atlantic
integration models are criticised, and its own integration projects
(Customs Union, Euro-Asian Union, the Collective Security Treaty
Organization) are presented as an alternative.
Local (national) level: narratives specifically designed for each

country, whose rhetoric is formulated depending on the specific and
national context. In the case of the Republic of Moldova there are the
following main topics: (1) The Republic of Moldova is a poor, powerless
country, manipulated by the West; (2) European vector is wrong and
leads to failure. An example of these two narratives is found in the
TVCentru report named Moldova - European Renovation 22 , where
the reporters strive to show how poor and miserable the Republic
of Moldova is, and blame this situation on the failure of European
integration; (3) the Republic of Moldovas security is linked to Russia,
while NATO is a destabilizing factor. An example of this narrative is
the infographic23 made by the Centre for Research and International
Journalism of RIA Novosti where some examples of joint Republic
of Moldova (RM) - NATO projects are presented in a way that
grossly exaggerates their goals as being directed towards deepening
rift with Russia and integrating RM in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (Annex 5); (4) actively undermine the unionist project
which is presented as a threat to RM statehood. News portals publish
countless articles that use the Unionism fear mongering to spread
panic and distrust among citizens, especially among minorities. An
example of this is the article24 that calls for an organized response to
the March 2016 Unity March.
The convergence of all these narratives in RM is part of the
information war used by the Russian Federation. According to Daisy
Sindelar, director of regional Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty:
22
TVCenter, . (1/2) https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=XlCDAOJ5Y9o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy5f4EpDRJI,
accessed by 15.04.2016.
23
Centre for Research and International Journalism, RIA Novosti. :

, ) http://ria.ru/cj_
mm/20140903/1022575223.html, accessed by 16.04.2016.
24
In response to Unity Mach, socialists organise a statehood/independence march
in Comrat. Liber TV, 29/03/206 http://libertv.md/actualitati/ca-r%C4%83spuns-
la-%E2%80%9Emar%C8%99ul-unirii%E2%80%9D-sociali%C8%99tii-
organizeaz%C4%83-un-mar%C8%99-%E2%80%9Ede-statalitate%E2%80%9D-la,
accessed by 17.04.2016.
while at home Russian propaganda focuses on creating an image of

an exceptional people, cultivating the feeling of national pride and
the idea that the Russians are a great nation, in other countries it
acts to demolish national unity and divide society. 25 This is the case
of RM where there is no national unity and social cohesion, and the
population is confused and misinformed due to active propaganda,
a situation made worse by corruption and the indifference of public
authorities.
2. Instruments used in the informational war

The most effective method of promoting Moscow interests
is through the media, including traditional media (TV, radio,
press) and digital media (Internet, information portals and social
networks). Among traditional media, television remains the
most important and credible source of information. Russian TV
channels dominate the local market 26 and are most popular with
viewers. Media Monitoring Report 2015 reveals the top trends in the
production of Russian news: first, the events have incomplete and
unbalanced coverage indicating serious problems of transparency.
Secondly, a manipulative, inaccurate and very biased reporting can be
distinguished. Thirdly, there is a subjective evaluation of the events by
journalists, accompanied by patriotic rhetoric. Despite this, surveys
show that media sources based in Russia enjoy the highest confidence
level, and the initiatives of the Audiovisual Coordinating Council
(ACC) to penalize or ban certain Russian channels retransmitted
in Moldova, were harshly criticized. A worrying factor is that
people did not question the reliability of the received information.
25
Lina Gru, Foreign Policy Debates and Summaries, Monthly Bulletin No.9(114),
September 2015. Association for Foreingn Policy http://2014.europa.md/images/
dox4download/rm-ue_bilateral/2015/2015-09_Newsletter_APE_FES_RO.pdf,
accessed by 17/04/2016.
26
Currently, in RM are broadcast or retransmitted, through cable operators, about 140
stations and TV channels. Of these, 41 disseminate media products only in Russian
and 76 in both Romanian and Russian.
According to a Centre for Independent Journalism study, only 4% of

respondents consider themselves to be manipulated by the media.
People claim that propaganda and manipulation is used most often
by RM media agencies (77%), followed by media from Russia (60%),
Romania (50%) and Ukraine (48%) (Appendix 2).
The Internet is the second most important source of
information in RM, and its importance is steadily growing amid
the development of technology. Although the Internet, unlike TV,
offers more choice and greater diversity of information sources, the
decisive factor remains the preferences and habits of users. According
to data from the Audit Bureau of Publications and Internet, Internet
users in RM favour portals of Russian origin, widely using search
engines and electronic mailboxes such as Mail.ru, Yandex.ru and
Rambler.ru. This affects what kinds of results are generated by web
searches, favouring information of Russian origin. Also, Internet
users frequently use local social networks such as VKontakte and
Odnoklassniki where several virtual groups27 that spread anti-
NATO, anti-US and anti-EU rhetoric. Given the growth in popularity
of social media platforms, the concept of social cyber attack gains
a lot of attraction and interest. It allows, with a minimal cost, the
fast manipulation of perceptions through rumours that propagate
hatred, exploits distrust and reinforces the prejudices of a target
population. Consequently, digital media in RM is closely connected
to, and integrated in RuNet 28 , which besides providing specialized
services serves also as a platform for psychological operations.
According to the Freedom House report - Freedom on the Net 29,
the Internet is heavily censored in Russia especially when it comes to
27
A few examples are: (Moldova must support
Russia 12 500 Facebook members), - (Our Nation
- Eurasian Union - 17000 Odnoklassniki members),
(Interesting Moldova 3750 Facebook members).
28
RuNet - all the web portals of Russian origin and the online community using them.
29
Sanja Kelly, Madeline Earp, Laura Reed, et.al. (2015) Privatizing Censorship, Eroding
Privacy. Freedom House Report: Freedom on the Net 2015, https://freedomhouse.
org/sites/default/files/FH_FOTN_2015Report.pdf, accessed by 18/04/2016.
critique against the authorities, social conflicts, corruption, political

opposition, protests and mass mobilization. Here, many experts
argue that Russian content is heavily manipulated through the so-
called Troll Factories and Kremlyebots (), and the data
traffic is monitored by the Secret Services, enabling the massive
interception and storage of personal data which then serve to
improve propaganda tools. Therefore the public perception is formed
largely based on the flow of news coming from Russian sources or its
affiliates. Russian propaganda through TV and the Internet distort
and alter information, imposing their own vision of reality and, as a
result of massive disinformation, this causes widespread confusion,
disorientation and lack of confidence among the population.
3. Informational war and its impact on national

security
Security is the most important public good offered by the
state, which is dependent on the perception of security among the
population. One of the key objectives of the informational war is
to distort this perception using propaganda and disinformation.
The effects of the crisis in Ukraine are a prime example of success,
which has resulted in territorial losses, political instability, a ruined
economy and a major humanitarian crisis. Ukrainian experts claim
that the information war is a long-term process that lasts decades,
eroding the security and defence system. 30 Thus, the conflict in
Ukraine has not occurred by chance, but was the result of a scenario
well prepared and organized. To obtain these results, four strategies
are employed in information warfare31 (The 4D Approach): (1) denial
- negation of facts that contradict desired narratives; (2) distortion
alteration of events by changing or falsifying their context; (3)
30
, : . Carnegie
Moscow Centre, 21 A 2016, http://carnegie.ru/commentary/2016/04/21/ru-
63383/ixbl, accessed by 22/04/2016.
31
(2016). 2016: .
.
distraction - distracting public attention from the facts that are

inconvenient; (4) deterrence - usage of intimidation.
Similar to Ukraine, RM is the target of informational war
waged by Russia. In the case of Ukraine, we see an active phase of
informational war involving a direct and intensive media campaign
using the friend-foe mechanism 32 to create the image of the enemy.
Intimidation tactics are widely used, the opponent is demonized and
moral superiority is emphasized to legitimize its own actions. In the
case of RM, the Russian information was is in a latent phase, similar
to the active phase in terms of methods, but with a less intensity,
and at the same time more flexible and the encompassing. The basic
paradigm used to promote information in information warfare is
based on conspiracy theories. They (conspiracy theories) offer a
number of advantages: First, they have a universal character and
can be easily adapted to any circumstances. Every popular uprising,
public mobilisation, or change in the foreign policy direction in the
CIS countries is blamed on Western intelligence services operating
to destroy Russia from the inside and deteriorate its relations with
allied countries. Secondly, they are easy to contrive, but hard to
disprove because they are based on beliefs and not facts. In order to
fabricate a theory all one needs is a little imagination and minimal
time investment, by contrast, verification of facts is a process that
requires attention and is time consuming. Thirdly, conspiracy
theories are built on good-bad dichotomy, capturing the publics
imagination because they are simple, intriguing and distracting. An
example is the comparison between NATOs information bulletin
for the Sea Breeze 2015 maritime exercise33, describing just a series
32
Ben Nimmo, Anatomy of an Info-War: How Russias Propaganda Machine Works, and
How to Counter It. Central European Policy Institute. http://www.cepolicy.org/sites/
cepolicy.org/files/attachments/ben_nimmo.pdf, accessed by 18/04/2016
33
The friend-foe mechanism (-) is an approach that classifies international
actors by labeling them as either friend or foe. This mechanism is used in
Russian propaganda to create the image of the enemy. For example, the change
the perception of the Russian population regarding Ukrainians. Before 2014 almost
70% of the population considered Ukraine a friendly country. In 2015 the trend was
of facts (place, time, participants and objectives) and the article

regarding it published on Sputnik.md 34 which contains a long history
and is abundant in interpretations and threatening predictions.
These theories are the cornerstone for the construction of
narratives meant to discredit the Republic of Moldovas European
aspirations and strengthen stereotypes and prejudices towards Euro-
Atlantic structures. In this regard, a targeted political lobbying and
complementary media campaign can be identified, whose messages
can be summarized in the following phrases:
- Presenting NATO as an aggressive military structure directed
by the US, which has an expansionist and war driven policy;
- NATO efforts are directed towards maintaining artificial
confrontation with Russia and deepening division between former
Soviet states;
- Military and peacekeeping NATO operations are destabilizing
and inefficient;
- RM is forced to join NATO;
- Cooperation with NATO is contrary to the neutrality status
of RM;
- Moldo-Romanian cooperation is described as part of
Moldovas cooperation with NATO, which offers the possibility
of using the unionism scare tactics and Romanian-phobia (hate
towards Romanians);
- European integration requires NATO accession.
This narrative did not take long to bare fruit. The latest
IRI survey (International Republic Institute) shows that 64% of
Moldovans see Russia as the most appropriate economic partner of
reversed - about 70% of Russians consider Ukraine a unfriendly country. Source
Integration Barometer 2015. Centre for Integration Studies, Report No.33, Eurasian
Development Bank. http://eabr.org/general/upload/CII%20-%20izdania/2015/
Barometr-2015/EDB_Centre_Report_33_Analycal_Summary_ENG.pdf, accessed by
01/05/2016.
34
Key NATO & Allied Exercises Fact Sheet, June 2015, http://www.nato.int/nato_static_
fl2014/assets/pdf/pdf_2015_06/20150624_1506-key-exercises.pdf, accesed by
20/04/2016.
RM and 28% as the most appropriate political partner. About 44%

of the population wants RM to join the Eurasian Customs Union as
opposed to 43% who would be prefer the European Union 35. Also,
polls show that most people advocate for maintaining the neutrality
status of RM, which currently offers no clear perspectives as a
national security choice. Latest Public Opinion Barometer shows that
only 10% of the population supports NATO membership compared
to almost 20% in favour of joining the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO)36. These figures become even more relevant
given that most people know nothing about this organization besides
that is affiliated with Russia. On the other hand, NATO still has a
negative public image; only 15% see it in a positive light, 35% have a
neutral opinion and 22% a negative opinion. NATOs credibility has
a low rating - 24% trust NATO compared to 46% who do not trust at
all in this structure (Appendix 3).
Amid the division of society, disinformation and lack of
objective information, the government should provide clear positions
and statements, but it fails to do so. By analyzing the platforms of
the political parties which hold seats in the Parliament and have
voters throughout the Republic of Moldova, we might conclude
that although European integration and international cooperation,
including with NATO, are officially included in RMs national
interest, only LP (Liberal Party) promotes directly the idea of joining
NATO, while the rest are either in favour of maintaining neutrality or
promote integration into the Eurasian Customs Union. Elections are,
in this respect, the optimal time for exploiting these public opinions
(Appendix 4). In this context, by influencing public opinion in the
Republic of Moldova, Russian propaganda gains leverage to influence
decision makers and create a public agenda regarding security that is
convenient to Russias, but detrimental to RM.
35
Sea Breeze : Sputnik ,
02/09/2015 http://sptnkne.ws/bmYP, accesed by 01/05/2016.
36
Public Opinion Survey Residents of Moldova, March 2016, International Republican
Institute (IRI) http://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/wysiwyg/iri_poll_presentation-
moldova-march_2016.pdf, accesed by 08/05/2016.
4. Case study: US-Moldova joint military exercise

Dragon Pioneer 2016
Media coverage of Dragon Pioneer 2016 is of particular
interest because it is a demonstrative case of Russian propaganda, it
represents a juncture point of several narratives which, as a whole, are
intended to form the desired image. The way in which this topic was
presented gained quick public relevance, which indicates a functional
well-organized network consisting of: (1) political actors who are
the main element behind anti-Western lobby, (2) representatives of
civil society in order to give the impression of a popular grassroots
movement and (3) informational support provided by the local
media and Russian media.
The starting point of the campaign involved political lobbying
via opposition parties - PSRM, PCRM and the party named Our
Party. The communication strategy used by all the above mentioned
political parties was composed of three elements. The first one was
using the justified indignation formula in response to the entrance
of NATO foreign troops in RM, which violates the countrys
sovereignty and neutrality. For instance, the reaction of PSRM leader
Igor Dodon 37 and Renato Usati 38 who strongly condemned the
exercise. The second element was the use of anti-establishment calls
to criticise the government that conspired behind the peoples back
to bring foreign military equipment in RM. Using these messages
has the added value of increasing the credibility of opposition
parties and decreasing the credibility of ruling parties. The third
element was making calls for unity and solidarity39 based on the
37
Public Opinion Barometer (POB), April 2016, Institute for Public Policies, http://ipp.
md/public/files/Barometru/BOP_04.2016_prima_parte_finale-r.pdf, accessed by
08/05/2016.
38
Natalia Screlea, Dodon puts its foot down regarding NATO troops. He will block all
access to Chiinu, 3/05/2016, http://today.md/ro/news/politic/7692, accessed by
10/05/2016.
39
Igor Liubec, Usati: alaru - (is a) criminal. We will turn the US Embassy into a turkey
farm, http://deschide.md/ro/news/politic/26989/Usat%C3%AEi-%C8%98alaru-
common Soviet heritage after the Second World War. All messages
were loaded with populist ideas, stereotypes, conspiracy theories
and derogatory anti-NATO, anti-American and anti-Western terms.
The second component of the campaign was the mass
mobilisation of civil society represented by the Youth Guard
( ), Our Nation - Eurasian Union ( -
) Russian Youth League of Moldova (
) and other activists. The mobilization of the
pro-Russian NGO sector had the following objectives: on the one
hand promoting the narrative of history and common destiny by
using the Soviet symbols and, on the other hand, promoting anti-
Western messages by discrediting and slandering NATO, EU and the
United States. This was achieved through Victory Day celebrations
and glorification of the Soviet army that won the Second World
War. Victory Day has a deeply symbolic nature for the people of the
Republic of Moldova because in recent years it gained special political
significance, denoting a cultural clash between new European and
traditional Soviet values and
principles or, in other words, is a
continuation of the east-west paradigm.
The last component was the support provided by local
and Russian media. The tone was given by the action Immortal
Regiment40, advertised by all government controlled media41 and
criminal-Din-Ambasada-SUA-facem-cresc%C4%83torie-de-curcani.htm, accessed
by 10/05/2016. Partidul Nostru Web, 03/05/2016, http://pnru.md/md/nasha-partiya-
kategoricheski-osudila-vvod-soldat-i-bronetehniki-nato-na-territoriyu-moldovy/,
40
PSRM, Congratulations on Victory Day, http://socialistii.md/liderului-psrm-
igor-dodon-indeamna-toti-cetatenii-sa-participe-la-marsul-organizat-pe-9-
mai-cu-prilejul-zilei-victoriei/, accessed by 12/05/2016. Partidul Nostru (Our
Party), Congratulations on Victory Day, http://pnru.md/md/renato-usatyj-
pozdravil-grazhdan-moldovy-s-dnem-pobedy/, accessed by 10/05/2016.
PCRM, Congratulations on Victory Day,http://www.pcrm.md/main/index_
md.php?action=news&id=9906, accessed by 10/05/2016.
41
Immortal Regiment ( ) is an international public action that
takes place in Russia, CIS and several western countries with the aim of celebrating
Victory Day. Participants to this action organized a march bearing portraits and
photographs of relatives who participated in the Second World War. This was
several private stations affiliated to the media system in Russia that

are retransmitted in RM. Setting this patriotic tone contributed to
encouraging and mobilizing people to protest against the exercise
Dragon Pioneer 2016, that was treated both as a direct attack on the
sovereignty of RM and as an indirect attack on the principles and
traditional values inherited from the Soviet period. The promotion
of anti-Western narrative in RM was done through TV channels such
as Prime, NTV, RenTV, RTR, Rosia24; local news portals, especially
Sputnik.md, 1news.md, Today.md, Moldovanews.md, Bloknot-
moldova.md, Tsn.md, Aif.md, Replika.md, Actualiti.md, Belvpo.
md; news portals in Transnistria - Pan.md, Ava.md Novostipmr.md,
as well as news portals in Gagauzia - Gagauzinfo.md and Gagauz.
md. Coverage of the Dragon Pioneer 2016 military exercise is a
classic example of propaganda transmitted using several techniques
of disinformation:
- Exaggeration and incorrect communication of facts: a
method used in reports on the military exercise with the purpose
of instilling fear and distrust among the population through an
exaggerated presentation of the event and manipulation of statistical
data. An example is the communication of a larger number of
participants and military equipment used in the military exercise
- 200 soldiers and 100 technical units according to Sputnik.md42
compared to official numbers - 198 soldiers and only 58 technical
units of the US Army43.
- Interpretation and generalization: it is a technique used
extensively in Russian propaganda to distort the facts and present
its own vision. In the examined case, several analytical articles were
published, which by generalization and interpretation included the
popularized by the Russian media starting with 2007, becoming a patriotic brand
along the way.
42
American tanks invaded the centre of Chiinu, 08/05/2016, http://sptnkne.ws/bpVg,
43
Press release, Ministry of Defence of RM, Dragon Pioneer 2016 military exercise a
novelty for the Republic of Moldova
military exercise in the secret plan of the US and Western allies to

destabilize44 and manipulate45 the Republic of Moldova. It is worth
mentioning that such articles are well written and contain extensive
information. They are based on the principle of connecting several
events into a single message that matches one of the chosen narratives.
In this case the narrative of Western aggression and the motif of
destabilizing national security through NATO are being used.
- Reversal of facts of changing the reason: this technique has
been widely used by almost all local news portals. The facts that
Dragon Pioneer 2016 is a joint exercise between RM and NATO,
but not between RM and the United States, were reversed46. This
deliberate reversal has generated numerous misrepresentations of
the exercises purpose and goals.
- Change of circumstances and the mixture of truth and
falsehood: in the case of Dragon Pioneer 2016 speculations were
made in regard to the introduction of NATO equipment for the
organization of the military parade in the Great National Assembly
Square (GNAS). These speculations have produced controversial
reactions from various officials, particularly Defence Minister,
Anatolie alaru, who was in favour of organizing the parade 47 and
Moldovan President, Nicolae Timofti, who had several reservations
regarding this event48. This allowed for the political usage of the
44
9 : , Ria

Novosti, 30/04/2016 http://ria.ru/world/20160429/1423568174.html, accessed by
11/05/2016.
45
Xenia Florea. NATO in town. 05/02/2016 http://www.noi.md/md/news_
id/83703#close, accessed by 12/05/2016.
46
For the first time in Moldova: over 100 NATO technical units will cross the border,
Sputnik Moldova, 28/04/2016, http://sptnkne.ws/bhvk, accessed by 12/05/2016.
47
Doina Salcuan, alaru - yes, Timofti - no? Will American military equipment be brought
to GNAS or not on the 9th of May, Unimedia, 04/05/2016, http://unimedia.info/stiri/
Salaru---da--timofti---ba-va-fi-sau-nu-adusa-tehnica-militara-americana-in-pman-
de-9-mai-114244.html, accessed by 12/05/2016.
48
In fear of negative interpretations, Nicolae Timofti opposes displaying American
military equipment in GNAS, on the 9th of May, Realitatea, 04/05/2016, http://www.
realitatea.md/doc-exclusiv-de-teama-interpretarilor-negative-nicolae-timofti-se-
topic, namely the organization of anti-NATO and anti-US protests

by opposition parties and the civil society49.
- Use of labels and demonizing the opponent: a technique
often used when writing targeted news in order to achieve the effect
of viral news. During the media coverage of Dragon Pioneer 2016
a number of labels such as NATO tanks50, Yankee, American
cavalry and occupation forces were utilised. Additionally, several
symbolic actions were performed, like placing funeral flowers near
NATO equipment in GNAS51 or calling the actions of NATO troops
a sacrilege against the Moldovan people52. Adding these artistic
features makes the message more memorable and allows it to
inf luence public perception at the subconscious level.
5. Conclusions and Recommendations

Russian propaganda is everywhere in RM, in politics, in schools,
in public space, in the economy, especially through the utilization of
the Russian Orthodox Church. RM is the target of an informational
war employing active phase methods with reduced intensity but, at
the same, is f lexible and comprehensive. The effectiveness of the
informational war in RM is dictated by the following factors:
opune-expunerii-tehnicii-militare-americane-in-pman-pe-9-mai-anatol-alaru-deciz-
ia-noastra-ramane-in-vigoare_38606.html, accessed by 12/05/2016.
49
Protest in the centre of Chiinu: NATO get out of Moldova, Sputnik.md, 08/05/2016,
http://sptnkne.ws/bpVz, accessed by 12/05/2016.
50
. . , Ria
Novosti, 04/05/2016, http://ria.ru/accents/20160504/1426266226.html, accessed
by 12/05/2016.
51
,
Bloknot-Moldova, 08/05/2016, http://bloknot-moldova.md/news/sotsialisty-
vozlozhili-traurnye-venki-k-voennoy-te-741313?sphrase_id=64537, accessed by
13/05/2016.
52
Dodon: NATO armed forces committed a new sacrilege against the Moldovan people,
Actualiti.md, 08/05/2016, http://actualitati.md/md/politica-interna/dodon-
fortele-armate-nato-au-comis-un-nou-sacrilegiu-fata-de-locuitorii-moldovei,
- Russian propaganda is systemic and pervasive in the public

space, private life and the NGO sector in RM;
- Has a well organized and stocked hierarchical character;
- The presence of media retransmitted from the Russian
Federation and local servile media;
- Promoted narratives are built on the black-white (good-
bad) pattern which makes them simple is simple, accessible,
captivating and focused;
- RM politicians often do not have the initiative in setting the
foreign policy and security agenda due to detachment and passivity.
The items listed above are aggravated by the lack of national
unity and social cohesion, and the population is confused and
misinformed due to active propaganda, especially given the
corruption, indifference or complicity or of public authorities.
The aim of Russian propaganda is to discredit the RMs
European aspirations and exacerbate stereotypes and prejudices
towards Euro-Atlantic structures. In this regard, a targeted political
lobbying and a complementary media campaign can be distinguished.
By inf luencing the public opinion in RM, Russian propaganda gains
leverage to inf luence decision makers and establishing a public
agenda regarding security and defence which is convenient for
Russia, but detrimental to RM.
However, the most effective method remains aggressively
promoting Moscows interests through Russian language or
Russian information portals, which are superior to the RM and
Romanian ones. Russian newspapers and TV programs are more
easily assimilated, use known terms, are presented in an interactive
manner and send a clear message (even in the case of entertainment
programs or movies the Russian patriotic message and references to
the incompetence of Europeans and Americans are still there). At
the same time, it is difficult (perhaps due to lack of interest / time)
to verify a particular claim made by an official or expert. People
are willing to believe rumours spread purposefully by Russian
language media, concerning the lifting of visa requirements and
Association Agreement with the European Union, relations with

NATO, Romania, USA etc.
Russian propaganda manifests itself directly and aggressively
in RM and the influence of Moscow and its propaganda over
the populations and the media in our country (RM), a media
environment dominated by Russian TV programs, is massive. Russia
uses a wide variety of tools to promote its objective truth and to
inf luence the population of RM: TV, radio, print media, internet,
social networking etc.
Spreading rumours is one of the most effective tactics of social
cyber attacks because they can create fear, hatred or ill-founded
hopes that will later be manifested in real life actions. On social
media platforms, pro-Russian voices have systematically cultivated
fear, anxiety and hatred among ethnic Russians, Russian speakers
and supporters of Russia.
We believe that the effects of the informational war on the
security and defence sector are amplified by the following:
There are different views on national security objectives,
messages coming from public institutions are divergent;
There is no alignment of institutional communication visions
on issues that engage multiple public institutions (e.g. NATO, EU,
security options, etc.);
Lack of synergy between relevant actors on public information;
Lack of a consistent message coming from relevant
institutions and NGOs because at this level there are no the key
messages and consistency in terms of communication at the national
or inter-institutional level between spokespersons;
Very modest funding both of government institutions and
NGOs for far-reaching information campaigns;
Scepticism and lack of interest among the population and
media representatives from RM concerning topics related to security
and defence, as well as the Moldova-NATO relationship;
Defence and security topics are hardly mentioned in the
public speeches of policy makers;
The resurgence of old prejudices, dating back to the Soviet

Union, with regard to NATO.
The lack of a coherent message leads to a decrease of trust in
public institutions and a misguided perception of citizens regarding
some sensitive topics. Representatives of public institutions send
mixed messages, for example on issues of national security, that
have no clear and consistently articulated policies or do not include
a compelling justification for a particular policy option and, thus,
enforce the impression of disarray, hesitation or weakness within
the nation.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
A unique narrative strategy should be established and it
should contain a set of values and beliefs specific to our country
(RM) making it a good method of defence against propaganda.
Unfortunately, its missing in RM;
Introducing in the curriculum long-term education aimed
at strengthen critical thinking, starting from secondary school, and
media literacy education (including social media platforms);
Improving communication with the civil society and general
public through public information campaigns. Communication
helps us avoid manipulation;
State authorities should monitor the information they
communicate to the public. Often people think exactly as they are
told. Thus, everything depends on the communication process: if the
information is well explained the citizen will understand the message
correctly. This is the case of the countrys process of rapprochement
to the European Union and cooperation with international
organizations. If the citizen is not told the truth about the benefits
of cooperation, he could become the victim of misinformation and
propaganda.
Encouraging the development of a security culture and

changing the image of various actors that bolster regional and
international security;
Developing a new Information and Communication Strategy
in the field of Security and Defence. Strategic communication should
be the interface between national strategy and action;
Adding to the public agenda topics such as national security,
foreign and defence policy, by creating an appropriate framework for
public debates on the topics;
Bringing of new concepts, new models, adapted to the local
communication environment. Drawing increased assistance from
foreign partners, centres of excellence of international organizations
and establishing a joint communication strategy in the region (RM,
Ukraine, Georgia);
Explaining the importance of strategic communication for
all public authorities and all national policies and strategies;
Increasing the degree of awareness / understanding and
reducing prejudices among the population, with respect to the
benefits of Moldova-EU / NATO and other partners cooperation,
by involving academics (as a multiplier) in the dissemination of
objective information and making scientific studies, as well as
encouraging cooperation and unity among involved NGOs, opinion
leaders and political commentators;
Strengthening the capacity of the media and civil society to
interact with relevant public institutions;
Government institutions should be more open, more involved
in dialogue, debates, more active and open to civil society initiatives;
Increasing the role of the media through close cooperation
and regular quarterly meetings with the representatives of relevant
institutions;
Evaluation of the results (of these strategies); media analysis
and monitoring of opinion leaders.
APPENDIX:
Appendix no.1
Which of the following statements describes

the Russian people?
trust in authority,
humility
collectivism
loyalty
sense of justice
easily satisfied
spiritual
warmth
resilience
patience
Source: Public opinion 2015, Levada Analytic Centre (Russia)

Appendix no.2
Where do you get
your information from?
Firstly Secondly
TV
internet
radio
Do you trust information coming from?
acquaintances
Russia
family
newspapers
RM
rumours
EU
Source: Public
Opinion
Romania
Barometer, April
2016, Institute for Somewhat Very much Not really
Not at all Not sure
Public Policies.
Appendix no.3
Attitude towards NATO
Very hostile Hostile Neutral
Positive Very positive Not sure
Source NATO image in

the Republic of Moldova,
IMAS 2013
National security is best guaranteed by
NATO
CSTO
neutrality
not sure
Source: Public Opinion Barometer 2003-2016, Institute for Public Policies
Appendix no.4
Party The vision of the party in regard to national security
Presenting truthful information the population about the role and
importance of NATO in the democratization process of RM, and the
Liberal
importance of NATO in the European integration process. Examining,
Party (PL)
in the medium and long term, the possible initiation of negotiations
on the Roadmap for RMs NATO accession.1
Ensuring a higher degree of security for the Republic of Moldova,
Liberal
based on closer cooperation in the field of security with the European
Democratic
Union and the United States, as well as developing fair, equitable and
Party of RM
mutually beneficial relations with Ukraine, Russia and other states in
(PLDM)
the Eastern Europe and Eurasia region.2
Democratic The Democratic Party strongly supports RMs military neutrality and
Party of RM keeping unchanged the constitutional provisions in this regard. RM
(PDM) should neither join NATO, nor any other military alliance.3
PCRM will strengthen the constitutional principle of neutrality
Communist
and will seek to obtain international recognition for this status;
Party of RM
RMs constitutional neutrality will be strengthened with further
(PCRM)
legislation.4
The Party RMs neutrality is enshrined in the Constitution. The current
of RM government is ready to leave our youth in the hands of NATO and
Socialists involve them in foreign military conflicts. The Customs Union will
(PSRM) ensure peace.5
Appendix no. 5
Moldova: NATO capabilities on its territory
By violating the constitution and going against the will of the people, the government of
Moldova is making active efforts to join NATO. The purpose of this process, just like in other
post-Soviet countries, is to artificially create and perpetuate the conflict with Russia. The
map lists NATO military bases in RM, NATO-RM cooperation, joint military exercises, NATO
political structures in RM and NATO associated structures (NGOs, associations).
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* references listed in their original language

Chapter 3
Political parties as instrument of the hybrid

warfare waged by Russia. The case of the Republic
of Moldova
Viorel Cibotaru
Moscow and the involvement of European parties

in propaganda
Moscow has launched a propagandistic offensive unseen since
the Cold War period, waged against the West through expanding the
role of Kremlins news tv, Russia Today, and through launching
the giant radio and website service, called Sputnik, which is due to
broadcast all over the world.
The priority targets are the former soviet space and former
Communist Europe, the Republic of Moldova being included.
The propagandistic attack is part of the new asymmetric warfare
generated by the Russian Federation against the West and it need to
find a rapid counter-response.
The Chief of Staff himself, General Valeri Gherasimov, has
written in a military publication even since February 2013 that
in the 21st century we are witnessing the blurring of boundaries
between the state of war and the state of peace. The role of non-
military means in achieving political and strategic goals has grown
and in many cases these have surpassed the weapons in terms of

efficiency. The direction of applying conflict methods has shifted
towards large scale use of political, economical, informational and
humanitarian means and other non-military measures. All these are
supplemented through cover military measures, including through
actions of informational warfare and of Special Forces.
The Russian Federation doesnt neglect any of the components
of this warfare. On the political plan, Moscow carefully co-opts both
far left-wing parties, inherited from the Soviet Union (Die Linke
was a powerful voice in Germany against sanctions), and nationalist
parties, described in the Occident as far right-wing, from the
National Front (France) to the Scottish National Party and UKIP
(the United Kingdom), Northern League (Italy) and to the genuine
neo-fascist and ne-nazi parties, such as Jobbik (Hungary), whom
they fund generously. Besides, the first international reunion hosted
by Crimea was a congress of far right-wing parties, organized by the
Kremlin at Yalta.
The American secret services have initiated an investigation
on Russias infiltration in certain European political parties through
illegal financing in the past decade a practice allegedly part of
Moscows divide et impera strategy in Europe, according to The
Telegraph.
According to the aforementioned source, the U.S. Director
of National Intelligence (DNI) din SUA, James Clapper, was tasked
by the American Congress to conduct such an investigation. The
dmarche highlights the mounting fears at Washington concerning
Moscows determination to exploit the already existing tensions
between the European states in order to undermine the anti-missile
shield project and obtaining a cancelation of the sanction imposed
on Moscow pursuant to the destabilization of Ukraine.
According to the British publication, in London too certain
high governmental officials believe that currently in Europe there is
a new cold war, while the scope and force of Russias actions in this
confrontation are underestimated.
A report titled Russias influence activity, seen by The

Telegraph, signals influencing operations undertaken by the Russian
secret services in France, The Netherlands, Hungary, Austria and
the Czech Republic, notes AGERPRES. Next to the inquiry on the
potential financing of certain political parties, the investigation
conducted by the American secret services will also aim at identifying
operations with the goal of inflaming the opposition to the missile
defence system, as well as sabotaging certain initiatives through
which the E.U., currently energetically dependent on Russia, would
secure alternative energy supply sources.
Among the parties suspected of being financed by Russia
we can preponderantly note the far-right wing, such as Jobbik in
Hungary, Greeces Golden Dawn, the Italian Northern League or
Frances National Front. The latter has received a nine million Euro
loan last year from a bank in Russia.
The Telegraph highlights Russias extended connections in
Austria, as well as Moscows wish to influence political development
in the United Kingdom, especially regarding the referendum on
remaining in the European Union. According to this publication,
choosing Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party is reportedly
perceived by Russia as an opportunity to weaken Europe.
In support of this last-mentioned theory, the publication
invokes among others the exhaustive coverage of Corbyns campaign
by Russia Today. Moreover, his election was characterized by the
Russian Ambassador to London as a major progress, while the
diplomat has reminded that the new labourite leader considers
that NATO has lost its raison dtre after the end of the Cold War.
According to Igor Sutyagin, expert on Russian matters at the Royal
United Services Institute, the Russian propaganda is very active at the
present time and it acquires the characteristics of a hybrid warfare.
Russias campaign is taking place in a grey area, undercover at
times even legally in order to avoid political counteractions, but with
the clear objectives of undermining the Occidents resolve to fight and
to fuel doubts concerning NATO, the E.U., the anti-missile shield and
international sanctions imposed on Russia,53 believes the expert.
The Political Parties System in the Republic of

Moldova
The Republic of Moldova is no exception from this
phenomenon and suspicion constantly hovers over the financing
or support given by the Russian Federation to several political
parties and movements in the Republic of Moldova. Moreover, this
is often proven through both concrete evidence of direct financing
and support, and analyses of actions, activities, political discourse,
legislative initiatives, public debates, etc.
This support is realized through:
Direct financing (illegal, through corruption schemes;
through means apparently legal: credits, common businesses,
sponsorship of concerts, visits, donations through charity funds);
mass-media (Russian channels and their local redactions;
written press and social media space);
consultancy firms, academic and sociological research
institutions supposedly independent, NGOs;
the Orthodox Church (the Metropolis of Chiinu) and its
civil society affiliations;
the education system (schools, Slavic academies, university
extensions, etc.);
the books distribution system.
The activity of the political parties (as well as that of activists or
groups of interests among certain parties, whose leadership does not
endorse this type of relations with Russian agents) is well structured
on domains, potential, ethnic groups, geographical expansion,
ideological doctrines and it is coordinated by unique centres.
53
http://www.bogdantsirdea.eu/?p=1011.
Parties represented in the Parliament

The Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova, President: Igor
Dodon, 24 seats; The Democrat Party of the Republic of Moldova:
Marian Lupu, 20 seats; The Liberal Party: Mihai Ghimpu, 13 seats; The
Liberal Democrat Party of Moldova: Vlad Filat, 12 seats; The Party of
Communists of the Republic of Moldova: Vladimir Voronin, 7 seats;
The European Peoples Party of Moldova: Iurie Leanc, 3 seats.
Non-parliamentary parties
The Social Democrat Party, President: Victor elin; The Green
Ecologist Party, President: Anatolie Prohnichi; Our Party, President:
Renato Usati; The Centrist Union of Moldova, President: Mihai
Petrache; The National Liberal Party, President: Vitalia Pavlicenco;
Our Home Moldova Party, President: Grigore Petrenco; Popular
Movement Anti-Mafia, President: Sergiu Mocanu; The Popular
Party of the Republic of Moldova, President: Alexandru Oleinic; The
Community Party Democracy at Home, President: Vasile Costiuc;
The Dignity and Truth Platform Party, President: Andrei Nstase;
The Liberal Reformist Party, President: Ion Hadrc; The Russian-
Slovenian Party of Moldova, President: Oleg Topolniki; Party of the
Progressive Society, President: Marin Livdaru
Inactive Parties
The Agrarian Party of Moldova, President: Anatol Popuoi;
The Socialist Party of Moldova, President: Victor Morev; The Party of
Law and Justice, President: Nicolae Alexei; The Christian-Democrat
Peoples Party, President: Victor Ciobanu; The Professionals
Movement Hope-, President Vladimir Florea; The Party
for the Unification of Moldova, President: Ghenadie Calara; The
New Force Movement, President: Valeriu Pleca; The Ravnopravie
Movement, President: Valerii Klimenco; The New Historical
Option Party, President: Victor Alexeev; The Republican Party of
Moldova, President: Andrei Stratan; The Labour Party, President:
Gheorghe Sima; The European Party, President: Viorel Ghimpu; The
Democrat Peoples Party of Moldova, President: Valeriu Pasat; The

United Moldova Party, President: Vladimir
urcan; The Conservator Party, President: Natalia Nirca; The For
Nation and Country Party, President: Nicolae Uica; The Roma
Movement of the Republic of Moldova, President: Vasile Drangoi;
The Patriots of Moldova Party, President: Mihail Garbuz; The
Party of the Regions of Moldova, President Mihail Formuzal; The
Socialist Peoples Party of Moldova, President: Victor Stepaniuc; The
Democratic Action Party, President: Mihai Godea; The Rebirth
Party, President: Vadim Miin; The Motherland Party, President:
Emilian Ciobu
The specifics of the party system in the Republic of Moldova

Today the party system in the Republic of Moldova is not
fully institutionalised, being in a process of constant development.
Thus, we can certainly state that the party system in the Republic
of Moldova is pluralist, unstable, versatile (in continuous change),
amorphous and confrontational.
In the view of some experts,54 the party system had between 1991
and 2000 elements of the extreme pluralism system, in the classification
of G. Sartori. Accordingly, it was comprised of anti-establishment
parties (PCRM, PPCD), centrist parties (PDAM, MpMDP (that is
PD), centre-left (PSRM) and centre-right (PFD). Between 2001 and
2008 we can observe some elements of the dominant party system,
with PCRD in lead, which was obtaining around 46-50 percentages.
Between 2009 an 2014 we observe a return to the extreme pluralism
system (PCRM, PNL are situating themselves on anti-establishment
positions concerning the PLDM, PD, PL-R alliance).
As a matter of fact, the party system in the Republic of
Moldova oscillates between the extreme pluralism and the dominant
party systems. In case of efficient political modernisation, there is a
54
Saca V., Partisan political changes in systemic dimensions: reflections over the Modovian
society //Moldoscopie(Political Matters Analysis). Chiinu, USM, 1, XXV, 2004, p.
100.
chance of forming a moderate pluralism, characteristic to the E.U.

member states, with 3 to 5 core parties present in the Parliament.
Below, we propose a classification of the parties based on the
political spectrum and the methods employed. It must be bore in
mind that the left-right distinctions in the Republic of Moldova are
primarily triggered by the geopolitical and ethno-political factors and
less by the social-economic aspects, as it often occurs in the Occident.
Centrist parties:
The Democrat Party of Moldova and the Centrist Union of
Moldova are declaring themselves centrist parties, which advocate
for:
integration in the European Union and maintaining
relationships with the Russian Federation and CIS;
neutrality status; preserving the independence of the
Republic of Moldova;
moderate reforms: privatization balanced by a socially
oriented economy;
the idea that the nation is not an ethnic concept, but state-
related, closely linked with the notion of citizenship. To put it
differently, all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are Moldavians,
regardless of their ethnic background;
balancing between political extremes.
Centre-left parties (The Socialist Party of the Republic of
Moldova, The Party of the Regions of Moldova):
preserving the CIS membership, accession to the Customs
Union Russia- Kazakhstan-Belarus;
the Moldavian language, independence of the Republic
of Moldova, the majority ethnicity in the Republic of Moldova is
Moldavian;
preserving the permanent neutrality status of the country;
support the Metropolis of Chiinu and the relationship with
the Patriarchy of Moscow;
advocate for the federalization of the Republic of Moldova;
active support of small and medium size enterprises (fiscal

holidays, reduced taxes);
are adherents of well-balanced social policies.
Left-wing parties (PCRM) promote:

maintain the CIS membership status, accession to the
Customs Union Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus. At the same time,
PCRM supports the idea of European modernization;
preserving the permanent neutrality status of the country,
which requires international recognition;
a decentralized unitary state;
support the Metropolis of Chinu and the relationship with
the Patriarchy of Moscow;
commend active social policies;
are advocating the communist idea and since the summer of
2013 even the bolshevist idea.
Centre-right parties(PLDM) press for:

Romanian language as state language;
consolidating the independence of the Republic of Moldova;
strengthening the Moldavian political nation, without
hindering ethnic self-identification;
integration in the European Union;
accession to NATO;
pragmatic relationships with the E.U., the U.S., Romania,
Russia;
market economy, private property, transforming land into
merchandise, including the purchase possibility for foreign citizens;
preserving the unitary, but decentralized state.
Right-wing parties (Liberal Party, Anti-Mafia Movement,

PLR):
Romanian language as state language, promoting the
Romanian history and identity;
strategic relationship with Romania, through political,

economical and cultural closeness;
integration in the European Union;
NATO accession, leaving CIS;
returning to county system, maintaining the unitary state
support the Church of Bessarabia;
market economy, private property.
Some political scientists reckon that there are both far-right
and far-left political parties in the Republic of Moldova. The former
have stable sources for existing and functioning, primarily social
sources the majority segments of the population, the poor and
very poor, which always support them during elections. Both sides
are employing radical behaviour means towards each other, having
a mutual interest in creating tense relationship among themselves.
Far-left parties
Thus, the far-left of the Republic of Moldova is composed of
marginal parties, outside the Parliament, that advocate for accession
to the inter-governmental Union Russia-Belarus or to the Customs
Union, accession to the military block CSTO (Collective Security
Treaty Organization), Russian language as state-language, returning
to planned economy, socialism, etc.
In this sphere we can place PNB (The National Bolshevik Party,
unregistered), the formation, that is the
Popular Resistance, based on the principles of orthodox Marxism.
Some political scientists add to this category the Ravnopravie entity.
Moreover, in this grouping can be included Moldovanist
entities with a radical discourse, that are fighting for a Moldova state,
are promoting the idea of the Great Moldova, are fighting against
the unionists and Romania (for example, the National-Democrat
Movement). We also notice that between 1993 and 2001, PCRM was
placing itself in the far-left. However, being in power has tempered
the radical messages of this party.
Far-right parties and forces, with nationalist discourse(The

New Right Party, created in 2000, existing both in Romania and the
Republic of Moldova):
promote the legionary doctrine in essence, a form of ethnic
nationalism, centred on the Romanian ethnicity and on Christianity
values;
immediate unification with Romania;
limiting Russian language, mass-media and schools;
the fight against American and Russian imperialism (they
have protested against the wars in Iraq and in Georgia);
militate for prohibiting homosexual relations;
are opposing abortions in order to save the values of the
traditional family;
prominent aggressive attitudes against representatives of
ethnic minorities, especially Roma and Jews. The New Right has
been accused by some Romanian intellectuals of being a cultural
promoter of racist and anti-Semitic ideas. The members of the New
Right are arguing for the necessity of manipulating the human
genome for instituting a selection filter for the allegedly unequal
races in terms of status and intelligence;
euroscepticism: the New Right opposed the accession of
Romania to the European Union, upholding in 2006 a campaign
named You will remain without your country.
The main drawback of the party system in the Republic of

Moldova is political instability, conditioned by the excessive number
of political parties that are promoting a politics of mega-promises
in order to enter the power structures. This is however unachievable
due to their limited resources. However, they are overloading the
political system and, consequently, they generate mass frustrations
and cumber the democracy building process.
In the view of Valeriu Moneag, this system can evolve both
towards moderate pluralism system and towards consolidating the
extreme pluralism system. 55 In our opinion, the highest risk of the

party system of the Republic of Moldova resides in transforming it
into a hegemonic party system, where a large party will tolerate the
existence of multiple satellite parties to the extent they will comply
with certain rules of the game. Nonetheless, the political system is
in the process of evolving and the direction taken will be dependent
on modernization, on the success of failure of democratic reforms.
Provisions of the political parties programmes

which portraits their involvement in Russias
information warfare in the Republic of Moldova
The XIIth Congress of the Socialist Party in the Republic of
Moldova
On the 29 th of November 2015, Chiinu hosted the XIIIth
Congress of the Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM).
The main task of the Congress was choosing the leadership of the
party and adopting resolutions concerning the political and social-
economical situation in the Republic of Moldova. The participating
delegates have unanimously re-elected Igor Dodon president of the
Socialist Party of the Republic of Moldova.
In his speech, Igor Dodon has declared that he had promised
even since 2011 that PSRM will become an important political force.
Back then, however, his words have been treated superficially and
with disbelief. Today everybody sees and understands that his party
has become the strongest political force in the Republic of Moldova.
According to him, this is the result of assiduous and sustained work
in the course of four years. Igor Dodon has reiterated that the current
governance must be changed by all means and as fast as possible, on
the ground of this being the cause of the current state of the Republic
of Moldova on the brinks of economic and state bankruptcy.
55
. :
.// Moldoscopie (Probleme de analiz politic).
Chiinu, USM, 1, XXIII, 2003, c. 28.
He has also proclaimed that in the upcoming period his

party will undergo intensive preparations ahead of anticipated
parliamentary elections and that there is a very big probability that
this take place in the first half of 2016.
During the Congress PSRM has adopted a Programme for
stable and steadfast development of the Republic of Moldova, which
contains ten steps in light of crafting a powerful state. Among these
steps, we can find Moldova without oligarchs and corruption,
Moldova neutral state, Moldova leader on development
rhythm, Eurasian integration guarantor of the development of
the state and of solving social problems, Moldova a country with
safeguards for an efficient and accessible heath care, Moldovans
from all countries, unite! etc.
From PSRMs programme

The socialists of the Republic of Moldova are championing
the idea of perpetuating a multilateral negotiating process with the
aim of elaborating a new European security model adequate for the
21st century. This would replace the U.S. administrations attempts,
towards which we adopt a critical attitude, of using the idea of collective
security with the sole aim of promoting and realizing a new attempt of
dividing spheres of influence at global level a fact becoming reality
after the unravelling of USSR and of the socialist encampment.
From the electoral platform of the Socialist Party of the

Republic of Moldova
Moldova needs something else!:
The right-wing parties are parties of war. They have recently
adopted the decision that the Republic of Moldova would participate
in NATO activities as partner and ally. Moldova is a neutral state, but,
contrary to this status, our military must participate in the activities
undertaken by the North-Atlantic Alliance.
On joining the Customs Union

The socialists will organize a referendum, will cancel the
Agreement with the E.U. and will start the accession procedure of
Moldova to the Customs Union. Moldova is facing today its most
important choice choosing its development partner. Eurointegration,
as the attempt of staying on two chairs, has already provoked
numerous troubles and has brought the situation in the country to a
limit. The majority of the people in Moldova are vehemently opposing
the Association Agreement with Europe. Over one million signatures
and 800 localities in Moldova are for acceding to the Customs Union.
Closeness with Russia and acceding to the Customs Union is the only
guarantee for keeping the country and ensuring its development.
Neutrality. Without NATO

The neutrality of the Republic of Moldova is enshrined in the
Constitution. The current governance is ready to give our youth on
NATOs hands and involve them in foreign military conflicts.
Customs Union peace guarantee

Integral State
The closeness with Russia and accession to the Customs
Union is the only possibility for Moldova to reunite both shores of the
Dniester.
From the Programmatic Objectives of the Democrat Party

of Moldova
20. Consolidating the permanent neutrality constitutional
status;
21. Promoting a balanced foreign policy that will ensure the
Republic of Moldovas image and interest in regional and global
context, through integrating in the European Union and developing
cooperation with CIS countries.
From the Programme of the Communists Party of the

Republic of Moldova
PCRM sees no reasons for the participation of the Republic of
Moldova to any military alliance, as it considers them anachronisms
which are contrary to the values of modern civilization, an instrument
used for repressing liberty, but not for affirming democracy and
security. In this regard, PCRM will act as to gradually and staggering
dissolution of the military component of all state and national
programmes and will proceed to crafting a demilitarized state.
From the Socialist Democrat Partys Programme

After PSD leader, Victor elin, declared that the Republic
of Moldova could have a future in the Customs Union (Russia-
Kazakhstan-Belarus), the social-democrats have announced that
will initiate discussions and consultations in order to hold the
referendum in the same day on both shores of the Dniester.
Several media outlets have published the declaration of the
leader of the self-proclaimed Dniester Republic, Evghenii evciuk,
concerning the integration of the region in the Customs Union
Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus. In this regard, it is auspicious that the
referendum takes place on both sides of the Dniester, informed a
PSD communiqu de presse.
According to the source, the initiative group that will organize
in 2012 the legislative referendum is already formed. However, the
political group doesnt provide any details on how it will initiate the
referendum
We further mention that elin has previously stated that the
Eastern Customs Union was for the Republic of Moldova always a
territory where one can buy cheaper and sell more expensively. He
noted that the country must not give up its European aspirations,
but to aim for the most advantageous place in the modern world.
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USM, 1, XXIII, 2003, c. 28.
Chapter 4
Mass-media as part of the information warfare in

the Republic of Moldova. The monitoring done by
the Coordinating Council of the Audiovisual
Olga Guuui
Russian Federation TV channels are present on the territory

of the Republic of Moldova as a result of their broadcasting or
retransmission through several means:
Local TV and radio channels, which operate under the
broadcasting licenses issued by the Coordinative Council of Audio-
visual (CCA) and which include in their program services shows
produced in the Russian Federation;
TV channels established in the Russian Federation
and rebroadcasted in the Republic of Moldova through service
distributors, on the basis of rebroadcasting contracts;
TV channels established in other countries than Russia, with
their corporate headquarters in that state, but which broadcasts
information concerning the Russian Federation and in Russian, an
element that encompasses even the advertising. These channels are
also rebroadcasted through service distribution networks.
The fist category includes channels such as: Prime TV (
), TV7 (, until the 31st of December 2015), NTV Moldova
(, as of 1st of January 2016), RTR Moldova ( ), Ren

Moldova ( ):
Prime TV ( ) national coverage, it is the third
(a coverage of 99,5%); in the offers of the largest service distributors
it is found on the first position;
TV7 () regional coverage; on the 1st of May 2015 it stopped
rebroadcasting news programmes and informative-analytical shows
of the Russian NTV, replacing them with domestic products;
As of first of January 2016, the Russian NTV is rebroadcasted
by the TV channel NTV Moldova, which obtained the broadcasting
license on the 8th of December 2015 and which rebroadcasts
including the news programmes and informative-analytical shows
of the Russian Federation. It is transmitted by service distribution
networks, being among the first ten positions;
Ren Moldova ( ) broadcast through cable TV;
RTR Moldova ( ) broadcast through satellite and
cable networks; one of the owners (which holds 50% of the shares) is
the Russian society for project organization and management in the
field of mass-media and communications (

).
On the other hand, we have the channels that rebroadcast
solely Russian media products: Rossia 24, Russia Today, RTR 24
Vesti, MIR 24 and others.
Coordinative Council of Audio-visuals monitoring

Between 2014 and 2015 the CCA has realized three thematic
monitoring aimed at ensuring respect for the principles of socio-
political balance, equidistance and objectivity within the following
informative shows: (Prime), (TV7),
(RTR Moldova), 24 (Ren Moldova) and (Rossia
24). Two verifications were concluded in 2014 and one in 20115.
18 24 April 2014 Monitoring on the respect for social-

political balance, equidistance and objectivity within ,
, , 24 and informative
shows broadcasted in and rebroadcasted from the Russian Federation
by Prime, TV7, RTR Moldova, Ren Moldova and Rossia 24
TV channels;1
14 20 July 2014 Monitoring on the respect for social-political
balance, equidistance and objectivity within , ,
, 24 TV shows broadcasted from the Russian
Federation by Prime, TV7, RTR Moldova and Ren Moldova TV
channels, including sequences of the programme services mentioned
in the AO APOLLO notifications no. 627, 628 of 08.07.2014 and no.
642, 643 of 23.09.2014;2
9 15 March 2015 Monitoring on the respect for social-political
balance, equidistance and objectivity within , ,
, 24 and TV shows, as well as other
informative-analytical programmes broadcasted/rebroadcasted from
the Russian Federation by Prime, TV7, RTR Moldova, Ren
Moldova and Rossia 24 TV channels, including sequences of the
programme services mentioned in the CCA self-initiated inquiries
and on the basis of the notifications of George Brega, Member of the
Parliament (Chamber of Deputies), GB no. 34, and of Nicolai Dudoglo,
candidate for the Governership of Gagauzia, w/o no..3
The monitoring reports have attested in certain cases non-

compliance with the provisions of the Audio-visual Code of the
Republic of Moldova, as well as with journalism deontological
rules. In the construction of the news we encounter such practices
1
h ttp://cca.md/files/PLURALISM%20T V%20%20R apor t%202014%2018-
24.04.2014_0.pdf.
2
http://cca.md/files/Raport.%20PLURALISM%20TV%202014%2014-20.07.2014_0.
pdf.
3
http://cca.md/files/PLURALISM%20TV%2009-15.03.2015.pdf.
as information manipulation and unbalanced presentation of

information.
The starting point is the aggressive tone and the misleading
titles. The subjects of the news bulletins are promoting and intensifying
unconfirmed rumours, without respecting the principle of the balance
of sources. Mostly, image craftiness and other text and labelling slyness
are used with the purpose of denigrating the Ukrainian authorities
and armies. A case in point is Rossia 24 channel:
The Nationalists (), The Radicals
(), The Fascists , The Junta ,
The Nazis , The Hooligans , etc. At
the same time, the separatist forces are portrayed as: The People
, The Protesters , The Supporters of
Federalization , Civil society
activists , Anti-Maidan -
, Self-defence forces , etc.
The presenters are using various comments and personal
opinions. The news bulletins subjects are reused and (re)broadcasted
several times in the same day or in the following day. The purpose is
manipulating the public opinion and this is not done solely through
news bulletins. The same techniques are employed in debates,
talk-shows 4 which sometimes use the subjects of informative
programmes. The ideas transmitted through the broadcasted
messages are that the Ukrainian authorities are guilty for the creating
this situation; the Ukrainian army is attacking its own people; the
attackers [the Ukrainians] are killing and aggressing peaceful
citizens, hunting activist and the authorities do not wish to engage
in a peaceful resolution of the dispute; the United States of America
and Western states are militarily supporting Ukraine; Crimeas
annexation is an act of justice; Russia wishes the settlement of the
conflict; Transnistria is a Russian territory and it should thus be part
4
including a sort of talk show that mainly broadcasts a monologue of the host
of the Russian Federation; the Republic of Moldova is undergoing its

own Maidan; etc.
The information warfare launched by the Russian mass media
is further confirmed by the statements of Irina Hakamada. Her
declaration was broadcasted by Russia 24 on the 19 th of April 2014:
I consider that the information warfare needs to stop. Otherwise, if it
continues, it would be a sign that Russia is interested in the escalation
of conflict/ ,
. , ,
, .
All previously mentioned techniques can easily be identified
in subjects such as:
1. The programme from and
broadcasted by Prime TV
In the 22nd of April 2014 edition, Vladimir Pozner has hosted
Aleksandr Dughin. The two, the presenter and his guest, have
approached the situation in Ukraine, pointing out that the leadership
of Ukraine is an illegitimate one and that the Geneva talks took
place in the U.S.A Russia the E.U. and the Junta (). The
latter epithet was attributed to Ukraines leadership and, through it,
the authors are crafting a negative image of the Ukrainian authorities,
while also manifestly showing their contempt towards them.
2. The subject ,
5 (A
refugee from Slaviansk recalls how a child and his mother were
executed in front of her)
The subject was debated on the TV channel.
The video displayed brings in the foreground a woman that presents
herself as Galina and who, together with other Ukrainians, allegedly
took refuge in Russia. She narrates to the journalists
a dreadful story about a massacre she witnessed in Slaviansk. Galina
affirms that in Slaviansk market the child and spouse of a soldier were
5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ddG4GXJK-E.
publicly executed. The discussion with Galina was really difficult,

you will now understand why. The rationality cant understand
how in our days this is possible to occur in the centre of Europe...
was the introductory statement of the present, whose aim is to
emotionally amplify the message transmitted by the protagonist.
The reportage is tendentiously constructed, being based exclusively
on the womans statements and without presenting any other source
or images which could confirm the hideousness she described. She is
providing explicit details of the alleged events that have a significant
psychological impact on the audience. She tells how a child aged just
three years has been subjected to terrible ordeals right in front of his
mother and of the crowd. Subsequently, the mother was executed
as well. Galina qualifies the Ukrainian army as (beast),
suggesting it is the authors of such atrocities.
This subject is an eloquent example of manipulation and
disinformation, all conducted with only one aim: manipulating the
public opinion regarding the events in Ukraine, emotionally affecting
the audience, instigating hatred towards the Ukrainian army and its
denigration.
The statements of Slaviansk are infirming the story told by the
protagonist of the la reportage and thus confirming
that the subject is fabricated. The video has been made available on
social media few days after.6
3. The informative bulletin (Sunday
Times) of (Prime TV) from the 20 th of April
2014 with the subjects (Ukraine in flames),
(The Eastern flank), -
(Extremes in Ukrainian language), etc.7
In the subject the situation in Ukraine
is approached from the lenses of the president of the Russian
Federation, particularly though its statements in Direct Dialogue
6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA1LE6iKMfk.
7
http://tv-novosti.ru/date/2014-04-20/1kanal/21-00.
with the citizens. Vladimir Putin accuses Kiev of what happened,

stating that the authorities have pointed the guns and turned the
military aviation against its own people instead of understanding
the gravity of the situation and engaging in dialogue.
. , ,
,
,
,
. , ,
, . ?
[...]. In order to reinforce the negative attitude of the audience
toward to Ukrainian authorities, the correspondent is insisting on
demonizing the Ukrainian state through its statements: the Russians
are concerned by the wellbeing of the fraternal people, which has
become the hostage of the adventurer politicians who use the army in
the fight against their own citizens /
,
,
- .
is another denigrating subject towards
Ukraine, which addresses the anti-terrorism operations in South-
East Ukraine. Video segments are taken from footage previously
aired that, linked to the journalists comments, highlight the
intention to underline Ukraines incapacity both to defend itself and
to maintain its own armed forces. ,
,
,
. The images emphasize military personnel disgruntled
by the dysfunctional military technique and the lack of proper
conditions in the camps. These are followed by other images in
which the soldiers receive food packages from the locals.
- the subject purports the electoral
unrest of the presidential candidates in Ukraine, while highlighting
the potential victory of the Ukraine-backed candidates in contrast
with the failure of the Russia-backed candidates. The latter are

depicted in the context of threats and mockery from the right-wing
activists ( ). One comment states
that the only one that felt comfortable in this electoral campaign is
Vitalie Kliciko. Its just that he withdrew seemingly on purpose to the
benefit of Petro Poroenko. In such a situation, even a professional
boxer would have had difficulties because the elections look more and
more like a no-rules fight concludes the journalist.
,
. ,
, .
,
.
These are just a couple of the subjects broadcasted in the
Sunday Times edition of the 20 th of April
2014. All three subjects are depicting conflict situations, but neither
respects the principle of source plurality and thus informing the
audience only from the perspective of one part and depriving it from
the perspective of the other parts. In the situation at hand, the position
of the Ukrainian state is missing and, as such, the audience is hindered
from forming a correct opinion on the Ukrainian conflict. As it was
observed, the montage cunning, the comments, the all-present epithets
used in the construction of the subjects have a significant contribution
to the efforts of demonizing the Ukrainian part. Another relevant
aspect is the titles of the subjects.
4. The (Theatre at the microphone)

rubric of the informative programme (News of
the week) from RTR Moldova TV channel, the 20 th of April 2014
edition8
In the rubric, the presenter states that
impostor governance of Ukraine is gripped by a hysteria with which
8
http://tv-novosti.ru/date/2014-04-20/1kanal/21-00, min. 17:52.
it wants to infect Europe and the entire world. Hysteria about the
alleged Russian aggression in South-Eastern Ukraine. At the same,
he asserts that the information on capturing Russian agents and the
audio recordings distributed on the internet are fakes, a theatre at
the microphone, an episode of the information warfare because, in
fact, he alleges, there is no Russian operative in Ukraine. Neither
this time did the journalist hesitate in blaming the Ukrainian
authorities, accusing them of grasping the power through force,
deceiving and blood-spill. He has characterized them once more
as junta which covers itself with a fabricated image and
refuses to acknowledge what actually happens with their own people.
Linked with this subject, the presenter has drawn a parallel
with the events in Crimea and has inserted the main arguments that
Vladimir Putin has put forward in Dialogue with the citizens. The
subject is plentiful of accusations toward the Ukrainian authorities,
defamatory labels, comments of the journalist and video images
displaying acts of violence. Nonetheless, the reactions of the accused
part are missing in their entirety.
5. . (Crimea. The way home)

Documentary 9
The documentary has been realized by Rossya 1 a
Russian TV channel. The authors assert that this is a chronological
account of the 2014 events, which were attended by eye-witnesses:
2014 .
. The
documentary is lengthy, it has over 2 hours, and it focuses on the
interview with the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir
Putin, which speaks in detail about the process on annexing Crimea
and the actions of rescuing the former Ukrainian president Vicktor
Ianukovici. It encompasses video scenes purporting the situation
in Ukraine, interventions of the locals in Crimea. Consequently,
9
http://tv-novosti.ru/date/2014-04-20/1kanal/21-00, min. 17:52.
Russia is portrayed as pacifying entity, while Ukraine is presented in

a negative light.
RTR Moldova TV Channel has constantly broadcasted
reportages justifying the annexation of Crimea to the Russian
Federation, while displaying in particular several promotional
subjects of the documentary at hand. As such, on the 9 th of March
2015, the subject of their transmission was focused on video segments
of the documentary, namely the statements of the president of
the Russian Federation, such as: we didnt afford to abandon this
territory and the people that live there.
A report with the same title . has
been included in the news edition from the 19 th of March
2015, on Rossia 24 TV channel. As a matter of fact, the subject
ref lects an instance where a TV crew from the Russian Federation
was denied access on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
Through one of its comments, the journalist affirms that the
Republic of Moldova is heading towards a Ukraine-like behaviour
with the media. ,
.
.

, . .
, ?...
, ,
. ,
- ,
. ,
. 60% , ,
. ,
.
.
The reporters affirmations insinuate that the reason behind
the interdiction of access of the journalists is that the authorities
of the Republic of Moldova would not have favoured a coverage on
Transnistria. In support of this hypothesis, the footage contains an

audio recording, allegedly offered by a collaborator of the border
police, without indicating its name or function, which confirms the
reporters statement.
References to the Republic of Moldova

On the 19 th of April 2014, Rossia 24 TV Channel has
broadcasted an all-encompassing interview with the president of
Liberal Democrat Party of Russia, Vladimir Jirinovschi, in which
he asserts that Ukraine was always anarchy and a great extent of
the territory has belonged to Russia. He features in this context
the concept of Novorossyia. Throughout the interview, he does
not hold back from making explicit reference to the Republic of
Moldova, specifically the part in which the Transistrian territory
was approached. Vladimir Jirinovschi contended that this territory
should be included in the structure of the Russian Federation given
that it is primarily inhabited by Russian citizens.
(Between two fires) news report within
the (News of the Week) programme broadcasted
on Rossia24 TV channel10
edition of the 8th of March 2015 abounds of
propagandist materials. One of them, lasting 6 minutes and 10 seconds,
targets the Republic of Moldova. On the one hand, it approached
Kievs decision to dig a defence ditch aimed at separating Ukrainian
territory of the Transnistrian one. On the other hand, it disseminates
the idea that Chiinu maintains the suicidal direction towards
Europe. The subject is constructed on images displaying the neutral
area between Ukraine and the Transnistrian region, tendentiously
described by the reporter. It includes allegations such as the fact
that Transnistria is economically blocked for several years by the
Republic of Moldova and that now, on top of that, it has received a
blow from Ukraine. In this context, it includes Nina tanski stating
10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyn-BwnKgvg, 2:01:38.
that the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine have agreed upon the aim
of brining Transnistria in a state of economic collapse and that the
only salvation is the Russian Federation.
In the same news piece the Moldovan are qualifies as
aggressors and are accused of infringing the fundamental rights
of the population living in the Transnistrian region. The report
is accompanied by archive imagery, primarily sequences from the
Transnistrian war.
(Drugs terror) documentary,
broadcasted by Ren Moldova TV Channel on the 12th of March
201511
The documentary is realized in the city of Kobani. It ref lects
the resilience of the Kurds resistance in Syria against Islamic States
fighters. It contains devastating images, ruins and hard-core violence
scenes. The purpose of this is to highlight that all the atrocities
are committed under the influence of narcotics, particularly
amphetamine. Here, accusations are launched toward Ukraine as
well, alleging that the Maidan provocations too have taken place
under the inf luence of narcotics.
TV programme broadcasted
by Ren Moldova TV channel, the 10 th of March 2015 edition12
The purpose of the 10 th of March 2015 edition of
documentary-like programme is denigrating the
image of the United States of America and of European states.
The coverage puts forward the idea that inhuman capitalism has
its origins in the U.S.A. and it presents the American world as a
dictatorship hub: minors subjected to hard work, families leaving in
miserable conditions, without a permanent work place. Furthermore,
the commentator affirms that Europe is dominated by an inhuman
hospital system, where poor people are proposed euthanasia:
,
11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t42-71RpRgI.
12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuINZTp6nxQ&index=34&list=PLJ_
jnsCV5wrOo0LU2JN4RAnpcKq6gfRf1.
,
, and works that demand
their salary rights are shot. The presenter cites the Pope of Rome,
the head of the Catholic Church in the debut of the show as having
allegedly stated that the world order is the cult of power and money,
while capitalism is nothing more than another formula of tyranny.
The subject is a dictatorial force which has take power in
Europe and is striving to do the same in Russia. The comments,
the video scenes and the interventions in the documentary, they all
present a world of drugs, a world in which the people suffer because
of consuming water with high levels of methane, a world in which
the ordinary man is deprived of a fair trial, a world in which culture
is fading and the level of education is constantly declining. This is
the way in which the modern world is presented, the world of the
United States of America and of the European states and only Russia
is depicted in opposite manner.
After such an incursion, it goes back to the current situation of
Ukraine, while blaming the U.S.A. of having an individual interest
in starting a war the reason for which it intends to militarily
support Ukraine.
It is obvious that through such a subject, the intention is to
confuse the public opinion towards the image of the United States of
America and of European countries.
Pursuant to the realized verifications, which included the

received notifications, the nominated TV channels were given
sanctions, in accordance with the Audio-visual Code. The activity
of Rossia 24 channel on the territory of the Republic of Moldova
was suspended first for a six months period; subsequently for an
indefinite period.
The last reports of the only audience measuring system in
the Republic of Moldova indicates the following ratings for some of
the Russian TV channels rebroadcasted in the Republic of Moldova
(between 2 8 May 2016): Prime 2,49 %, first position; RTR Moldova
1,01%, second position; NTV Moldova 0,52%; Ren TV Moldova

0,32%.
2016 Monitoring, CCA decision no. 9/44 of 29 March 201613

Programul de televiziune difuzat de
postul de televiziune Ren Moldova, 30 January 2016 edition14
Monitoring the programme service of the Ren Moldova TV
station, undertaken in January February 2016, has taken place
pursuant to the self-initiated procedure of one of the CCA member.
Thus, the Monitoring has confirmed that on the 1st of January 2016,
the has included direct references to the political
situation in the Republic of Moldova. The starting idea suggests
that the Republic of Moldova is living its own Maidan, similar
to the one in Ukraine. The report is not informative, but it rather
imposes a singular vision on several aspects concerning the Republic
of Moldova, manipulating therefore the public opinion while
simultaneously instigating fear and hatred among the audience. The
techniques employed include fake statements, video sequences and
commentaries taken out of context. The programme authors insist
on certain ideas, which they present as the genuine truth:
- Romania has occupied the Republic of Moldova;
- Moldovans are forced to forget their national identity;
- Gagauzia has nothing in common with the Republic of
Moldova and it belongs to Russia;
- The Moldovans have, through their leaders, started the war
in Transnistria and they must be punished;
- Moldovans are rusophobic;
- Moldovans are forced to talk Romanian;
- Signing the Association Agreement means betraying Russia;
- The U.S.A. and the E.U. have an interest in promoting pro-
warfare and anti-Russia trends, etc.
13
http://cca.md/files/D.9-44%20din%2029.03.2016_0.pdf.
14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux3FeWrhxfw.
In essence, the subject promotes lies, promotes truncated

information taken out of context, instigate hatred and intolerance
among the citizens.
Media studies conducted by NGOs

The Independent Press Association and the Centre for
Independent Journalism have realized studies and analyses
concerning the influence of the Russian mass-media in the autochthon
media environment. The Measurement of the perception of the
media consumers of the Republic of Moldova over social-political
news study15 published at the end of 2016 shows that 62% of the
responders are familiarized with the notion of manipulation and
perceived it as something bad. They have defined the difference
between manipulation and propaganda from the intensity lenses,
propaganda being considered by them a more intense attempt
of influencing the public. According to the public perception, the
media in the Republic of Moldova holds the first position in terms of
using propaganda and manipulation 77%, followed by the one in
Russia 60%, Romania 50% and Ukraine 48%.
The study results highlight a contradictory message: the
Russian media is regarded on the one hand the most trustworthy
and, on the other hand, it is assessed as having professional issues.
Moreover, the responders believe that the media in the U.S.A. utilizes
propaganda instruments as often as the one in Russia, although in a
less aggressive manner.
The denial, hiding and interpreting facts, camouflage, labelling
and inaccurate reading are approached by two monitoring reports
realized by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and the
Independent Press Association (IPA). The first report comprises the
period between the 1st of November 2015 and the 31st of January 2016:
Elements of propaganda, disinformation and information warfare in
15
http://media-azi.md/sites/default/files/Studiu-calitativ%202015-web2.pdf
the autochthon media environment.16 The second was undertaken

between the 1st of February and the 30 th of April 2016, titled Elements
of propaganda, information manipulation and journalism norms
breaches in the autochthon media environment.17
The Monitorings were realized with the aim of determining
whether media institutions are compliant with professional
deontological norms throughout their activity. In addition, the
experts wished to reveal the breaches made by journalists in shaping
the public interest subjects.
TV channels both having an exclusive autochthon media
product and those rebroadcasting audio-visual media services from
the Russia Federation, with national and regional coverage have been
subjected to monitoring. These are Publika TV, Prime TV, Jurnal
TV, Accent TV, RTR Moldova, Ren TV. Moreover, the monitoring
process also covered the online version of Ziarul Naional (National
Newspaper) and Panorama publications and online media such as
Gagauzinfo.md, Novostipmr.com, Sputnik.md, Deschide.md.
The reports target economic and political events of major
interest, both national and international, such as:
1 November 2015 31 January 2016
The visit of the Parliaments speaker, Andrian Candu, to
Brussels (November 2015);
Relationship between Chiinu and Tiraspol (November
December 2015);
Russias military intervention in Syria (November 2015);
Events in Ukraine (December 2015);
Nominating Ion Sturza as candidate for Prime-Minister
(December 2015);
Proposing Vlad Plahotniuc as candidate for Prime-Minister
by the Parliamentary majority (January 2016);
Voting and investing Filip Government (January 2016).
16
http://media-azi.md/ro/publicatii/raport-de-monitorizare-nr-1-elemente-de-
propagand%C4%83-dezinformare-%C5%9Fi-r%C4%83zboi-informa%C5%A3ional.
17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyn-BwnKgvg, 2:01:38.
1 February 30 April 2016

Voting the Prosecutor law (23andi 25 February);
Munich Peace Conference (13 February);
Releasing the Petrenco group from jail (22 February);
The general assembly of Judges (11 March);
The protest organized by the Dignity and Truth Platform
Party on the 24 April;
Examination in court of the corruption case opened against
former Prime-Minister Vlad Filat (April 2016) etc.
The study has identified breaches of journalism deontology
norms in the way the subjects mentioned above, as well as others
included in the monitoring were presented. To be more concise, it is
about certain information manipulation techniques which led to
misinforming citizens through distorting the reality of the subjects
covered. Disorienting titles, anonymous and unverified sources,
selective and unilateral presentation of facts, labelling, taking things
out of context, camouflage, commenting information, denial and
hiding facts are the techniques identified by the experts during the
monitoring.
Selective video images and audio recordings these techniques
make it possible to offer a complete positive image to some subjects
or groups and the reverse to others. Cases where the images used
had no connection to the subject (or at times just tangentially), but
they have been used in order to amplify the negative essence of
the message have been confirmed. This type of situations has been
identified in coverage of Prime TV, Publika.md, sputnik.md.
Unilateral and selective presentation of facts an eloquent
example in this regard are the news covering the trial of the (former)
president of the Liberal Democrat Party of the Republic of Moldova,
Vlad Filat. In reflecting this subject, some media institutions,
including Publika TV, publika.md and deschide.md have not
respected the principle of the plurality of sources, constructing
the news reports relying on only one source, without verifying the
information and without presenting the reaction of the defendants
lawyer. By means of illustration, we have the news report titled New

witnesses have been questioned in Vlad Filat case: the charge has been
totally confirmed. The material comprises solely of the statements
of the prosecutor, without being proved. The feeling generated is
that other sources are intentionally excluded. On the other hand,
in covering the 24 April 2016 protest that took place at Chiinu,
the same media institution publika.md, as well as sputnik.md have
shown a selective approach.
Camouflage this technique is used for distracting the
attention from events or details that are truly important by excessively
presenting other events or less important details.
Denial, hiding and interpretation of facts these techniques
came to the foreground through selective operation of information,
truncating it with a certain purpose. Likewise, some journalists have
given erroneous quotations in order to distort the message. A case
in point is the subject broadcasted by Publika TV in December 2015:
The U.S.A. Ambassador is asking himself if anyone still thinks about
the Moldovan people. The news item has been transmitted in the
context of nominating the President of the Republic of Moldova,
Nicolae Timofti, and a candidate for the function of Prime-Minister.
The authors suggest that the U.S.A. Ambassador to la Chiinu,
James Pettit, wanted to say through its post on Facebook that Nicolae
Timofti would never think about the problems of the country. Right
the day after, the Embassy of the U.S.A. has reacted, stipulating that
Ambassador Pettits statement addresses the situation in Moldova in
general. It is not a reaction to the Presidents nomination and, as a
matter of fact, it has been posted yesterday at 15:50, with a few hours
ahead of the announcement made by the President. We kindly ask
Publika TV to transmit a note of correction so that the audience is not
misled by incorrect reports.
The conclusion can only be one: in fact, the proper
information of the public was never intended, but rather shaping
attitudes convenient to the broadcasting source. Other subjects
have been artificially augmented, being given a heightened level of
attention with the aim of discrediting or promoting someone, in the

favour or detriment of another party. The labelling technique has
not remained unexploited, as it has been employed at large by some
media institutions.
Online media. Sputnik.md news agency

The online media is in a steady ascent. TV and radio channels
and written media have tendency to expand their activity in the
online environment, while keeping the same rhetoric of the editorial
politics. There are certain online platforms in the Republic of
Moldova that distinguish themselves through the promotion of
pro-Russian discourse, complemented by the interests of a political
force/platform.
tsn.md a news portal close to the Socialist Party of the Republic
of Moldova. The online platform is registered under the company
Exclusiv-Media which also own the aif.md website (
). It has also obtained broadcasting licence on the
8th of December 2015 for NTV Moldova channel. Tsn.md does not
have a Romanian version of the website. Under the rubric
quotation, the most often source given is Igor Dodon, the leader of
the Socialists Party of the Republic of Moldova, be it a by chance or
intentionally. The partner institutions of tsn.md shown on the web
page are actualitati.md and replika.md.
On the social networks facebook.com and odnoklassniki.
ru there are several groups that intensely promote the news items
of replika.md, actualitti.md, but also of other websites: bloknot-
moldova.md (international media project funded by Rus-Media
Group, which as several representatives) and 1news.md. One of the
groups, (Moldova should to be
next to Russia), has 12.517 members on Facebook and 7.379 on the
odnoklassniki.ru social network. Another group is
(Interesting Moldova), with 9.503 participants on
odnoklassniki.ru and 4.442 on facebook.com. The subjects
approached in these groups are based on those published on the

aforementioned online platforms. By way of illustration, on the 13th
of May 2016, replica.md distributed an item called
- (In Chisinau a gay pride parade will be
organized); the same topic was taken and discussed in the
Facebook group.
Sputnik Agency
The International Information Agency Sput n ik is part of the
media empire. It activates outside the Russian
Federation, having representatives in several countries. In the
Republic of Moldova, the sputnik.md website is registered under
Rossiya Segodnya SRL, represented by Vlad im ir Novos ad iuc. Rita
vic, his spouse, is the founder of Klas sika Media SRL which, in
turn, is the founder of Media Resurse SRL and Alternativ-TV
SRL, companies that manage the Euro TV and Alt TV channels.
The monitoring of media NGOs have confirmed that this
media institution engages more often than not in breaches of
journalistic deontology. Such an example is the news reporting of
the visit of the Parliaments speaker, Andrian Candu, at Brussels.
In depicting this event, sputnik.md has resorted to hiding facts,
while quoting extensively the statements of Candu, but very rarely
and even selectively members of the European Parliament that have
answered questions. Other instruments often used by sputnik.md
are interpreting facts and camouflage.
To sum up, we can identify manipulation techniques such

as:
The way of presenting subjects: direct or indirect references,
the tonality of the depiction;
Misleading titles;
Permanent labelling, that denigrates certain actors,
Reports for justifying certain actions, such as the annexation

of Crimea;
Subjects that instigate to hatred, provoke panic;
Editing cunning;
Associations between video sequences and an unconnected
text;
Commenting, interpreting messages;
Denying and hiding facts;
Anonymous and unverified sources, etc.
Chapter 5
Information warfare in Chiinu: the fifth

column in the Republic of Moldova
Sorin Buctaru
1. PSRM/DODON
The break of Voronins PCRM, the detachment o the Tkachuk
branch (the hard wing), a component directly connected to the
Muscovite political circles (the Putin Administration and the
government party Edinaia Rosia), essentially favored the occupancy
of this niche by Igor Dodons PCRM. A fact confirmed and highlighted
by Kremlin at the highest level before the parliamentary elections
in November 2014 when the audience of Dodon and Greciani took
place in Moscow in front of Putin (http://socialistii.md/la-moscova-
igor-dodon-a-aparat-si-promovat-interesele-cetatenilor-republicii-
moldova/). Dodons main supporters in Moscow are Sergey
Narischin, former chief of the Presidential Administration, the
current chairman of the State Duma (http://moldova24.info/2015/01/
do don-s e -laud a-f r ac t iu ne a-psr m-s -i nt i l n it-la-mos c ov a- c u-
serghei-nariskin-si-semnat-un-memorandum-cu-spravedlivaia-
rossia/), Serghei Mironov, the president of the parliamentary party
Spravedlivaia Rossia (http://www.spravedlivo.ru/5_72901.html,
http://socialistii.md/igor-dodon-s-a-intilnit-la-moscova-cu-serghei-
mironov/) and Gherman Gref, one of the trusted men at Kremlin,

the president of the biggest state bank in Russia Sberbank,
through which Dodons project would be financed (http://point.
md/ru/novosti/politika/dodon-sa-intilnit-in-rusia-cu-finantzatorii-
proiectului-sau-politic-de-la-chiinau). Dodon doesnt hide these
friendly relations, they are fully shown and promoted, setting
himself up into Moscows hand, while the decisions taken into the
party would be coordinated and would have Kremlins endorsement.
Irina Vlah, the new governor of Gagauzia, won the elections after she
was accepted by Moscow (http://deschide.md/ro/news/politic/11156/
La-Moscova-cu-cer%C5%9Fitul--Dodon-a-%E2%80%9Eschimbat-
o%E2%80%9D-pe-Zina-cu-Irina.htm).
However, there is a more discreet contact that Dodon avoids to
display Nikolai Patrushev, the former FSB chief, current Secretary
of the Supreme Security Council of the Russian Federation. The
relational framework used is sports, specifically the Volleyball
Federations from Russia and the Republic of Moldova. Dodon is the
Chairman of the Trusteeship Council of the Volleyball Federation in
the Republic of Moldova (http://actualitati.md/md/sport/federatia-
de-volei-din-moldova-si-federatia-de-volei-din-rusia-au-semnat-
un-memorandum-de), while Patrushev is the Chairman of the
Trusteeship Council of the Russian Volleyball Federation (http://
www.volley.ru/pages/274/) (the list of members interested in tutelage
is impressive, Igor Secin Rosnefti, Alexei Miller Gazprom etc.).
Periodically, in Moscow are organized friendly games of veterans
attended also by Dodon.
Dodons lieutenants, the disseminators of the Eurasian, pro-
Russian messages, with strong positions attacking the EU, USA,
Romania and NATO
Bogdan rdea, politologist, MP. A harsh anti-Western and
pro-Russian message: the Western civilization is no longer leader,
and the European Union, with its values and tasks designed originally,
passed from democracy to an authoritarian regime (http://a-tv.
md/index.php?newsid=16319). Active promoter of the statehood
stream during its collaboration with Voronins PCRM, since 2012

he had a stage in which he promoted Filats image and implicitly the
European course. He is co-opted in 2014 in PSRM team, becoming
an ardent Eurasian propagandist (http://moldova24.info/2014/09/
bogdan-tirdea-i-a-spus-adio-lui-vlad-filat/). In December 2014,
together with the economist Victor Ciobanu, launched the volume
entitled Moldova Oligarhica / The Oligarchic Moldova (http://
w w w.jurnaltv.md/ro/news/2014/11/21/oligarhia-subiectul-unei-
carti-10077051/). Victor Ciobanu is political analyst, editorialist
at Ziarul Naional, PLDM media source (http://www.victorciobanu.
eu/?page_id=2). rdea, during his career of analyst and political
commentator was remarked as an active fighter against all Romanian
and the unionist movements mean (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=rWE7HrRdqBc), being an active participant during the
2015 2016 protests (http://www.jurnaltv.md/ro/news/2016/1/24/
discursul-lui-bogdan-irdea-10186896/, http://jurnaltv.md/ro/
news/2016/1/22/discursul-lui-bogdan-tirdea-10186549/).
Bogdan rdea uses as platform his personal blog http://www.
bogdantsirdea.eu/ and the Status Quo TV project (condensed
editorial TV format) at Accent TV (TV station bought by Dodon
from Grigory Petrenko in the spring of 2015) (https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=ZCNoA-uifX4).
Vlad Btrncea, PSRM Executive Secretary, MP, remarked
himself through the defiant gesture made in the Parliament of
the Republic of Moldova when during a plenary he ripped the
Greater Romania map (http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-
2 0 6 5 6 9 6 4 -v i d e o - d e p u t a t- s o c i a l i s t- r u p t- h a r t a - r o m a n i e i -
mari-plenul-parlamentului-chisinau.htm). He was an active
participant in the autumn-winter 2015-2016 protests (https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKBtxCFEg8s), positioned in PSRM
as exponent of the extremist current, adherent of the aggressive
rhetoric and propagandistic actions (https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Fy7FAwYawyg).
Grigore Novac, MP follower of the harsh, radical current

in PSRM, an old friend of Btrncea. In a picture posted on a
Facebook group, Novac shows up in the company of Btrncea and
other young people using the Nazi salute (http://deschide.md/ro/
news/social/9900/(FOTO)-Deputat-SOCIALIST-adept-al-salutului-
NAZIST.htm). Novac is an active participant in many violent actions.
Together with his colleague, ex-MP Ion Ceban (moved by Dodon
in the Chisinau Municipal Council), he provoke the scandal at the
City Hall, ended with pushing and the pulling of the mayor Dorin
Chirtoaca ears (http://www.publika.md/preview_2306181.html). He
punched, helped by Bogdan Trdea and Vasile Bolea, both MPs, the
workers from a building site (the series of the PSRM actions against
the unauthorized constructions) (http://www.publika.md/bataie-
la-botanica-deputatii-socialisti-fac-legea-cu-pumnul-in-plina-
strada-video_2307241.html). The attack and the offensive language
against its political opponents are frequently used in his speeches
in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova Grigore Novac
has dedicated PL leader Mihai Ghimpu a poetry (http://unimedia.
info/stiri/stop-cadru-socialistul-grigore-novac-i-a-dedicat-lui-
mihai-ghimpu-o-poezie-de-la-tribuna-parla mentu lui-111417.
html), or public comments like: Liuda (Judas) Ghimpu has mental
deviations... at least that is clear from his behavior... (http://jurnal.
md/ro/politic/2016/2/25/ghimpu-cu-nervii-la-pamant-la-sedinta-
parlamentului-ludmila-f iodorovna-porecla-care-l-a-scos-din-
sarite/). From the violent language to actions of physical aggression
in the Parliament plenary is not a long way (http://www.publika.
md/imbranceli-la-parlament-socialistii-au-sarit-la-bataie-dupa-
discursul-lui-ghimpu-video_2587391.html).
Defining as attitude towards everything that Romania or
Romanian mean is his act on March 27, when he rented a tank
and washed the route traveled by the unionists during their
march: with Gods help, we managed to wash with holy water the
unionist misery from the Stefan the Grate Bd., especially the route
where marched the traitors of the Moldovan people; the unionist
dirt was washed also in front of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of

the Republic of Moldova (http://bloknot-moldova.md/news/posle-
marsha-unionistov-sotsialisty-omyli-ulitsy-k-729100), or, as Grigore
Novac stated in the context of the participation of the Moldovan
fighters at a sporting competition, is good that you recalled to those
over the Prut that if necessary, we can also hit the mug (http://
oficial.md/neoficial/deputat-socialist-daca-este-necesar-putem-da-
si-la-moaca).
The same way of manifestation or thought characterize other
aggressive MP Socialists like Vasile Bolea, Marina Radvan or
former MP Ion Ceban, strategically moved at the Chisinau Municipal
Council in order to strengthen the municipal counselors faction with
a determined leader. Zinaida Greceani, Vladimir Turcan, Negua
Andrei and Golovatiuc Vladimir have more moderate views.
PSRM program
Party of Socialists insistently and consistently promotes
the Eastern, Eurasian vector of Moldovas development. The
representatives of the Party of Socialists in Parliament refused
to ratify the Association Agreement with the EU, considering it
enslaving. The accession to the Custom Union, participating in
the edification and developing of the Eurasian Union heres the
chance of revival for Moldova. Only like this we can hope to keep
our moral and spiritual values of our people, to restore the territorial
integrity and to consolidate Moldovas statehood, to protect the
fellow citizens who work abroad. The Eastern vector means vast
market opportunities for the Moldovan goods there where they
are wanted and competitive, access to a huge market labor, to
cheap energy resources, to a new chance for the Transnistrian
conf lict settlement. PSRM will take energetic steps to denounce the
Association Agreement with the EU and conduct a referendum on
the countrys integration vector. OUT PATH IS ALONGSIDE WITH
RUSSIA, BELARUS AND KAZAHSTAN! PSRM pleads for Moldovas
neutrality and considers that this principle cannot be revised.

According to its Constitution, Moldova is a neutral state, which is
not part of any military-political alliances. Any cooperation with
the NATO aggressive bloc must be stopped. The Moldovan soldiers
must not participate in any form to applications or operations
conducted under NATOs aegis. WE DONT NEED NATO! PSRM
declare itself in favor of the development of a state Doctrine of the
Republic of Moldova. Currently, the governance of the Republic
of Moldova is exercised in the absence of a state doctrine, as the
country lacks a single strategy for long-term development, which
compliance would be mandatory for any Government, whatever its
political color. Such a doctrine should establish the basics principles
for the development of the Moldovan statehood and identity, for
the revival of its economy and the restoration of the territorial
integrity of the Republic of Moldova. Issues like energy security,
education, health care should also become constituents of the State
Doctrine of paramount importance. The Socialists will pursue to
ensure the mobilization of national elites in order to develop such
a doctrine which would become a roadmap for all the governances
in the Republic of Moldova. PSRM pleads for strengthening of
the Moldovan civic nation. We will follow the principle of many
nationalities one nation. We will ensure interethnic tolerance
and the protection of the culture of the ethnic groups living in the
Republic of Moldova. OUR NATIONAL MOTTO MOLDOVA
MOLDOVANS MOLDAVIAN!. Someone keeps trying to
convince us that were not a country but a lost territory. Moldovan
people is about to lose its historical memory and national dignity.
The historical name of our language is Moldovan language. This is
how our grandfathers and forefathers, our mothers and our fathers
named it. For centuries, those who have lived on this earth have
spoken Moldovan language. Party of Socialists fights to maintain
the language named Moldovan language in the Constitution of
our country and will encourage the study of the language of this
land by all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. PSRM pleads
for the introduction into the school curricula of the History of

Moldova subject. Children should study the history of their native
land, it would cultivate the love of country, respect for the Moldovan
traditions. THE MOLDAVIAN PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO ITS
OWN HISTORY. PSRM supports the development of the Russian
language in the Republic of Moldova. For centuries, the Russian
language was one of the most used languages in our country. Because
of the Russian language, the representatives of multiple cohabiting
nationalities were able to understand each other. Currently, every day,
about a third of our countrys inhabitants speak Russian at home, at
the place of word and studies. Russian is one of the most widespread
languages in the world, occupying the fifth place by number of
speakers and is one of the official languages of the UN. Russian
language ranks second in popularity among the Internet users.
Russian is spoken in the entire CSI, which includes our country. The
development and the promotion of the Russian language as language
of communication between nations is the surety of social stability
and ethnic harmony in the Republic of Moldova. At the same time,
the Party of Socialists will insist on recognition as official language
of other ethnic languages in localities densely populated by them,
alongside the country language and the language of interethnic
communication. PSRM pleads for territorial reintegration of the
country. Restoring the single space with Transnistria is one of the
priority tasks of the party. PSRM has developed the conception
of the basic principles of the Moldovan Federation, which we will
implement through the legislative body of the Republic of Moldova
and Transnistria. Only the federalization can offer to the Republic of
Moldova the chance to restore its territorial integrity and to regain
control over state borders. Our people will convene and become a
whole, the administrative boundaries will disappear, as the double
governance. Also, as subject of the federation, Transnistria will
withhold all the attributes of self-determination. (https://www.
scribd.com/doc/289321711/Programul-PSRM).
The media resources used by PSRM are part of the policy,

actions and language format of Dodons Socialists. The partisan
media directly administrated:
1. NTV Moldova http://ntv.md/ - a Russian TV program is

part of the Gazprom Russian holding media Gazprom-Media
http://www.gazprom-media.com/ru/about. until december 2015, it
was rebroadcasted by Chiril Lucinschis TV7, which also rebroadcast
TNT Russia, another post from Gazprom Media corporation.
The contract with NTV Russia was obtained by Dodon in the
autumn of 2015. The business was accomplished with the support
of the Putin Administration. The official owner of the TV post is
Corneliu Furculi, PSRM MP (http://anticoruptie.md/ro/stiri/doc-
de-la-lucinschi-la-dodon-un-deputat-socialist-vrea-licenta-pentru-
a-retransmite-ntv-ul-rusesc-apropiat-kremlinului). The channel
emits mainly in Russian. In March 2016, NTV Moldova launched
the Megafon project moderator / director - Iurie Roca, producer
Octavian Racu. They both appear as columnits at Sputnik Moldova
news and radio agency http://sputnik.md/ and http://flux.md/
which were reanimated with the launch of Sputnik in the Republic
of Moldova. Iurie Roca is actually the brain from the shadow of
Sputnik agency in the Republic of Moldova. The Megafon TV show
is broadcast twice a week in prime time, is a platform of dughinism
promotion, is realized in dialogue format, Iurie Roca and his guests.
The guests list is eloquent Dughin, Prohanov, M. Deleaghin,
N. Staricov, V. Voronin, P. Lucinschii, Episcopul Marchel, V.
Stepaniuc and others (http://iurierosca.md/sectiune/megafon/).
2. Accent TV http://www.a-tv.md/ is owned by Telesistem
TV SRL, administrated by Stan islav Vjga, who previously worked
NIT post, closed because of the communist propaganda. Accent TV
was controlled and funded by Voronins PCRM, is owned by Grigore
Petrenco ex- communist MP, the informal leader of ANTIFA, the
current president of the Party Casa Noastr Moldova. Accent TV
was the informational platform of the taliban group from PCRM
led by Mark Tkaciuk. In the absence of funding, Petrenco sold in the

spring of 2015 the TV station to men from Dodons entourage. The
beneficiary of the television according to documents submitted to
the CCA (http://cca.md/files/ACCENT%20TV.pdf), is Vadim Ciu
bar, a Moldovan citizen settled in Moscow and presented by several
websites as a close associate of the PSRM leader, Igor Dodon. On the
Party Spravedlivaia Rossia website, Ciubar is presented adviser of
the leader Igor Dodon (http://www.spravedlivo.ru/5_68214.html).
3. Independent TV Moldova http://itvmoldova.md/
launched in the spring of 2015, owned by SRL Media Pro Group,
Natalia Poliakova. Poliakova has led TSN Moldova an online
TV channel funded by Dodon. With the launch of ITV, TSN was
preserved, the whole team being moved to ITV. De facto, is the
subsidiary of NTV Moldova (http://ziarulnational.md/socialistii-isi-
deschid-televiziune-cca-a-eliberat-astazi-licenta/).
4. Bloknot Moldova http://bloknot-moldova.md/
The portal was launched in 2015, it is part of news agency
network Bloknot from Russia. The Russian Agency was launched
by Rus-Media group belonging to the MP from State Duma,
Oleg Paholkov (the Spavedlivaia Rossia Party). Paholkov is in very
close relations with Dodon, frequent guest in Chisinau, where not
once he attended the PSRM actions (http://www.publika.md/un-
deputat-rus-marsaluieste-alaturi-de-dodon-prin-centrul-capitalei
video_1908951_comentarii.html).
The Bloknot news agency was conceived after the format
of Sputnik, it has the same goals announced by Paholkov with
bravado: our goal protecting the Russian World! We aim to create
a Blaknot regional network. Three hundred Bloknot sites in
the countrys towns an intermediate stage, we will go also outside
Russia. Our goal is to unite around the networks Russians and Russian
speakers worldwide to protect the Russian World from brainwashing
to which is subject. Today it is clear that no the nuclear warheads,
but the PR is first in the initiated fight. In the role of defenders of the
Russian world, Bloknot now plays a very important role. Hundreds
of thousands of readers every day and millions per month this is

a significant contribution of our network in defending the values of
the Russian World (http://bloknot.ru/o-kompanii). The redaction in
the Republic of Moldova is coordinated by Elena Vjga, Stan islav
Vjgas wife, the Accent TV television director.
5. actualitati.md portal (www.actualitati.md) the page is
registered by Iurii Vitneanski, PSRM adviser, director - urcan
Nichita (an activits of Garda Tnra / the Young Guard). The
portal posts news in Russian and Moldavian. The apology of Dodon
and the socialists, the promotion of the Russian vector and the
aggressive anti-EU, anti-NATO, Romania propaganda. Rudimentary
and basic manipulation techniques. Ex 1. Romanian citizens want
a president like Putin!, news made based on a pseudo-survey on the
platform petiieonline.ro
6. (https://petitieonline.net/sondaj/rezultate/ati_vrea_un_
presedinte_ca_vladimir_putin_-s17113043.html, http://actualitati.
md/ru/politika/zhiteli-rumynii-hotyat-takogo-prezidenta-kak-
putin). Ex. 2. Title: US soldiers came in the RM without having
any official invitation Leed: the American generals who landed
Friday, February 12, with a US military plane on the airport in
Chisinau, were not invited by the officials of the Republic of
Moldova (http://actualitati.md/md/politica-externa/militarii-
americani-au-venit-rm-fara-avea-vreo-invitatie-oficiala). The
news was taken from sputnik.md that uses the same techniques of
manipulation, on the basis of the Defense Ministry press officer
statement, who says: the Americans generals and admirals were not
invited by the Ministry of Defence. They are in Moldova in a study of
documentation, and those from Sputnik give the verdict: American
generals are in Chisinau in a documentation study, they were not
invited in Chisinau by the countrys leadership (http://sputnik.md/
moldova/20160215/4668411.html).
7. TSN on-line TV portal http://tsn.md/, owner Exclusiv
Media SRL, whose founder is Cornel iu Furc uli, a socialist MP.
The manager of Exclusiv Media SRL is Petru Burduja, which,
together with Dumit ru Ciuba enco, is founder of another media

institution SRL (web page:pan.md). It has been
preserved.
8. Replika.MD portal Bli http://replika.md/, registered
by Roman Fiodorov, previously a member of the communist youth,
at the Bli branch.
The media sources directly or indirectly affiliated to PSRM,

involved in spreading of the statehood, pro-Russian and anti
EU, USA, NATO and Romania messages
1. RTR Moldova http://rtr.md/ro/ is rebroadcasting the state
channel of the Russian Federation Rosia1 http://russia.tv/
2. Ren TV Moldova is rebroadcasting the Russian Ren TV
http://ren.tv/
TV part of the holding
which owns several TV channels and newspapers (Prime, Eurosport,
Izvestia etc.). The holding company is owned by people very close
to Putin (http://www.rbc.ru/business/17/11/2014/5468ae40cbb2
0f2878362373).
The president of the Board is Alina Kabaeva (http://nm-g.ru/
en#about-holding).
It has its own emission: news bulletins, an author show
History and Mythology Serghei Nazaria (https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=j0i9t6I1S7k) (an old propagandist of the Moldovenism
and independence of the Republic of Moldova).
The Russian Embassy has funded the appearance of several
books written by him, with a strong anti-Romanian character. It
was decorated by Putin with the Friendship Order (http://www.
agerpres.ro/externe/2013/02/04/vladimir-putin-i-a-decorat-pe-
doi-istorici-moldovenisti-de-la-chisinau-08-54-09). The director
of Ren TV Moldova is Victor Marcenco.
3. TVC -21 http://www.tvc21.md/
4. Euro TV & AltTV http://www.eurotv.md/: http://alttv.md/

- TV stations owned by Ilan Shor, managed by Vladimir Novosadiuk
(http://www.realitatea.net/doua-posturi-tv-din-republica-moldova-
preluate-de-un-afacerist-cu-legaturi-in-rusia-presa_1517108.html).
Novosadiuk is also the director of Sputnik Agency.
5. Sputnik News Agency http://sputnik.md/ - is registered by
Rossiya Segodnya SRL, whose representative is Vlad im ir Novo
sad iuc. He and his wife, Rita vic, are also those who brokered the
takeover of the EuroTV and Alt TV in the summer of 2014, by a
businessman, the current Mayor of Orhei, Ilan Shor. Rita vic is
the founder of Klassika Media SRL, Media Resurse SRL and
Alternativ-TV SRL, that manage Euro TV and Alt TV.
6. Argumenti i Fakti Moldova, Russia newspaper http://
aif.md/, registered Exclu siv Media SRL, Cornel iu Furc uli /
Petru Burduja.
7. Komsomoliskaia Pravda Moldova, Russia newspaper
http://www.kp.md/, being curious that kp.md editing office ensured
the participation (location, live broadcast) for the Moldovan
representatives at the conference of Popular Rada of Bessarabia
on May 16 in Odessa (http://news-front.info/2015/05/16/molniya-v-
odesse-narodnaya-rada-bessarabii-oglasila-proekt-avtonomii/).
8. Moskovskii Komsomolet Moldova, Russia newspaper
http://mk.kn.md/.
9. Moldavskie Vedomosti, newspaper, founder Victor
Ciobu, director Elena Zamura http://www.vedomosti.md.
10.
http://www.newscom.md/ Serghei Tcaci /Valerii Demidetchii
11. http://www.noi.md/ Irina Astahova, the MDL Media
Group among shareholders are several companies controlled by
the former candidate at the Chisinau City Hall from the Communist
Party, Vasili Chirtoc: Daac Hermes Grup SA, CS Amat ic SRL,
SC Daac System Integ rator SRL, SC Ratibor SA, SRL Antares,
Solar Internat ional SRL.
12. http://ecology.md/ - the MDL Media Group.

13. http://viza.md/ - the MDL Media Group.
14. http://www.basarabia.md editor in chief Denis Zavorotnii.
15. http://www.politik.md.
16. http://www.vesti.md/.
17. http://moldovanews.md news aggregator, the basic content
provided by Sputnik Agency and other media outlets controlled by
PSRM.
18. http://newsline.md/ news aggregator, the basic content
PSRM.
19. http://terra.md news aggregator, the basic content
PSRM.
20. http://www.nbm.md/ news aggregator, the basic content
PSRM.
21. http://resurs.md news aggregator, the basic content
PSRM.
22. http://alfanews.md/ news aggregator, the basic content
PSRM.
23. http://gagauzinfo.md/ ATU Gagauzia.
24. http://gagauznews.md/ ATU Gagauzia.
25. http://edingagauz.md/ ATU Gagauzia.
26. http://tvbalti.md/ Bli.
27. http://esp.md/ Bli.
28. http://novostipmr.com/ Tiraspol.
29. https://dniester.ru Tiraspol.
2. Renato Usati. Partidul Nostru

Another beneficiary of the damaged relations PCRM Moscow
is Renato Usati with his party, Partidul Nostru.
Usati avoids talking about its relations with the political actors
from Moscow, he doesnt give details or names, using formulas such
as in Moscow I know a lot of people, a lot of people know me. But
he is very talkative when talks about his relations with the Republic
of Moldova (Filat, Voronin Plahotniuc). Usati was the subject of
several journalistic investigations. There appeared his links with the
criminal world (Caramalak, Solntsev sk aya Brat va etc.), the settling
of accounts and attacks (the attack on Gorbuntov), his relations
with the millionaires and the Russian business world with its roots
criminal (http://www.zdg.md/editia-print/investigatii/care-este-
patria-lui-renato-usatii
http://unimedia.info/stiri/video-investigatie-marca-rise-
project-asasin-in-lege-85099.html, http://www.evz.ro/investigatie-
rise-renato-usatii-asainat-londra.html,
http://www.timpul.md/articol/cine-este-renat-usatii-mahar-
la-chisinau-escroc-sau-agent-al-mai-34594.html).
But, in terms of his contracts in Kremlin or with the special
services, there is very little information. Mass-media said that
hes ties in Moscow would be Vladimir Cernov, the chief of the
Presidential Directorate for Interregional Relations and Cultural
Contacts with Foreign Countries, member of the Board of Ruskii
Mir (the Russian world) Fund, and Igor Masolv, the deputy chief
of the of the Presidential Directorate for Interregional Relations and
Cultural Contacts with Foreign Countries (http://www.moldova.org/
biografia-necenzurata-principalului-gasterbaiter-din-moldova-2/).
In fact, Cernov and Maslov are the performers of the strategies
developed by Vladislav Surkov, Putins adviser, the real architect of
the scenarios for the CSI and Ukraine zone (the operation Crimea,
Donbass, the Republics of Donetsk, Lugansk).
An assumed contact by Usati is Yurii Uakov, President

Putins Foreign policy adviser, name escaped in an interview for the
meduza.io portal immediately after the removal from the electoral
race in December 2014: this is how I met Uacov (at that time
Deputy Head of the Russian Government editorial note) and
I started to move (https://meduza.io/feature/2014/12/05/vzlet-i-
padenie-gastarbaytera).
The press directly controlled by Renato Usati
TV BTB the television in Bli. It is received through cable all

over the Republic of Moldova http://btv.md (it was bought by Vitiuc,
PCRM MP).
RU TV Moldova http://rutv.md/ Russian music channel,
rebroadcasted, but which could also be used for electoral spots.
Site: Partidul Nostru - http://pravda.md/.
Online media controlled or affiliated to Renato Usati
http://omg.md belongs to ex-communist MP Alexandr Petkov.

The speaking-tube of the ANTIFA and the Petrenco/ Grigorciuk
group
http://pan.md - director Dimitrie Ciubasenco
http://www.grenada.md belongs to Grigore Petrenco
http://1news.md/ - portal of multiplication (it collects and
disseminates news from the Sputnik zone or other media related
directly or indirectly to Russia)
http://budjakonline.md Gagauzia
http://www.beltsymd.ru/ - Bli
http://www.enews.md/ - portal of multiplication, director
Iulia Semionova, owner Stella Jantuan (ex- PD MP)
http://ru1.md Renato Usatis personal online platform.
Renato Usatis lieutenants:

Igor Casu he is the president of the Partidul Nostru
Chisinau branch. He is in charge of organizing the party both in
Chisinau and throughout the country.
Nicolae Tzipovici profession lawyer. He was detained in
2014 for 30 days because it had threatened to kill Gheorghe Cavcaliuc.
Elements of the political program of Renato Usati:

The Republic of Moldova Foreign policy and geopolitical
vector
At this stage of development of the Republic of Moldova,
its Foreign policy should be directed towards modernizing the
country, strengthening of statehood, strengthening the status and
the international prestige and the improvement of the quality of life
of citizens. The foreign policy cannot be effective if the state doesnt
have a correct internal policy. What kind of foreign policy can have
a state in which power structures are captured by oligarchic groups,
and the bribery has become a universal mean to solve any problem,
the corruption is a new form of social relations, and the main source
of lawlessness is the governance itself? In such a state, the foreign
policy is based on lies, helplessness and permanent international
dependence.
We plead for another foreign policy of the country, a policy
that would increase the number of foreign partners of the Republic
of Moldova, and would consolidate the security, a policy that unites
the Moldovan society not divide it. Today, the Republic of Moldova
is torn to pieces by the followers of various geopolitical orientations.
Those who support the so-called European integration consider that
the closeness of the EU will automatically lead to solving the complex
problems faced by the Republic of Moldova at this stage. In the last
5 years, the current rulers have done nothing but to hide behind the
integrationist slogans. Practice has demonstrated that demagogy,
the empty words about Europe and the reforms, in the absence of
concrete results of reforming the country, not only didnt improved
peoples lives, but also contributed to the continuous deterioration of
the situation in the country.
The supporters of the Eurasian integration are absolutely
convinced that the rapprochement of the Republic of Moldova of the
Customs Union and therefore (if it occurs) of the Eurasian Union,
it will be the beginning of some long-term changes for the better of
our country.
The blind confidence in the magical power of choosing a
correct external geopolitical path is an attempt not to take the
responsibility for reforming, transforming and modernizing the
Republic of Moldova. It is a rudiment of the Soviet type behavior,
when the leadership in Chisinau relied on the center located in
Moscow, and only guided only about the instructions coming from
superiors outside the country.
Today, once again, we rely on the wisdom of the heads in
Brussels, Moscow, Washington or Bucharest and we dont understand
that only we can bring back the country to normality, strengthen the
statehood, turn the Republic of Moldova into a truly democratic and
prosper country. Only we can understand what the national interests
of Moldova are, who the guarantor of our stability is and how to act
to defend these interests.
The Republic of Moldova is Our Motherland and nobody but
us can feel its pain, concerns and aspirations. We do not refuse the
help of the external partners, yet we understand that they ONLY
HELP US, but do not solve our problems in our place.
In this context we plead for a radical change in the logic of
decision making and governance of the country, when the leadership
and the society are fully responsible for everything happens, for
transformation, for reforms and for the results of the general political
activities.
The Republic of Moldovas vector should be identified and
determined by citizens through a referendum. In this case, the
decision in favor of one or another external vector will only be

accepted if at least two thirds of the population will choose for this
particular way (http://pnru.md/md/programma-partii/#ro11).
3. PCRM
Due to many departures, this party is in a full process of
de-structuring. Practically every week brings new departures
of organizations and local officials. The local officials and the
territorial organizations of CPRM are migrating to PDM, PSRM,
PN. The local elected officials mostly migrate towards PDM while
the biggest part of the organizations towards PSRM. There are
also sporadic transitions to PN. Although he has many relations of
friendship in Moscow (Voronin is a very good friends of Karasin),
Vladimir Voronin is in the wake of Vladimir Plahotniuc. A return
of PCRM is unlikely.
Elements of PCRM program:

The national interest strengthening:
The benefits the foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova can
bring, oriented both towards East and towards West, will serve the
interests of our country. There is nothing more important for the
countrys development and economy than restoring the territorial
integrity of the Republic of Moldova. Namely this task at this stage,
should dictate the foreign policy priorities.
To achieve the objective:
PCRM will strengthen the constitutional principle of
neutrality and will seek to obtain the international recognition of
this status; the Republic of Moldovas constitutional neutrality will
be strengthened in additional legislative acts.
We will immediately start negotiations with Russia for
the cancellation of all prohibitions on the import of Moldovan
agricultural production.
We will restore the relations of friendship and trust with

Russia.
We will organize a national referendum regarding the
Republic of Moldovas integrationist problems.
Simultaneously, we will adopt the best European patterns
and standards of social life organization.
We will ensure the protection of the citizens of the Republic
of Moldova, irrespective of the country of employment. The state is
obliged to protect their rights.
We will renounce the unilateral foreign policy promoted by
the current government, we will return to the opening policy based
on a permanent and efficient dialog both with the West and the East;
we will develop an equable and sustainable model of development of
the Republic of Moldova.
We will review the whole system of legislative and normative
acts in order to skip the discriminatory provisions for local producers
and develop a favorable business environment.
Thus, emerge the external conditions of modernization of the
Republic of Moldova, becoming clear and concrete the neutrality,
the reintegration and the continued modernization under the
European neighborhood policy. We recognize the obvious economic
benefits resulted from Moldovas participation in the integrationist
processes in the post-Soviet space, which will bring affordable prices
for energy resources, the billions investments in the Moldovan
economy, huge markets, the respect for the rights of hundreds of
thousands of migrants.
The Customs Union is ready to integrate economically with
Moldova. The Moldovan people, in a referendum, will decide about
joining this space, will decide the path of economic modernization
of the country. This idea, for a long time, interested the Moldovan
society, which finally has to decide.
At the moment, our country is not prepared to achieve the
requirements of the Association Agreement with the EU, signed
hastily by the corrupt governance and directed against our Eastern
partners. Moldova needs an agreement that would take into account

the interests of the entire Moldovan people, including the inhabitants
from the left bank of Dniester.
PCRM ensure that the most principled issues concerning
the countrys development, the external vector and the internal
administrative policy changes will be settled only within national
referendum.
5. Civic unity and participation of the whole society in the
democratic processes
We will capitalize the norm ethnic, cultural and linguistic
diversity, mutual tolerance and interethnic peace are the main values
of the Republic of Moldova at the level of the Supreme law the
Constitution.
The Moldovan linguistic and national identity will constitute
the fundamental principles and shall be protected both domestically
and internationally by taken political decisions.
The civic education in our country must be based on the
respect for the rights, history and traditions of all ethnic groups;
we will cancel the legal acts adopted by the coalition Governance,
restricting the rights of the ethnic groups living in the Republic of
Moldova.
PCRM will repeal the shameful law on equal opportunities
and will not allow the moral degradation of the nation, the
undermining of the centuries-old Christian traditions and attacks
against the Orthodox Church.
The national minorities will be present in all spheres of the
state administration.
The Taraclia district will get the national-cultural district
status, in order to preserve and guarantee the national, language,
traditions and culture authenticity of the Bulgarians.
The state authorities will strictly comply with the rules
stipulates that the Russian language is the language of interethnic
communication in our country.
What unites us today is the confidence that Moldova must

exist!
What is important is that all together to ensure the Moldovan
statehood, but also the prospects for the consolidation and sustainable
development of the country.
The main thing is to find forces to unite us, to have wisdom
and boldness to move forward towards the Victory of the Moldovan
people.
PCRM media resources: http://puls.md http://comunist.md
4. Other leftist parties that can be used by Russia

in a possible election campaign
and in the informational warfare
a. PSDM, ruled by Victor Selin http://psdm.md/ro;
b. The Party Casa Noastr Moldova (the Red Block) led by

Grigore Petrenco.
It is the project of mark Tkaciuk. The party inherited over
from Oleg Onishenco, currently a PCRM municipal councilor. It is a
party seated on the ANTIFA nuclei
http://www.pcnm.md
Petrenco is assisted by:
Pavel Grigorciuc
Alexandr Gutovschii
Mihail Amerberg
Alesandr Rosko
Oleg Buznea
Costantin Svetlicini
Ana Ursachi (lawyer propagator of Russian messages)

ensures the communication between the imprisoned Petrenko
group and the DA Platform. Petrenko was funded by the opa group
and was the lance (on the left) in the war with Plahotniuc. She sent
signals from prison (through Ursachi) that will speak, thus forcing
the hand of the opa group to offer support (http://www.publika.
md/omul-de-afaceri-viorel-topa-solidar-cu-liderul-gruparii-antifa-
grigore-petrenco_2396661.html, http://ziarulnational.md/un-video-
lansat-astazi-pretinde-ca-intre-antifa-platforma-da-renato-usatii-
si-igor-dodon-ar-exista-legaturi/).
Freedom for Petrenco became the slogan of the DA Platform
( ht t p://de s c h ide .md /ro/ne w s/s o c i a l /2 4 385/ P rote s t-l a-
judec%C4%83toria-R%C3%A2%C8%99cani--Se-cere-eliberarea-
grupului-Petrenco.htm, http://stiri24.md/adeptii-lui-usatai-si-ai-
platformei-da-cer-eliberarea-grupului-petrenco/).
As political structure, it wanted to be of the revolutionary
type, having a high potential for violence.
The media resources: http://www.grenada.md; http://omg.md;
http://freedom.md
The Petrenco group received consistent support from Pirkka

Tapiolla while he was incarcerated. He had support, through media
campaigns meant to draw the attention of population and also of
some democratic media institutions starting with Natalia Morari:
The TV7 channel http://tv7.md/
The Politika show with Morari https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=lFxmuX9iAA8; https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=KgkQY22MDW0.
The producer of the show and chief at the news department
is Cristina Gutu, the ex-wife of Iurie Roca (http://inprofunzime.
md/stiri/politic/iurie-rosca-a-divortat-pentru-a-doua-oara-aceasta-
tine-doar-de---665761.html).
http://newsmaker.md Vladimir Soloviov (the team from
former Komersant.md) funded by the US program for independent
press by the European Endowment for Democracy.
c. The Russian-Slave Party

It is the continuer of the political Party Micarea popular
pentru Uniunea Vamal / the Popular Movement for the Customs
Union which changed its name into the Russian-Slave Party
from Moldova. It is run by Oleg Topolnitki. Because of the name
similarities with Dodons PSRM, it is likely to be a PSRM clone (see
the case PCRM versus the Communist Reformers Party). No media
sources and actives are available. Official site: http://vybor.md/.
5. Formal and informal groups,

NGOs, civic pressure groups
a. The Izborsk Moldova club
Bogdan rdea, the president of the Organizing Committee
for the creation of Izborsk Club subsidiary in Moldova;
Vladimir Bukarski, Executive Secretary of the Organizing
Committee of the subsidiary Izborsk Club in Moldova. A PCRM
analyst, Dodons adviser, involved in the formation of the Popular
Rada of Bessarabia in Odessa, in the spring of 2015 (http://
adevarul.ro/moldova/actualitate/emisarul-dodon-despre-arestarea-
fond ator i lor-r adei-p opu la re-ba s a r abiei-uc r a i na- e-fa s c i st a-
1_55262395448e03c0fd66c44a/index.html).
Project with extensions in Gagauzia (the Republic of Budjac)
( ht t p://de s c h ide .md /ro/ne w s/p ol it ic /158 07/C ON F I R M AT--
Proiectul-separatist-%E2%80%9ERada-Basarabiei%E2%80%9D-
viza-%C8%99i-sudul-Republicii-Moldova-(FOTO).htm) in which
it was tried the involvement of others radicals or supporters of
independence from Chisinau: G. Petrenco, M. Garbuz, Episcopul
Marchel, M. Formuzal, V. Stepaniuc, V. Tarlev. According to the
National Rada of Bessarabia communiqu, which pronounced in
favor of the creation of RBB, on October 28 and 29, at the meeting
attended and delivered speeches the president of the Nationalist-
Socialist Party, former Deputy Prime-Minister of the Republic of
Moldova, Victor Stepaniuc, the Bishop of Bli and Fleti, Marchel,
the former governor of Gagauzia, Mihail Formuzal, and the ex-Prime

Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Vasile Tarlev.
They rushed to gainsay and denied their implication in
this project (http://deschide.md/ro/news/social/20646/Marchel-
%C8%99i-Stepaniuc-dezmint-implicarea-%C3%AEn-proiectul-
Republica-Bugeac.htm, http://deschide.md/ro/news/politic/12933/
Pe t ren ko -%C 8%9 9 i- G a r bu z-ne a g %C 4% 83 - c %C 4% 83 -a r-f i-
participat-la-congresul-de-la-Odesa.htm?ls-art26=280).
The experts Izborsk Club was founded in 2012 in the city
of Izborsk, Pskov region of Russia. The initiators and founders
of the club became a group of philosophers, political scientists,
economists and journalists with patriotic orientation. A. Prohanov
was elected the president of the club, while V. Averianov and A.
Nagorni, executive secretaries. Among its members are also the
ultraconservative followers and Russian President, Vladimir Putin.
The name comes from the town of Izborsk, located on the
border with Estonia, where the first meeting of the club was held.
In early 2013 Izborsk Club publishes its own magazine, with a print
run of 1,200 copies. In 2015, the organization received a 10 million
rubles presidential grant for the noncommercial organizations. In
the project description it stated that the organization will try to
explain what the Russian World means.
The participants at the inception conference of the Izborsk
Club in Chisinau:
Igor DODON, member of the Parliament of the Republic of
Moldova, the PSRM chairman, the leader of the Iubesc Moldova / I
love Moldova association.
Alexandr PROHANOV, the president of the Izborsk club,
writer, journalist, activist, chief editor of the Zavtra newspaper.
Zinaida GRECEANI, ex-Prime Minister of the Republic of
Moldova, president of the PSRM faction in the Republic of Moldova
Parliament.
Irina VLAH, the bashkan of Gagauz Autonomy, member of
the Republic of Moldova Government.
Nikolai STARIKOV, permanent member of the Izborsk Club,

historian, writer, an social-politic activist, the founder and leader
of the Profsoiuz grajdan Rossii organization, and of the Velikoe
Otecestvo Party, on of the leaders of the Antimaidan movement,
commercial director of the Pervi Kanal Sankt-Petersburg
company.
Bogdan RDEA, member in the Republic of Moldova
Parliament, politologist, the president of the Organizing Committee
for the creation of Izborsk Club subsidiary in the Republic of
Moldova.
Mihail DELEAGHIN, permanent member of the Izborsk Club,
PhD in economics, member of the Russian Academy of Natural
Sciences, director of the Institute for globalization problems.
MARKELL, the Bishop of Balti and Falesti, member of the
Russian Orthodox Church Council subsidiary.
Vitalii AVERIANOV, executive secretary of the Izborsk Club,
director of the Institute of dynamic conservatism, PhD in philosophy.
Sergiu NAZARIA, PhD in Historical Sciences, knight of the
Order of Friendship offered by the Russian Federation.
Oleg ROZANOV, secretary of the Izborsk Club, responsible for
the regional and international activity, general secretary of the Slave
Union, publicist.
Prot. Mitro. Nicolae FLORINSCHI president of the Sobor of
the Russian community in the Republic of Moldova, parish priest at
the St. Gheorghe church in Chisinau.
Gheorghi FILIMONOV, Izborsk Club expert, PhD in political
science, professor, deputy head of the Theory and History of the
International relations Department of the University of People
friendship of Russia, author of the articles and monographs on issues
like the US foreign policy.
Piotr ORNIKOV, PhD candidate in historical sciences,
the docent of the History Department of the State University of
Transnistria, knight of the Friendship Order offered by Russia.
Ecaterina GLUNIK, Izborsk Clubs press secretary, writer

and publicist.
Anatol PLUGARU, retired colonel, former Minister of National
Security of the Republic of Moldova.
Anatoli DIRUN, ex-MP in the Supreme Soviet of NMR,
director of the School of Political Studies in Tiraspol, the president
of the Edinstvo Narodnoe movement.
Iurie ROCA, activist, president of the Popular University of
Moldova.
Boris APOVALOV, candidate of philosophical sciences,
political scientist, publicist.
Vladimir BUKARSKI, executive secretary of the organizing
committee on creation of the Moldovan subsidiary of Izborsk Club.
Benedict CIUBOTARU, (Viorel Cibotaru) expert in conf licts,
publicist (http://ecology.md/md/page/yn-moldova-a-fost-deschis-
clubul-izborsk, http://iurierosca.md/articole/clubul-izborsk-in-
moldova-ca-platforma-pentru-elaborarea-ideii-nationale.html/).
b. The Russian Youth League of the Republic of Moldova

It is run by Igor Tuleantev Rogozins man in the Republic
of Moldova (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMQ2dLf79ks).
He received funding both directly from Moscow and through the
Russian Federation the Embassy in Chisinau. Official website: http://
ligarus.org/.
c. International Public Association Patria - Uniunea

Euroasiatic / Motherland - Eurasian Union
It is run by the same Igor Tuleantev. It is affiliated with
the International Congress of the Russian Communities. Also,
it is a support structure in the Republic of Moldova for the
Rodina Party led by Dimitri Rogozin (http://vse.md/component/
k 2/item/350-%C3%A En-moldova-sa-fondat-mi%C5%9Fcarea-
ob%C5%9Fteasc%C4%83-interna%C5%A3ional%C4%83-patria-
uniunea-euroasiatic%C4%83).
At the initiative of Tuleantev and the Patria-Uniunea

Euroasiatic association, in February 2014 was created the ZA
Rodinu (Pentru Patrie / For the Motherland) Committee, which
includes many ethnic and professional associations, ethno-cultural
organizations and centers, media sources and opinion promoters of
the non-Romanian speakers from the Republic of Moldova.
d. ZA Rodinu
ZA Rodinu (Pentru Patrie / For the Motherland) gathered
under its umbrella all public, community and professional
associations of the Russian community
http://moldova.mid.ru/web/moldova_md/referinte, http://
russian.md/informatsiya.html/, http://krorm.ru/about-us/sostav-
kongressa.html ; http://ric.krorm.ru/
but also of the other ethnicities:
The Sodrujestvo Fund apovalov Boris
The Ukrainians Union from the Republic of Moldova
Mislitkaia Svetlana
Gagauz community from the Republic of Moldova Nicolae
Terzi
The Prosvita Taras Sevcenco Ukrainians society
Rogovaia Galina
The Byelorussians Union from the Republic of Moldova
Statkevici Iurii
Ossetian Union from the Republic of Moldova Djioeva
Svetlana
The Friendship Association Moldova Bulgarian
Zabolotnii Valerian
The Association of the Bulgarian community Zabunov
Ivan
Here also acceded professional and community organizations

as:
The Stunt Association from the Republic of Moldova
The Rzboiului pentru Patrie / the War of the Motherland

Veterans Organization Ala Mironic
The Association of the Afghan War Veterans Mihail Mocanu
The Russian Language Journalists Association Iulia
Semionova
Among the members can be found also the radical ones with
violent potential:
The National Democratic Movement Viorel Furtun http://
www.nationaldemocrat.org/
The National Liberation Movement Victor Druta http://
www.moldnod.org/
Eu snt moldovan, Eu griesc moldovenete / I am
Moldovan, I speak Moldavian Ivan Muntean http://graiesc.md/
Supporters
Markel, Bishop of Bli and Fleti or Sergiu Nazare PhD in
History, the Pro Moldova Association of historians and political
scientists
Emil Ciobu, ex-Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in
Romania
Serghei Filipov, Mayor of Taraclia (he is the mayor defended
by Pirkka Tapiola)
Piotr Sornikov
Inna Supac, PCRM MP
Mihail Poleanschii, ex-PCRM MP
Iurie Muntean, ex-PCRM MP
Constantin Staras, ex-PCRM MP
Mihai Mocanu, President of the Union of Veterans from
Afghanistan
Mihail Lupasco, journalist, former presenter at TVM of the
news in Russian
Media institutions that have joined and pledged to support

this initiative:
Scripnic Serghei, show producer at TVC21
Valerii Balan, editor in chief at Sputnic Moldova
Vladimir Thoric, editor in chief at Panorama
Valerii Demidetki, TASS bureau chief the Republic of Moldova
Serghei Ciuricov, Komsomolskaya Pravda deputy editor in
chief
Victor Ciobu, director Moldavskii Vedomosti
Nicolai Costarkin, Novosti Moldova News Agency (RIA
Novosti subsidiary)
Tatiana Borisova, editor in chief at Russkaia Slovo newspaper
Irina Melnic, RTM (the Russian Television in the Republic of
Moldova)
The full list of the Rodina Committee (http://rodina.md/
sostav-organizatsii)
This structure was at the basis of the party Patria / the
Motherland led by Emil Ciobu and made available for Renato
Usati. The party Patria / the Motherland was removed from the
electoral race for the breach of legislation. From the data above it
can be seen that there was a special mobilization in order to put
at Usatis disposal a structure as complete as possible especially
from the non-Romanian speaking areas. It must be mentioned that
the first places were occupied by Usati, Emil Ciobu, Igor Tuleantev
and Grigore Petrenco (http://ru1.md/ro/dokumenty-rasschityvaem-
mandatov/).
As political body, it is currently preserved but manifests itself in
public space and on social networks through some of its leaders, especially
Igor Tuleantev who is perpetual inv ited at the leading television in
Russia (https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=G9NgqJyYd7Q, https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9NgqJyYd7Q, https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=ZwGJKwdGjvI) and at the separatist TV channel in
Donbas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjizGptzuEs).
The official site of the Za Rodinu (Pentru Patrie) Committee

is http://rodina.md/ and is an active group on social networks https://
www.facebook.com/groups/227191854094839/?fref=ts.
Partner media sources: http://allnews.md/, http://bessnews.
ru/, http://vse.md/, http://moldinfo.ru/, http://russian.md/, http://
omtv.md/, http://www.russlovo.md/, http://rtm.md/.
e. The Patriots of Moldova

Is run by Mikhai Garbuz. They are used at the anti-unionist
and anti-Western protests, especially at the protests in front of the
diplomatic missions accredited in Chisinau. They are numerically
reduced having a group of 50 people. The official site: http://
patriot.md/. They have close ties with the Snt Moldovan / I am
Moldovan group belonging to Iurie and Ion Muntean brothers and
are sequentially promoted at http://www.moldovenii.md/.
f. The Ruski Mir Foundation

http://russkiymir.ru/rucenter/catalogue.php
The brunch from the Republic of Moldova is run by Vladimir
Nosov http://rusmir-usm.md/. Also, the Ruski Mir in the Republic
of Moldova owns three other smaller branches one in Bli (led by
Suzanskaia tatin), one at Comrat (led by Ludmila Fedotov) and one
at Tiraspol (led by Ludmila Chebuladze).
g. The Committee Salvm Moldova / We save Moldova

(without legal personality)
Is a union of anti-unionist and anti-Western associations.
The group is led by Ion Mahu, the former head of the Moldovan
Counterintelligence during Vladimir Voronin (http://
newsline.md/6396/v-moldove-nachalsya-process-obedineniya-
patrioticheskix-sil.html).
Other leaders of this committee:
SIS Col (r) Valeriu Daraban, ex-MP in the first Parliament
of the Republic of Moldova
MIA Major General (r) Boris Muravschi

Anatol Plugaru, former director in the Ministry of National
Security (current SIS)
Valeriu Crushilinski, Colonel (r) SIS. It was the deputy of
Ion Mahu
Mihail Sidorov, ex-MP
Vasile Stati
Boris Marian, journalist etc.
Official sites: http://salvammoldova.org/despre-noi-o-nas,

http://comitetul.info
The following associations are part of this structure:

The National Salvation Committee Pentru Moldova! / For
Moldova, led by SIS Colonel (r) Ion Mahu;
The union of the Moldovan law enforcement collaborators
run by MIA colonel (retired) Iurie Ciofu;
The Republic peoples organization;
The Organization of the Police border veterans of the
Republic of Moldova, colonel (r) Efim Donos;
The Patria Noastr Moldova / Our Motherland Moldova
Movement, a socialization group https://www.facebook.com/groups/
patria.mea.moldova.md/ (manager Elka Solniskina Is using also the
pseudonym Marinela Scortescu);
Moldova Mare Popular-Patriotic Union run by Viaceslav
Perju http://veaceslavperju.blogspot.md/;
The Strategia Moldovei / Moldovas Strategy Expert Club
run by Viaceslav Perju http://expertclub.md;
The Moldovan Club Patriotic Club led by Ivan Muntean;
The Youth and Students Union, led by Eugeniu Balan.
The media resources of this structure: http://politmoldova.

com http://newsline.md http://noutati.md http://expertclub.md
http://moldova-mare.com/
h. The Statehood Movement

It doesnt have a legal status yet. It is an anti-unionist structure
(http://www.europalibera.mobi/a/27658474.html). The
initiative group consists of:
Ivan Muntean (the ex-PCRM MP Iurie Munteans brother), he
leads the association Eu snt moldovan, griesc moldovenete / I am
Moldovan, I speak Moldavian (http://moldovenii.md, http://graiesc.
md). Ivan Muntens association is prone to engage in violence. The
number of those involved in this association does not exceed 30
people.
Emil Ciobu, former ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in
Romania
Igor Caldare, civic activist
Mihail Lupasco, journalist. Ex-presenter at TVM the show
in Russian, former candidate for the Parliament of the Republic of
Moldova from PPCD
Simion Lungu, president of the public association Transparent
Moldova
Media resources used: Grenada.md Omg.md Enews.md
Basarabia.md https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuOsqgT75Um
FQHVAm3c4kCA
i. The Voivod Youth Movement

It is an association organized around several gyms that promotes
a style of martial arts. It has a high potential to participate in street
conflicts. It is run by Nicolae Pascaru (http://www.voievod.org) and it
declared an anti-unionist one. Also, Nicolae Pascaru uses the YMCA
Moldova association run by Igor Sarbu (http://ymca.md/en).
j. The Moldavian shield Public Association

Is anti-unionist and is run by Oleg Martaniuc. They are few
and are used more with the name to highlight how many NGOs are
anti-unionists.
k. The Ecodava Foundation of ecologic development

Is run by Oleg Sclifos, the ex-ruler of the Scutul Moldovenesc
/ The Moldavian Shield structure. The official site: http://ecology.
md/md/ (site that is known to be part of the MDL Media Group,
funder Vasile Chirtoca Daac Hermes).
l. The National Democratic Movement
It is not legal registered in the Republic of Moldova. Is
run by Viorel Furtuna. They have relations with the Hungarian
irredentist movements. It has potential for conflict (http://www.
nationaldemocrat.org).
m. The National Liberation Movement Moldova

Is run by Victor Druta (https://www.facebook.com/viktor.
grigorof?fref=ts&__mref=message_bubble),
is a subsidiary of the National Liberation Movement
organization based in Moscow. It is an organization from the CSI
zone with a powerful anti-Western and anti-USA view.
(http://rusnod.ru). Official site: http://www.moldnod.org/
nod42.html.
n. The Group Vreau s triesc n Moldova / I want to live in

Moldova
Site: http://moldavia.md/?page_id=25
Is not legally registered. The informal leader is Aurel
Bucureanu, born in Tiraspol, but residing in Chisinau. Mechanical
engineer by training, he worked as director at SRL Casa Lux.
He was candidate on the Republican Party from the Republic of
Moldova for the MP position in 2009. The group highlighted its
existence by violent actions on 20 January in the Parliament of the
Republic of Moldova (https://argumentul.info/2016/01/23/rusia-a-
trecut-la-actiuni-concrete-ca-in-donbas-scenariul-violentelor-la-
chisinau). There are few but noisy, and actively participated in
the protests, they organized their own actions (the US Embassy,
the Prosecution of the Republic of Moldova) (https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=sQizsQU0jLk, https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=VYsARrCtPCQ).
o. The Institute for diplomatic, politic and security studies

Is led by Valeriu Ostalep, former vice foreign minister. He
provides soft interventions on foreign policy issues. It is funded
through the Russian Federation Embassy.
The Institute of the Efficient Policy run by Vitalii
Andrievschii together with Ruslan Sevcenco, Andrei Andrievschii
(http://iep.md/about/).
6. Opinion leaders, pro-Russian image vectors,

independence pushers, promoters
of the Moldavian civic nation turned into
in promotion of statehood and Moldovenism:
Mark Tkaciuc
Iurie Roca - highlighting the universalistic dimension
of the Orthodoxy, not giving up on his Romanian ethnicity, the
former leader grew several sub-vectors which use the ideological
pole shift that focused on promoting the Dughinism:
Octavian Racu
Sergiuc Praporscic
Ghenadie Vaculoschi
Cezar Salahor
http://sputnik.md/; http://flux.md/
Grigore Petrenco
Alexandru Petkov
Vitalie Andrievschi
Natalia Morari
Vladimir Soloviov
Valerii Demidetchii
Ernest Vardanean
Alexei Tulbure
Alexandr Slusari
Lilia Carasciuc
Episcopul Markel
Serghei Nazaria
Vasile Stati
Dmitri Ciubasenco
V.Stepaniuc
Zurab Todua
Victor Borsevici
The promoters of the new Moldovan civic nation

During the PCRM governance and following Mark Tkaciucs
advices containing many Soviet elements, it has been tried to create
a Moldovan people. Groundless, this project failed as a result of
the PCRM departure from power. Following the protests initiated
by the DA Platform and joining forces with Usati and Dodon,
the Moldovan civic nation project was restarted, a concept that
justified the unnatural twinning of the three (Nstase/Usati/
Dodon).
Usati: Vsotskiis birthday coincided with the moment of
birth of the civic nation in Moldova.
(http://ru1.md/ro/usatyj-den-rozhdeniya-vysotskogo-sovpal-
s-momentom-rozhdeniya-grazhdanskoj-natsii-v-moldove/).
Ilian Cau the Moldovan civic nation was born with the
protestor movement (http://pravda.md/archives/430).
Tulbure in Moldova the civic nation is born (https://
dniester.ru/node/14098, http://btv.md/v-moldove-rozhdaetsya-
grazhdanskaya/).
The Moldovan civic nation project was released (in a serious
academic way) in the autumn of 2012 during an IPP Moldova study
(Igor Botan, Oazu Nantoi, Andrei Iovu, Arcadie Barbroie, Viaceslav
Reapcinschi, Anatol Grimalschi). It was meant to accommodate the
different existing identities at the national level and the Romanian-
Moldovan dichotomy from the public perception, with the chance

to eliminate also the ethnic component from the public discussions,
but the project was hijacked by statehood supporters, Moldovenists
and pro-Russian who demonetized the idea.
Subsequently, the concept was taken up and exploited by the
pro-Russian and pro-statehood forces excessively and aberrantly,
becoming a real anti-European and anti-statehood fetish, a tool used
by the Russian propaganda in order to continue the two distinct
people-nations thesis, the Romanian and Moldovan, a worthy
extension of the Moldovenism theory from the Soviet era. (http://www.
publika.md/moldova-are-nevoie-de-o-strategie-de-consolidare-
a-unei-natiuni-civice_1099501.html, http://www.parlament.md/
Actualitate/Comunicatedepresa/tabid/90/ContentId/682/Default.
aspx, http://tribuna.md/2012/10/15/iata-ce-vrea-sa-construiasca-in-
republica-moldova-speakerul-marian-lupu/).
IPP study: http://ipp.md/lib.php?l=ro&idc=171&year=2012.
This project focuses on the creation of a multi-ethnic state,
relatively friendly with Romania but not a brotherly state, rejecting
from the beginning the union idea. What is interesting is that around
the concept of the Moldovan civic nation, there are personalities and
image vectors both from the pro-European area from the radical
nationalism. (http://www.platzforma.md/despre-necesitatea-de-a-
re-inventa-critica-critica-de-clasa, http://graiesc.md/despre-noi/
moldova-mare-in-bucuresti-(video).html, https://octavianracu.
wordpress.com/2012/06/26/ce-este-natiunea-civica).
The card of the Civic Nation has been also played by PD. We can
find it in the 2012 resolution of the party congress: Consolidating
the civil society by promoting the concept of the Moldovan civic nation
the only capable way to stop the identity debates which divide the
society and to strengthen the feeling of deep attachment of each citizen
towards the country and its destiny. The cultivation of the patriotism,
civic pride and correct historical knowledge about the events that
underlie the becoming of the independent country the Republic of

Moldova (http://www.pdm.md/ro/pdm/rezolutia-congresului-vii).
The same concept can be found also in the PSRM political

program: PSRM pleads for strengthening the Moldovan civic nation.
We will follow the many ethnicities one nation principle. We
will ensure the interethnic tolerance and the protection of the ethnic
cultures living in Moldova. OUR NATIONAL MOTTO: MOLDOVA
MOLDOVANS - MOLDAVIAN! (http://socialistii.md/despre-
partid/programul-psrm/).
From the first data, the main characteristics of this theory

are:
- keeping the duality in foreign policy maintaining the
ambiguity and the strategic two vector agenda, avoiding the pro-
European orientation/integration;
- the exclusion of the union as possibility;
- permanent neutrality.
One of the promoters of the concept is also the EU ambassador

in the Republic of Moldova, Pirkka Tapiola, which nuanced an offer
as a solution for the Republic of Moldova: Moldova has the chance
to become a political nation, so that all the citizens, regardless of
ethnicity, to feel that they belong to this state, irrespective of the
past problems. I understand and everyone knows what happened
in the USSR in terms of nationalities policy, but the societies we
are working with emerged from a historical situation that is a
reality and cannot be ignored. I think that here the European idea
can contribute, because of the fact that the EU motto is: unity in
diversity. The EU was a long process against nationalism, against
the enclosed variant of the nationalist ideologies, and for multi-
nationalism, multi-ethnicity, for building of a common house, the
diplomat said (http://www.ipn.md/ro/integrare-europeana/65159).
Victor Gaiciuc, former Defence Minister. If Moldova is

interested to cooperate with NATO within the Partnership in the
name of peace program, but also to keep good neighborly relations
with Russia, then our country should maintain its neutrality,
Victor Gaiciuc, former Defense Minister and ex-representative
of the Republic of Moldova to NATO, said (http://sputnik.md/
moldova/20150902/1582403.html#ixzz46NSyeChz).
Victor Stepaniuc This is how I understand things: we

have a sister, Romania, which is situated over the Prut, who has its
successes and failures, in which comprises a part of the old Moldavia.
We have to admit this. And then it becomes attractive as a last
solution. But the Moldovans do not need the last solution, the first
solution is what we need. We must be proud with our country, but we
must make it competitive. The Moldovans, as a civic nation, we are
not talking about the ethnic factor, must be competitive, educated
people, cultured, erudite and effective elites (http://sputnik.md/
analytics/20160325/5499106.html).
At sight structures through which the project funding

is carried out: http://pravfond.ru/; http://mda.rs.gov.ru/;
http://russkiymir.ru/news/120040/?sphrase_id=218504; http://
gorchakovfund.ru/news/8026/; http://old.rs.gov.ru/node/1471
7. The mass-media in the Russian informational

warfare against the Republic of Moldova
a. Media sources from Russia which are being broadcasted
in the Republic of Moldova
Televisions
RTR rebroadcasted by RTR Moldova, owner TV Comunicatii
SRL. Owners: Stetuco Valentina, Sarbu Galina and Borsevici Oxana
(they have 50%), the remaining 50% are owned by RTR Russia;
Pervai Canal rebroadcasted by General Media Group Corp (V.

Plahotniuc);
NTV rebroadcasted by NTV Moldova (owner PSRM MP
Corneliu Furculi PSRM);
REN TV rebroadcasted by SC Teleproiect SRL, owner Viaceslav
Fiodorov;
TNT entertainment television, rebroadcasted by SC BRAVO
TV, owner Chiril Lucinschii;
STS entertainment television, rebroadcasted by SC Teledixi
SRL, owner CTC Media Inc from the USA 51% Dorin Pavelesc director
Casa Media SRL (advertising agency owned by V. Plahotniuc);
TV RAIN (TV DOJDI) rebroadcasted by SC TV RAIN SRL
owner Culai Corina. Channel affiliated to the opposition from the
Russian Federation;
TV MIR it is transmitted by cable. Is the CSIs TV network;
RBC is transmitted by cable. It is the Russian news television.
Russian radio stations rebroadcasted

Ruskoie Radio
Avto Radio
HIT FM
RADIO 7 Balti
RADIO ALLA
RADIO STIL
RETRO FM
AQARELLE FM
EVROPA PLUS
b. The NovoRosia (Donbas) separatists media sources which

offer space to the events in the Republic of Moldova
EXPLANATORY NOTE: News transmitted form this area
promotes anything that is even remotely a Russian interest, without
making any discrimination between Dodon, Usati etc.
News Front TV http://news-front.info/2016/04/07/v-

moldavii-16-aprelya-projdut-akcii-protivnikov-obedineniya-s-
rumyniej/
http://news-front.info/2016/03/21/v-moldavii-zaplanirovali-
unichtozhenie-strany-k-2018-godu/.
They have paid an increased attention to the protests in the
Republic of Moldova, many reports, live broadcasts and live text.
News Front TV - http://news-front.info/2015/09/06/majdan-v-
moldove-onlajn-translyaciya/
http://news-front.info/2016/02/10/moldaviya-protest-vokrug-
zdaniya-nelegitimnogo-pravitelstva/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS39WeeAntM
Novorosia TV - http://novorossiatv.com/news/nrus/
prorossiyskiy-miting-v-kishineve/?sphrase_id=60531
ht tp://novorossiat v.com/news/mir/protest y-v-moldav ii-
kishinevskiy-maydan/?sphrase_id=60528
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkPc5wA-eXk
http://novorossiatv.com/news/nrus/prorossiyskiy-miting-v-
kishineve/?sphrase_id=60531
AnnaNews TV http://www.anna-news.info/node/51157
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jTUw66of4Q.
The experts for the Republic of Moldova used by the

separatist media:
Serghei Nazaria - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sf28rJZ-AA
Nicolai Tzveatcov- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
lTyBBG_sllI
Igor Tuleantzev - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
YjizGptzuEs
Victor Josu - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZxIsg2GEWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnKU_zue5RY
Vladimir Bucarschii - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
4lXV2afKR4k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOb9D_7Oy3w
c. The MEDIA legion of the Russian Army

On 17 April 2016, in the National coordination center of
Defence of the Russian Federation atrium, Russian journalists
received awards from the Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu.
At the ceremony were invited the military leadership of Russia,
chief editors of the central television stations, of the print editions
and news agencies, politicians, sportsmen and activists from the
Russian Federation.
Shoigu handed the medals with the obverse Participant in
military operation in Syria to general managers of the TV stations:
Pervi canal, VGTRK, NTV, to reporters of TV stations Rossia-1,
Rossia 24, Zvezda, TV, Pervi canal, REN-TV, Russia
Today, NTV, journalists from Komsomolskaia pravda, Moskovski
komsoomole, Nezavisimoe voennoe obozrenie and others.
After such a ritual, it becomes clear why the campaign conducted
by Russia in Syria was frequently dubbed the war on television. The
last award ceremony reminded very much the events two years ago
(May 2014), when after Kremlins informational operation regarding
the annexation of Crimea, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin,
decorated the best 300 journalists. Among the best were about
hundred employees from VGTRK (the Rossia TV station, radio
Maiak), more than 60 from Pervi canal, but also a few dozen from
the posts NTV, Russia Today and the Live News holding company.
Among the recognizable faces Margarita Simonean (editor in chief
Russia Today), Vladimir Sungorkin (editor in chief Komsomolskaia
pravda), Vladimir Soloviov (presenter at Rossia channel), Aram
Gabreleranov (general director Live News) and others.
Before, in early 2009, a similar ceremony took place after the
end of Russias occupation of the Georgian Ossetia territory. At that
moment, the president of the Russian Federation, Dmitri Medvedev,
handed state distinctions to 11 journalists who covered the events
of the war with Georgia in 2008. Seven were decorated with the
For courage Order and four were awarded with the medals For
valor. And what is important among those awarded were the
same representatives of the main federal television stations (Pervi,

Rossia and NTV), and the newspapers Komsomolskaia pravda
and Moskovski komsomole. The Kremlin began more actively
to involve the media in the low-intensity military conflicts. Using
journalists for the war purposes made the Russian reporters to call
themselves the informational legion. Recently, the practice of using
the nonmilitary resources for military purposes began to be regarded
by Russia as an inalienable element of pursuing the conflicts.
We recall that the mass-media were co-opted to create
the necessary informational background in Yugoslavia, Iraq,
Afghanistan, Syria. Russias attempts to create an informational
division that would serve the Armys had certain characteristics. For
example, at the first stage, the informational experience of ref lecting
the military actions of the Russian army can hardly be described
as successful. Examples: the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh (1990),
Transnistria (1992), the first war in Chechnya (1996).
Over time, the Russian military department increased the
experience of the informational operations for accompany the military
campaigns. Among them the second war in Chechnya (2002), the
war in Georgia (2008), the occupation of Crimea and Donbas (2014).
Also, the tactics of using media resources in all conflicts was based
on creating an informational blockade of the occupied region. About
this writes the Georgian professor Oleg Panfilov Georgia in his
books Russia Grusia, rzboiul informaional / Russia - Grusia,
informational warfare and Blocada informaional a Ceceniei / The
Informational Blockade of Chechnya. In other words, the military
power of Russia has won yet another military potential mass media,
which have contributed to achieving the goals of the armed conflict.
Today the Russian army continues to perfect the methods of
using informational resources for military purposes. In this regard
they were chosen two directions. The first is the creation in Russia of
a corpus of journalists who would be profiled on the military theme.
Recent example when the Russian Army attacked the Ukrainian
territory, in Moscow, Rostov-pe-Don and other cities, have been
opened trainings for the military journalists. The young journalists

were taught not only the necessary security measures in regions
where there are military actions, but also the specificity of the
military conf lict reflection (the proper rhetoric of the transmission
of news, events describing or searching the informational accents
in order to achieve greater resonance). Meanwhile, in the occupied
regions of Donbas and Crimea, trainings were held for the regional
journalists. Their expertise was valuable because of the fact that they
knew the specifics of the population in the occupied territories.
The second direction is the mobilization of the nonmilitary
media resources in the Russian Federation in order to accomplish
the informational assistance tasks of the Russian Army activity.
Here should be mentioned the traditional co-optation of the
representatives from the main Russian televisions posts for covering
the events in the war regions. They can be easily identified in the
lists of those decorated (see above).
Besides, the Russian military leadership made a very
interesting movement to attract journalists in the regions of Russia.
For this purpose, in 2014, within the Russian Ministry of Defense
was instituted the Media-As media festival, whose main stake was
the ref lection of the Russias military operations and the military
theme propaganda. The festival budget depends on the Russian
Ministry of Defence funds and is not known. Last year, about 150
publications from Russia expressed their willingness to participate
at the festival. The number of nominations (15, last year) represented
for the regional journalists as a reason to participate.
It must be said that the Russian generals idea to co-opt the
nonmilitary mass-media, has proved quite productive: in two years,
the military theme has occupied a permanent niche in the Russian
informational flow. Also, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the
stories about the Russian Army have a positive and patriotic character.
Practically, in the press, you cant find information about
negligence, mistakes, miscalculations committed by the Russian
soldiers. In the Russian informational space, they are perfect.
Therefore in the Russian Army were created informational

resources which, in the light of the hybrid war (the 2013 report
of the Headquarter Chief, gen. V. Gerasimov), are presented as a
media element of informational influence. It is determined by two
components:
a) the mass media with authority from Russia. Their task is
to give the rhetoric the appropriate tone and to provide the audience
from Russia, foreign countries and the internaut communities with
information. Reporters of the most popular media institutions are
present in the Russian Army environment and create the so-called
standard of the informational product. This particular product
determines the rhetoric through which this or that event must be
delivered (example the downing of the Boeing 777 above Donetsk).
Each of these means of mass information has foreign languages
versions and portals on Internet, which widens the circle of the
information consumers;
b) Russias regional mass-media. Their task is to maintain
the informational background and to deliver the information to
the regional consumer, using the standard of the informational
product. For the purposes of attracting regional media to work in the
interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense was created the mass-
media Media-as annual festival attended by hundreds of Russian
publications. Besides, to this category should be subsumed also the
journalists from the occupied territories, who work within the new
pro-Russian media.
In fact, the Russian military department has created a two-
level informational structure by co-opting the nonmilitary media
resources. At the same time, the structure has tested its tactics in
the military conflicts with Russias participation.
Thus, in the last few years, the Russian military department
formed a circle of journalists and means of mass information which
produce image materials for the Russian Army.
Apart from that, groups of military journalists from Russia
who worked in the interests of the territorial occupation, have
gained experience in the areas of military conflict in Crimea (2014),

in eastern Ukraine (starting in 2014) and Syria (starting in 2015).
In order to attract journalists to work in the military field, The
Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation initiated the Media-
As project, contributing to the spread of the opinions in the Russian
regions about the Russian Army as a strong and modern one.
According to the informed sources, the Russian military
department is working on attracting mass media from abroad,
situation that would serve its interests.
At the same time several institutions of higher education from
Russia, under the state order from the Ministry of Defence of the
Russian Federation, initiated trainings for the military journalists.
Veaceslav Gusarov, expert in the military security,
the Military-political Research Center, the Informational
Resistance group (http://sprotyv.info/ru/news/kiev/mediynyy-
legion-rossiyskoy-armii-analitika).

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Iulian Chifu Oazu Nantoi

The Publishing House of the Institute of Political Sciences and

Chapter 2. The project and the work methodology Iulian Chifu . 52

Chapter 3. The war of trolls Iulian Chifu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Chapter 4. Examples of the informational war waged by Russia and

Chapter 5. Narratives of the informational war in Romanias public

1. Romania slave to the US and anti-Americanism Radu Arghir . . 83

Chapter 6. Distinguishing the patterns of Russias

Chapter 1. Analysis of Pro TV i Antena 1 Adriana Sauliuc . . . 135

Chapter 3. Analysis of B1 TV Diana Brbuceanu . . . . . . . . .184

Chapter 4. Analysis of Realitatea.net Adina-Elena Cincu . . . . .190

Chapter 5. Analysis of Romnia TV Narciz Bloiu . . . . . . . 209

Chapter 6. Analysis of Adevrul

Chapter 7. Analysis of Evenimentul Zilei

Chapter 8. Analysis of Mediafax news agency Iulia Lupulescu . .267

Chapter 9. Analysis of Hotnews.ro Sebastian Blidaru . . . . . . .293

Chapter 10. Analysis of DC News Andreea Ibnescu . . . . . . . .329

Chapter 11. Analysis of Ziare.com

Chapter 13. Propaganda on social media an instrument

Chapter 1. Vulnerabilities and actions of the Russian soft power

Chapter 2. The informational war: practices, tools and impact

Chapter 3. Political parties as instrument of the

Chapter 4. Mass-media as part of the information warfare

Chapter 5. Information warfare in Chiinu: the fifth column in the

In both cases we analysed the public space and public actions

The patterns of Russias informational war

The informational war. Concept,

1. The informational war. A concept and an

A component of hybrid war, but also a self-contained

frustrations. Obviously the instruments do not concern only

In a world in which information travels quickly to a large

The overall objective, the main one, of the informational war

hinder the functioning, if not to block some elements related to the

The informational war uses three distinct levels of action,

At a lower level we deal with an open injection of propaganda,

situated in the space of a preconceived narrative makes that the

also subsequently, on another project regarding the informational

of truth, exaggerated and directed interpretations, exaggerations,

2. The informational war in Russian documents

of a good and legitimate kind of soft power and an illegitimate and

manipulating the public opinion this way having components of

an important element of the foreign policy activities of the Russian

More clear is the description from Article 41, in which the

Thus, if we look at the countrys objectives, Article 3 notes

with all branches of power, as well as with the appropriate agencies.

territorial integrity of states and that threatens the international

c) the effect on the enemy from its territory, simultaneously

This definition, which includes the sphere of information is

Hence, there is no invasion, since the Russian forces were

words let me say one thing. Millions of Russians and Russian-

3. The militarizing of information in the Russian

authorities, replacing them with a bunch of poorly trained adventurers,

On Fridays, the chiefs of the television stations were summoned

the materials were borrowed amongst televisions, so the TV stations

Hence, the presence of the informational war represents

The US administration was informed, by the Foreign Affairs

the EU membership or implementing the Association Agreements

information, transparency and appropriate communication, at the

4. How the informational war works. The

The second component aims at planting doubt, amplifying

population. The matter is no longer about questioning any

The third component is aimed at building the common

It is the classic case of Turkey and President Erdogan that

Chapter 4. Examples of the informational war waged by Russia and

Chapter 5. Narratives of the informational war in Romanias public

Chapter 6. Distinguishing the patterns of Russias

Chapter 6. Analysis of Adevrul

Chapter 7. Analysis of Evenimentul Zilei

Chapter 8. Analysis of Mediafax news agency Iulia Lupulescu . .267

Chapter 11. Analysis of Ziare.com

Chapter 13. Propaganda on social media an instrument

Chapter 1. Vulnerabilities and actions of the Russian soft power

Chapter 2. The informational war: practices, tools and impact

Chapter 3. Political parties as instrument of the

Chapter 4. Mass-media as part of the information warfare

Chapter 5. Information warfare in Chiinu: the fifth column in the

- to track the themes of the informational war during this