Russia used fear of war to pull Georgia back into its orbit, Moldova’s President

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has said Russia had used fear of war and warnings about electoral choices to draw Georgia back into its sphere of influence.

Speaking at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Sandu addressed what she described as Russia’s hybrid operations, saying both Moldova and Georgia had become targets of pressure from Moscow.

Sandu said Moldova was not the only country facing such challenges and that similar pressure could be seen across Europe. She said Moldova had withstood two years of sustained attacks through the collective effort of society, adding that citizens had shown their commitment to peace, Europe and democratic values.

She said she regretted that, despite what she described as the courage of the Georgian people in defending democratic values, European aspirations and their right to decide their own future, Russia had succeeded in pulling Georgia back into its orbit. According to Sandu, this was done by exploiting fears of war and sending messages that a “wrong choice” at elections would come at the cost of peace.

Sandu also warned that Armenia was now becoming the target of a similar strategy aimed at weakening sovereignty, influencing democratic choices and exploiting internal vulnerabilities. She said Moldova stood alongside Armenia and its people as they sought to resist such pressure and protect their democratic future.