Elections are a cornerstone of any democracy. Yet, they remain vulnerable to outside interference, especially in today’s digital age.
The Romanian government recently uncovered what it says is Russian meddling in its electoral process, drawing swift condemnation from American lawmakers.
On December 16, four U.S. senators from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued a statement addressing the matter.
They pointed to this interference as part of a broader campaign of hybrid warfare waged by Moscow.
“Vladimir Putin’s attack on Romania’s elections is yet another example of the hybrid warfare he wages against our European allies and partners,” the statement read, according to Ziare.
Russia’s Use of TikTok Raises Concerns
The senators, including Pete Ricketts, Ben Cardin, Jim Risch, and Jeanne Shaheen, singled out TikTok in their remarks.
They accused Russia of using the platform, which has ties to China’s Communist Party, to destabilize democratic societies.
“The world must take very seriously the grave threat to democracy posed by Russian manipulation of TikTok to undermine our free societies,” they stated.
The Romanian government has been proactive in revealing these threats, according to the senators.
They praised Bucharest’s decision to declassify investigation details and share information with both the United States and the international community.
The senators underscored the importance of NATO allies standing together to safeguard democratic values. They reaffirmed U.S. support for Romania’s efforts to protect the integrity of its elections.
“We commend Romania’s decision to expose this attack on its democracy,” they added. “The United States stands with Romania as it works urgently to organize free and fair presidential elections.”
