Meta removed some accounts ahead of the presidential elections in Moldova.

Meta removed a group of fake accounts targeting Moldovans from Russia

Meta Platforms removed a network of group accounts intended for Russian-speaking residents of Moldova ahead of the October 20 elections due to violations of the company's fake account policy, Reuters reports.

The fake accounts posted criticism of President Maia Sandu, pro-European politicians, and Moldova's excessive closeness to Romania. They also supported pro-Russian parties in Moldova.

The company stated it removed seven Facebook accounts, 23 pages, one group, and 20 Instagram accounts for violating its "coordinated inauthentic behavior policy".

According to Meta, about 4.2 thousand accounts subscribed to one or more of the 23 pages, and about 335 thousand accounts followed one or more Instagram accounts.

Meta focused on blocking dozens of fictitious Russian-language news brands posing as independent users on various internet platforms, including Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram, as well as Telegram, OK.ru, and TikTok.

Recall, in Moldova, Messenger Telegram blocked the channels of fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor and his associates.

By the way, the Transnistrian region of Moldova plans to hold a referendum on the attitude towards the European Union. Tiraspol accused Chisinau of unwillingness to consider the voices of Transnistrian residents in the constitutional referendum on the country's joining the European Union.