WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), released the following statement in response to Romania’s efforts to address Russian interference in its presidential elections:
“Vladimir Putin’s assault on Romania’s elections is yet another example of the hybrid war he is waging on our European allies and partners,” said the senators. “As a strong NATO ally, we support Romania as it fights for the integrity of its elections. We condemn Putin’s manipulation of Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-controlled TikTok to undermine Romania’s democratic process. The world must wake up to the serious threat to democracy posed by Russian manipulation of TikTok to undermine our free societies.”
“The Romanian government has uncovered this assault on their democracy, and we appreciate its decision to declassify intelligence related to its investigation and keep the United States and the international community informed. The United States stands in support of Romania as it urgently moves to hold certifiably free and fair presidential elections,” the senators concluded.
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