Russia is meddling in politics in Georgia and Moldova – trying to do by stealth what it is doing by war in Ukraine

By Amy Eaglestone, PhD Candidate, University of Birmingham; Visiting Lecturer, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University

Recent votes in the former Soviet states of Georgia and Moldova have been dogged by interference from Russian-backed elements. Both countries had previously aspired towards closer ties with western Europe and future membership of the EU. And in both countries there is a strong suggestion of influence from Moscow that could jeopardise those aspirations.

The Moldovan government held a referendum on the country’s EU accession target for 2030 on October 20. Despite consistent…

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