Romanian Elections Under Siege: An Examination of Russia's Meddling in 2024's Presidential Vote
Romanian authorities allegedly possess proof of Russian meddling in the 2024 presidential elections.
In the tumultuous landscape of November 2024's Romanian presidential elections, whispers of foreign meddling echoed through the annals of the nation's democratic institutions. The surprising surge of pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu, whose first-round victory was later annulled, sparked investigations into the alleged Kremlin-backed interference.
According to an exposé by Mediapart, a French investigative portal, Romanian authorities grappled with a hybrid campaign orchestrated by Russia, consisting of cyberattacks and social media manipulation. The SRI, Romania's intelligence service, traced over 85,000 cyberattacks targeting key electoral infrastructure originating from 33 countries, with the Russian foreign intelligence service (SVR) at the helm, directing operations from behind the scenes.
The SVR, led by close Putin ally Sergei Narishkin, had reportedly launched this campaign in 2023, with the intent of fostering candidates in sync with sovereignist and isolationist ideologies. Initially supporting Senator Diana Șoșoacă, the operation soon zeroed in on Călin Georgescu, despite his earlier polling below 1%—a move that catapulted him into the frontrunner position.
Social media manipulation played a pivotal role in this adverse influence. Mediapart reported that more than 25,000 coordinated accounts on TikTok engaged in astroturfing, a tactic exploiting the platform's algorithm to rapidly boost Georgescu's visibility. As a result, the low-profile candidate was transformed into a formidable contender.
Following the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the November elections, Russia allegedly initiated a secondary disinformation campaign, smearing the court's decision as a "coup d'état," with the intention of eroding public trust in democratic processes.
While the SRI has confirmed Russia's involvement in the cyberattacks and TikTok manipulation, no official statement has been issued. The operation, if proven, was purportedly designed to benefit a candidate favorable to halting Romanian support for Ukraine and potentially altering the country's alignment within the European Union and NATO.
Mediapart's report suggests that the Russian intervention extends beyond a fleeting experiment, but rather represents a long-term operation masterminded at the highest levels of the Kremlin.
(Photo: Octav Ganea/ Inquam Photos)
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Additional Insights
- Cyberattacks and Social Media Manipulation: Intelligence reports indicated the use of TikTok, alongside other platforms, to spread pro-Russian narratives and disinformation, targeting pro-NATO and pro-Ukrainian sentiments.
- SIE Declassified Documents: Officially declassified documents detailing aggressive hybrid actions targeting Romania, including over 85,000 cyberattacks on the Permanent Electoral Authority's website, support the allegations of significant Russian interference.
- Erosion of Trust in Electoral Processes: The annulment of the first election undermined public trust in Romania's democratic institutions, prompting both national and international scrutiny.
- Shift in Foreign Policy Stance: The rise of far-right and nationalist candidates, such as George Simion, who opposes military and financial aid to Ukraine, could advance Kremlin objectives by reducing Western support for Kyiv.
- Impact on EU and NATO Stability: Romania, as a staunch supporter of Ukraine and a reliable NATO ally, has the potential to destabilize the Western alliance and embolden Russian aggression via policy shifts.
- Regional Security: Romania shares a long border with Ukraine and hosts NATO infrastructure. Any erosion in its commitment to collective defense or alliance values could potentially destabilize the region.
- The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), under the leadership of Sergei Narishkin, a close Putin ally, is suspected of launching a cyberattack campaign in 2023, aimed at influencing Romania's 2024 presidential elections, with the goal of promoting candidates who support sovereignist and isolationist ideologies.
- In the lead-up to the elections, more than 25,000 coordinated accounts on TikTok were found to be engaged in astroturfing, a tactic that boosted the visibility of pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu, transforming him from a low-profile candidate to a formidable contender.
- In 2025, concerns about Russia's interference extended beyond the elections, reaching into the sphere of general news, crime and justice, and war and conflicts, as Russia allegedly initiated a secondary disinformation campaign, aiming to erode public trust in democratic processes.
- The impact of Russia's alleged interference in Romania's elections goes beyond the immediate elections, potentially altering Romania's alignment within the European Union and NATO, particularly if candidates advocating against military and financial aid to Ukraine gain traction.
- Cybersecurity technology will play a crucial role in safeguarding democratic processes and maintaining regional security, as nations grapple with the increasing threats of cyberattacks and social media manipulation in politics and elections.
