Attacks on civil society are not decreasing; they are adapting: a new x-ray shows how attempts are being made to erode civic space

The Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (LRCM) has published a new edition of the Radiography of attacks on civil society organizations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) in the Republic of Moldova. The document covers the period from January 2025 to February 2026 and shows that attacks on CSOs and HRDs remained at the same level as in the previous year, but became more sophisticated and more diverse.

According to the authors, the aim of these attacks is to discredit the actions of civil society and, in particular, to reduce its capacity to demand accountability or promote public policies. The monitoring of these attacks shows that actions against CSOs and HRDs are not merely isolated reactions, but form part of a repetitive and coordinated pattern of delegitimization.

The document identifies eight categories of attacks, ranging from the promotion of narratives about “foreign influence” and external funding, to disinformation campaigns, online harassment, direct attacks against journalists, including death threats, and the stigmatization of HRDs. In many cases, hostile messages promoted by politicians or on anonymous platforms seek to portray independent actors as political instruments or promoters of external interests, rather than legitimate participants in a democracy.

“When such practices are repeated and adapted, there is a risk that attacks on CSOs and HRDs, and the restriction of their space for action, will become normalized. That is why the purpose of this document is to warn society and highlight false narratives and patterns of attack, while offering a reference framework for coherent responses that contribute to strengthening CSOs and HRDs in the Republic of Moldova,” emphasized Victoria Mereuță, legal adviser at the LRCM and the person responsible for this year’s edition of the document.

In 2025, more advanced forms of pressure were also identified, including the more frequent use of anonymous accounts, bot networks and, in some cases, artificial intelligence technologies to fabricate manipulative content.

At the same time, journalists and independent media institutions were subjected to discrediting and intimidation campaigns, while in the Transnistrian region severe restrictions on freedom of expression and civic activity continued. These developments show that civic space is affected not only through direct attacks, but also through the constant accumulation of pressures that normalize hostility toward independent actors.

By publishing this document, the signatory organizations call on the authorities, political parties, opinion leaders and the general public to reject and discourage hostile narratives and to protect the legitimate role of civil society organizations and human rights defenders.

This publication was produced with the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) within the project “Protecting civil society and human rights defenders for a more democratic society,” implemented by the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (LRCM). The content presented is the sole responsibility of the LRCM and does not necessarily reflect the views of CFLI.