MEP Diana Șoșoacă spreads unverified claims on Russia Today after shepherds' protest

During a nearly half-hour broadcast on Russia Today, Romanian MEP Diana Șoșoacă presented a series of false or exaggerated claims about a recent shepherds’ protest, describing it as a mass uprising against what she called an EU-imposed “dictatorship” and alleging that Romanian authorities used tear-gas and beatings against demonstrators. She also criticised EU agricultural policy and the national economy, asserting that the EU had forced the killing of large numbers of sheep—a claim she later denied being ordered by Brussels.

After the interview, she posted a photograph taken in front of the Kremlin with a direct message to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Romanian officials estimated the protest size at roughly 3,000 people, noting that some participants threw stones, prompting police response. The video clip was shared widely on social platforms, receiving over 2,400 shares and more than 8,000 reactions. Șoșoacă’s party, S.O.S. România, claims it is being censored on Romanian and EU media outlets.