Moldova's Intelligence and Security Service (SIS) has banned seven mostly Russian news sites, including that of state news agency RIA Novosti, which it said posed "national security risks" for Chisinau.
The SIS on September 25 ordered Moldovan electronic communications providers to block access to five Russian sites -- Ng.ru, Gazetacrimea.ru, Crimea.gov.ru, Crimea.ria.ru, and Crimea24tv.ru in addition to RIA Novosti's Ria.ru site.
The seventh site that was ordered blocked by SIS is Nuacum.eu, which describes itself as the voice of a movement called Nu. Nu Acum (No. Not Now).
The site, which has been urging Moldovans to vote against joining the European Union in a referendum scheduled for next month arguing that the move is premature, features as its main driving force ex-Economy Minister Octavian Calmic.
Moldova's pro-Western president, Maia Sandu, who is running for reelection on October 20, has proposed holding the EU referendum simultaneously with the presidential election.
Under the U.S.-educated Sandu, Moldova -- one of Europe's poorest countries and a former Soviet republic where Russia maintained strong influence after Chisinau became independent more than three decades ago -- has experienced an about-face toward the West since she defeated Moscow-backed incumbent Igor Dodon in November 2020.
After the start of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Chisinau positioned itself firmly with the West, condemning Moscow's war of aggression and admitting tens of thousands of refugees from neighboring Ukraine.
Chisinau eventually secured an invitation to join the EU in 2022 and started membership negotiations with the 27-member bloc in June.
The Russian Embassy in Moldova, which has in the past called the blocking of Russian sites "a subjective and politicized move," has not commented on the SIS decision to block the seven sites.
In June, the United States, Canada, and Britain issued a joint statement warning of Russia's plans to influence the presidential election and to dispute a result running counter to the Kremlin's interests.
The U.S. State Department has warned about Russia's attempt to influence the election.
"In defense of our shared democratic values, we are taking this step to warn our democratic partners and Allies that Russian actors are carrying out a plot to influence the outcomes of Moldova's fall 2024 presidential election," the State Department said in a statement.
"They intend to incite protests in Moldova should a pro-Russia candidate not win. They seek to foment negative public perceptions of Western governments and Moldova’s incumbent leadership, while degrading public confidence in Moldova’s ability to secure itself and maintain rule of law."
Ahead of last year's local elections, the SIS ordered the blocking of dozens of sites that it said were posing a "danger" to Moldova's news environment.
After RFE/RL found that the "blocked" sites continued to be accessible, experts said the method used by Moldovan authorities -- DNS blocking -- was inefficient.
Moldovan lawmakers earlier this year passed a law that established the institutions that have the right to block access to "criminal sites," namely the Foreign Ministry and the SIS.