Tbilisi Snubs Moldova’s Pro-EU Win, Citing CIS Membership

A diplomatic rift has emerged between Georgia and Moldova after the Georgian government refused to congratulate President Maia Sandu’s Action and Solidarity party on its recent parliamentary election victory. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated it was difficult to extend congratulations while Chisinau remains a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a post-Soviet bloc. “We will wait for it to withdraw from the CIS, and then we will see, we will reconsider the issue of congratulations,” Kobakhidze announced.

The Moldovan election and its aftermath have become a flashpoint in Georgia’s domestic politics. The controversy was further inflamed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who contrasted Moldova’s pro-European trajectory with Georgia’s current political situation. “Today we congratulate Moldova. The idea of Europe—the idea of a normal and stable development of the country—won in the elections… And we see how different this situation is from the situation in Georgia. Today, Georgia is largely lost to Europe,” Zelenskyy commented, echoing remarks he had made at the UN General Assembly.

While the Georgian government chose not to respond directly to Zelenskyy’s latest critique, the country’s opposition seized on the moment. Petre Tsiskarishvili, Secretary General of the United National Movement, claimed that the pro-government media’s coverage of the Moldovan elections revealed the ruling Georgian Dream party’s pro-Russian orientation. “The Dream and its TV channels were joyfully waiting for the victory of pro-Russian parties,” he alleged.

Despite the political friction, the ruling parties in both Georgia and Moldova share some striking similarities. Both have claimed that their opponents were preparing militants in Serbia to stage a coup. Both governments publicly aspire to join the European Union while simultaneously branding their domestic opposition as agents of foreign influence undermining national interests. This has led to the banning or restriction of several parties in Moldova, while in Georgia, efforts are underway to liquidate the United National Movement.

However, a key difference lies in their perceived adversaries. For Moldova’s leadership, the primary antagonist is Russia. For Georgian authorities, the main enemy is a vaguely defined “global war party.” This is despite Tbilisi officially labeling Moscow an “occupier” for its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s independence.

In the wake of the controversy, Georgian opposition figures are now looking to upcoming municipal elections on October 4 as their chance to reaffirm the country’s European path. Tamar Kekenadze of the Gakharia for Georgia party stated, “The citizens of Moldova voted for Europe! … If we want to return to a European future sooner, the next stage of the struggle will be the municipal elections.” Meanwhile, political analyst Gia Abashidze defended the Georgian government’s stance, arguing that while Sandu follows directives from Brussels, Tbilisi is strengthening its sovereignty. “Because of this, the majority of Georgians do not like Sandu and her government,” he claimed.