Foreign Digest: Moldova and Georgia

Moldova: The pro-Western President of Moldova was reelected over the pro-Russian Socialist candidate in the presidential runoff election November 3. Moldova is a former Soviet Republic in which the Russian Federation stations troops against Moldova’s wishes along the border with Ukraine in a secessionist Russian-speaking area. Moldovans had approved a referendum last month to join the European Union, as I had posted. Like most Georgians and Ukrainians, they prefer integration with the West, instead of being forced into the orbit of Russia. Georgia: There were mass protests last week by Georgians against the Russian-influenced election last month, in which the pro-Russian Government claims reelection amidst widespread claims of fraud. The pro-Western President also claimed the results were fraudulent. A coalition of centrist and center-left pro-European opposition parties vows not to recognize the illegitimate results and will not take its seats in Parliament. A pro-Western and anti-Russian center-right coalition of parties is asking Western governments not to recognize the result. The opposition in general is advocating for a new election under international supervision and an investigation of last month’s election. The Russian Federation had invaded the former Soviet Republic of Georgia in 2008, seizing two breakaway territories and establishing puppet-states that claimed independence that are only recognized by Russia and a handful of its allies. Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, an ex-Soviet intelligence officer, is trying to restore the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire.