Elena Pahomova

Elena Pahomova is a journalist who began her career in 1998 as a reporter for NIT television, where she authored and presented the shows "NITтроглицерин" and "С обратной стороны Луны" ("On the Other Side of the Moon"). In 2000, she became a news reporter for "ORT in Moldova," and in 2007, she authored the programme "Стоп-кадр" ("Freeze-Frame") on TV7. Two years later, she joined Publika TV as a programme director, creating projects such as "След в истории" ("Trace in History") and talk shows "Заметки на полях" ("Notes in the Margins") and "Vox Publika." In December 2013, she was appointed editor-in-chief of the Tiraspol separatists' television station "Primul Transnistrean/Первый Приднестровский" ("First Transnistrian"). At the time, the separatist region was led by Yevgeny Shevchuk, for whom Pahomova was reported to have written speeches, according to journalist Vlad Țurcanu. In 2015, she resigned from "Первый Приднестровский" due to disagreements with a media law promoted by the region’s new leader, Vadim Krasnoselsky. In 2016, Pahomova became general producer at RTR-Moldova. By 2017, she had joined the media group controlled by socialists Dodon and Furculiță, where she hosted the show "Mechanism of Action" (Механизм Действия) and served as a producer for NTV Moldova.

Elena Pahomova is the screenwriter of the "History of Moldova" film series, which is considered propagandistic and pseudo-historical, and was deemed a scientific fabrication by specialists from the Moldovan Academy of Sciences. She has also authored other "historical" films criticised by historians and filmmakers for promoting propaganda and manipulative rhetoric. In 2018, President Igor Dodon awarded Pahomova the "Order of Labour Glory" for "outstanding contributions to strengthening Moldovan statehood, substantial support for civil society, and remarkable social engagement." In 2020, she received a diploma signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and a commemorative medal for translating information about Moldova's epidemiological situation and restrictions into Russian. This award was presented by the Russian ambassador to Moldova.

From 2020 to 2022, Pahomova was involved in a legal dispute with TV8, a television station airing the show Internetu' Grăiește hosted by Nata Albot and Andrei Bolocan. In one episode, they allegedly mocked a post by Pahomova, published photos of her children, and called for public action. Pahomova filed a complaint with the Audiovisual Council, which fined TV8 10,000 MDL and 5,000 MDL. In response, the television station challenged the Council's decision in court, while Pahomova also filed a lawsuit against TV8 over this incident.

In 2021, Pahomova applied for a broadcasting licence for a new television channel, 3,14 TV, owned by "Constanta Media" SRL, founded by the "Media Content" Association, where she serves as administrator. In October 2024, the Audiovisual Council revoked the channel’s licence at the administrators’ request.

Pahomova supports the Socialist Party and some of its representatives. She was a member of the Civil Society Council under the President of Moldova as the head of the Media and Communications Commission. When Maia Sandu assumed the presidency, this advisory council, along with others established by former President Dodon, was disbanded.

In 2019, Pahomova was added to the Myrotvorets database. According to information posted on the website myrotvorets.center, she was accused of manipulating public information, mocking Ukrainian history, attacking states that support Ukraine, engaging in Russian propaganda, and promoting separatism.

Pahomova gives lectures and public talks and writes articles on journalism, architecture, and art. In 2016, an article by her appeared in the anthology Identities of Chișinău, published by ARC with support from the French Embassy in Moldova.

Since 2023, Pahomova has organised a communication school called "Elena Pahomova's School of Communication." According to the anticoruptie.md portal, this school is affiliated with the Russian Centre for Science and Culture.

Since 2019, she has managed a Telegram channel called Ivanovna and appears as an author on the Гуляй, Молдова! channel, focusing primarily on cultural content and promoting Soviet nostalgia. Since 2022, she has also been active on the Russian-language portal sobes.md, founded in 2020 as a blog and edited by the "Media Initiatives Association." According to leaks from the Telegram channel Umbra, Pahomova allegedly received €18,000 from Russia before the 20 October presidential elections to maintain sobes.md, which provides Russians with "legal and rights-related information." Pahomova reportedly signed a contract with a so-called fund from Russia for "defending and supporting the rights of compatriots living abroad."

In 2022, she participated in protests organised by PSRM alongside representatives from the "Civic Congress," opposing the Emergency Situations Commission's decision to suspend, during the state of emergency, the broadcasting licences of six television stations affiliated with the "Șor" Party. Since 2024, she has appeared on the MD24 channel, promoting a pro-Russian, anti-European, especially anti-Sandu, stance and spreading Russian propaganda narratives.