Russia officially accused of cyberattacks and election manipulations in Romania
The Romanian National Security Council reveals details of Russia's campaign, which includes cyberattacks, sabotage, and illegal propaganda on TikTok in support of Călin Georgescu.
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The Romanian National Security Council announced a large-scale hybrid campaign by Russia aimed at supporting the far-right candidate Călin Georgescu in the presidential elections. This information was published on the website of the Romanian Intelligence Service.
The campaign involved cyberattacks, disinformation, and violations of election laws.
The first round of elections took place on November 24, with Georgescu securing 22.95% of the votes, earning him a place in the second round.
Călin Georgescu is critical of NATO and is a pro-Putin candidate.
According to Romanian intelligence, Russian cybercriminals conducted more than 85,000 attacks on electoral websites, including attempts to steal data and block access.
The perpetrators used servers in 33 countries and advanced anonymization technologies, which, according to the Council, indicate significant resources behind the operation.
Additionally, Russia deployed a network of TikTok accounts to promote Georgescu. These actions violated platform rules and Romanian laws, as propaganda was conducted without labeling as political advertising.
The pro-European candidate Elena Lasconi received 19.17% of the votes, making her Georgescu's main opponent in the second round. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who came in third place, resigned before achieving his expected victory.
The National Security Council calls for enhanced cybersecurity measures and ensuring election transparency. The second round of elections will take place on December 8 and will determine Romania's future political course.
Earlier, it was reported that Russia is organizing provocations involving Ukrainians in Europe: protests initiated by pro-Russian groups claiming to defend Ukrainian rights are planned in Dublin and Berlin.
It was also revealed that the President of Ukraine signed a decree imposing sanctions against Georgian authorities accused of undermining democratic freedoms and seeking closer ties with Russia.