The war in Ukraine has had and continues to have effects on Romanian society, acting as a 'catalyst for latent but extremely dangerous tendencies,' says political scientist Daniel Sandru, Executive President of the Institute for the Investigation of Communism Crimes and the Memory of the Romanian Exile (IICCMER).

He argues that the war in Ukraine is being exploited not only militarily but also in the information sphere.

According to Sandru, there are hidden actors acting 'discreetly but strategically' to spread messages favourable to Russia. They seek to influence the way people think and perceive reality not through force but through the manipulation of information and emotions, the political scientist believes.

'The war has been exploited by influence factors operating behind the scenes to disseminate pro-Moscow narratives specific to a hybrid war with cognitive effects, in an attempt to undermine democratic values and fuel pro-totalitarian nostalgia,' Daniel Sandru told AGERPRES.

He warns that in this hybrid war false or distorted information is used to create confusion, weaken trust in democratic institutions and make people more receptive to authoritarian ideas. The aim, Sandru says, is to fuel nostalgia for totalitarian regimes of the past and to undermine the democratic values underpinning Romanian society.

'Surprisingly, or perhaps not, this crisis has brought to light a disturbing reality: an alarming rise in extremist discourse, xenophobic nationalist projects and pro-totalitarian attitudes, all intertwined with myths and false information, orchestrated by a powerful disinformation campaign originating from the Kremlin,' Daniel Sandru says.

He points out that in the medium and long term Romania could become 'a space susceptible to the establishment of an authoritarian regime, legitimised and supported by part of the population' if it does not continue to strengthen its civic resilience.

'Romanian society seems to be drifting away from the path of consolidating civic resilience and defending itself against propaganda and the state, unfortunately, appears to have lost control over the phenomenon of systematic disinformation, coordinated and directed especially towards making younger generations more vulnerable. This state of affairs risks turning us, in the medium and long term, into a space susceptible to the establishment of an authoritarian regime, legitimised and supported by part of the population, including young people manipulated and seduced by propagandistic illusions coming from Moscow,' Daniel Sandru says.

In his view, protecting fundamental values - truth, freedom and the rule of law - is no longer merely a political option but a necessary condition for maintaining a functioning democratic society.

Sandru underlines that reaffirming these principles must become a clear and firm commitment if democracy is to remain the pillar of collective existence.

'It is imperative that we become aware, with lucidity and responsibility, of the danger behind this evolution and take firm measures to defend democratic values. In the face of this threat, we must reaffirm our commitment to a society in which truth, freedom and the rule of law remain the cornerstones of our shared existence,' Daniel Sandru also said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniela Malache; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)