INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Votes in Georgia and Moldova: Russia Gains Influence in Eastern Europe
Recent votes in both countries have revealed obstacles on the path to Europe, highlighting Russia's enduring normative power in the region.
In the past two weeks, major votes have taken place in two Eastern European countries that have been framed as a choice between Russia and the West: the Referendum on European Union Membership in Moldova and the Parliamentary Election in Georgia. In both cases, widespread Russian disinformation campaigns and electoral fraud have been alleged, and results have demonstrated Russia's ongoing normative influence and structural power in the region.