Flyers containing denigrating and manipulating messages about the candidate of the Party Action and Solidarity Maia Sandu are shared in full presidential campaign both in the capital and in the districts. The flyers warning about a possible invasion of refugees in Moldova, close of kindergartens, disappearance of villages and "danger" of homosexuals, do not contain information about  the author of printed flyers, the number of flyers and the money used for them, which contravenes to the electoral law. General Police Inspectorate argues that they are investigating the case. Reporters of the Center for Investigative Journalism found who planned the spread of this false information. In fact, the flyers are distributed a few steps from the Interior Ministry, in the office of the Union of Officers of Moldova. PSRM leader Igor Dodon, Maia Sandu’s opponent in presidential elections has had close ties with this organisation for many years.

In late October, on the eve of the first round of presidential elections, flyers containing symbols of the Party Action and Solidarity (PAS) and the name of the party leader Maia Sandu, but which have a denigrating message about the politician were distributed in Chisinau and in other Moldovan settlements. Among other things, the flyers show that if Maia Sandu is elected president of the state, she will open the borders for thousands of migrants, districts and entire villages will disappear,  schools, kindergartens and hospitals will close, and same-sex marriages will be legalized. "Maia Sandu will cede the ravaged country to refugees, gays and unionists", read the flyers, that were shared to students of the Moldova State University. 

The flyer does not contain information about the author of this idea, period of printing, the name of the editing house or the number of printed copies, which is a violation of the Electoral Code:

ELECTORAL CODE of the Republic of Moldova 

Article 641. Peculiarities of covering elections by media 

(6) The contender is responsible for the content of electoral advertising that is broadcast or published. Each advertising material must include the name of contender, printing date, number of copies and the name of the publishing company. Paid advertising will be accompanied by the slogan "Elections".

Maia Sandu described the information from flyers as false and attempted denigration on behalf of her opponents. Furthermore, on October 28, representatives of PAS filed a complaint with the Inspectorate General of Police (IGP) and demanded initiation of an investigation "to identify those who organized printing, transportation and distribution of these unlawful flyers, punishing them under legal norms". Also, they require that the competent bodies take urgent measures to stop the distribution of these materials.

"We have attached two copies of flyers to the complaint.  The flyers were brought by someone at the office of the party.  We spoke to Mr.  Cavcaliuc (Gheorghe Cavcaliuc, deputy-head of IGP - n.r.), he ordered one of his subordinates in Centru district to take our complaint. The complaint was registered and Mr. Cavcaliuc explained steps to investigate into this case. Since then, we have not been contacted about this complaint", said Dan Perciun, member of the national permanent Office of PAS.  

„Police must do their job”

The complaint was filed a week ago and representatives of IGP said that they have not found the perpetrators yet. "The person who filed this complaint informed us that he saw people from Gara de Sud sharing these flyers. We went on site, we have not found anything, and we do not have results yet. The case is being investigated. We are in full campaign and other flyers  might be shared in the days to come. We will take a legal decision after actions related to elections are completed", said Diana  Savciuc, head of the Division of public security of the Police Inspectorate Centru for the Center for Investigative Journalism.

Representatives of the Party Action and Solidarity informed the Central Election Commission about this case, on the same day, October 28. CEC secretary Veaceslav Agrigoroaie said that he did not receive such a letter. "These problems are part of the election campaign.  Correct or incorrect- the police must detain the perpetrators. CEC would not take action because other flyers can be printed in the days to come, by the other party, or the instigator can print himself flyers. The police must do their job", added his colleague Iurie Ciocan from CEC.

Distribution of flyers, not far from the Interior Ministry 

Reporters of the Center for Investigative Journalism found who planned this scheme and how the materials in question arrive at people's homes. It happens right in the center of Chisinau, not far from the office of the Interior Ministry, on str. Stefan cel Mare 142, where the office of the Union of Officers of Moldova (UORM) is located on the second floor.

On Friday, November 3, a new set of about 200,000 flyers was brought to the office of the NGO. According to our sources, herefrom the members of the Union - mostly retirees but not only - spread them in each district of the capital. Another part of materials printed both in Romanian and in Russian, are distributed to districts where the Union of Officers have  representations. 

We failed to find out where leaflets were printed, but an expert in the field argues that it's a simple printer. "Looking at the quality of printing, we deduce that they were printed. Specifically, different printers, because the colors are different both in Russian and Romanian variants, namely, the ink differs", argues Veaceslav Dreglea, commercial director of a printing company in the capital.

Packages with denigrating flyers, brought to the  office of the Union of Officers. The flag of UORM and the portraits of many officers, displayed on office walls, are revealed in images: