Russian propaganda is trying to inoculate the idea that the Republic of Moldova could be the second country attacked after Ukraine. The opinion belongs to the expert Igor Botan and was expressed during the public debate on "The contemporary danger of mythologization of 1812", organized by the IPN News Agency. According to the expert, Russian propagandists recognize that the country has an imperial instinct, and in order to maintain itself, an empire needs to expand.
According to expert Igor Botan, Russian propaganda promotes the idea that Moldova could become Russia's next target after Ukraine. This narrative induces mistrust among the population, fueling fears of a possible military invasion.
"Russian propagandists say in open text that Russia has an imperial instinct, and empires if they don't expand, wither and disappear. Witness the empires that flourished for 100-200 years and then simply disappeared. Russia's goal is to save the empire. These things are said openly. The fact that part of the population of the Republic of Moldova believes that Russia is saving Ukraine has an explanation. We can see from opinion polls that the number of citizens who support Ukraine's fight against Russia from 2022 is falling, not by much, but falling. The explanation is that Russian propaganda inoculates the fear that the Republic of Moldova may come second. They induce the idea that the Moldovan authorities would follow the path of Ukraine and turn Moldova into an anti-Russia", said Igor Botan, the permanent expert of the project.
Igor Botan explained that even before the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the Kremlin leaders prepared the public opinion for the invasion scenario and used energy policy as a tool to influence Europe.
"In 2021, half a year before the start of the war against Ukraine two things happened that coincided. The first thing is the article published by Vladimir Putin in the American press justifying the behavior of Nazi Germany, which felt humiliated after the First World War, and suggesting that Russia likewise feels humiliated after the loss of the Cold War. The second anticipation of war in Ukraine was the cessation of gas pumping to Europe. Thus, Moscow has prepared levers to threaten Europe with freezing if it does not accept Russia's policy. We have an imperial policy that Russia does not hide. They themselves say that their aim is to maintain their empire, and an empire can only expand", the expert said.
The public debate on "The contemporary danger of mythologization of 1812" is organized within the cycle of debates "Development of political culture in public debates". IPN Agency is organizing the cycle with the support of the German Hanns Seidel Foundation.
