**Romania Uncovers Russian Social Media Campaign**
The Romanian government has revealed a sophisticated social media campaign backed by a “state actor” to boost pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu in recent elections. The campaign used platforms like TikTok, where one account paid $381,000 to promote Georgescu.
Georgescu, an ultranationalist and former member of the far-right AUR party, unexpectedly surged to first place with almost 23% of the vote on November 24. He is set to face pro-EU reformist Elena Lasconi in a runoff election on December 8.
**Evidence Points to Russian Involvement**
The campaign used social media influencers with over 8 million followers to influence public opinion, similar to Russia’s information campaign before its aggression in Ukraine. Romanian authorities reported 85,000 cyberattacks aimed at accessing and tampering with election data, indicating advanced methods of “state-sponsored actors.”
**Lasconi Responds**
“We have a choice between Russia and the EU,” Lasconi said in light of the revelations. “Romanians must decide with their vote whether they want to hand over Romania to Russia as a gift.”
**Other Developments**
* Hungary has requested the United States to provide a sanctions waiver to continue payments for Russian natural gas imports through Gazprombank.
* Georgian police detained Nika Gvaramia, leader of the Coalition for Change opposition party, amid government crackdowns on pro-EU protests in the country.
* The United Kingdom‘s National Crime Agency (NCA) dismantled a multibillion-dollar money laundering scheme that enabled Russian spies and oligarchs to evade sanctions using cryptocurrency.
**Ukraine Updates**
* Since February 2022, at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories and sent to other Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine or to Russia itself.
* As Ukraine faces another winter with rolling blackouts and freezing temperatures, businesses are looking for alternative fuel sources during power cuts.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com