This executive summary presents the main findings and conclusions of the study Democracy under Siege. Challenges to National Security and Countering Hybrid Threats in the Republic of Moldova. The summary points to the existing vulnerabilities, hybrid tactics used, and the response measures adopted, providing an overview of the national security context. A detailed analysis and extensive argumentation can be found in the full version of the study. The study begins from the premise that the experience of the Republic of Moldova provides valuable lessons for other states, serving as a genuine „strategic laboratory” for examining how hostile actors exploit critical vulnerabilities. Between 2020 and 2025 – the period analysed by the authors, Moldova faced constant and multifaceted hybrid threats, primarily from the Russian Federation, which seeks to expand its influence in the region by destabilizing democratic institutions, cultivating a sense of insecurity, and undermining social cohesion.The invasion of Ukraine amplified Moldova`s existing internal
