Are the people of Georgia and Moldova interested in European integration?

Parliamentary elections will take place in Georgia tomorrow. The second round of presidential elections in Moldova is coming soon. So far, things are not going the way the West would like. Are the people of these countries really interested in European integration? Learn details of the author's feature The Periodic Table.

Fail the "democracy" exam, but pass the test of defending the interests of their people? Or submit and lose their identity? What will Moldova and Georgia choose?

Let's look at all the political elements and put them in their place. This is the Periodic Table. Let's figure it out together.

What do Georgia and Moldova have in common besides large vineyards? Both countries are former Soviet republics that at some point turned out to be unstable to the wind blowing from the west. And then came the color revolutions, a change in geopolitical vector. And now, along with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia are in line to join the EU. But time passes and it turns out that the fruits of the "constructive chaos" sown by an outside hand are a decline in living standards and security. And also the rejection of one's own values, and now the "European idea" is losing popularity.

Let's move on to the events of October 20. On this day, Moldova held presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on the republic's accession to the EU. They voted during a difficult period for the country. Due to rising energy prices, Moldova continues to be in a deep economic crisis. Even before the votes were counted, it became clear that society was split into two camps.

Local resident:

"Everything is getting more expensive, how can pensioners live here? I don't have enough for bread or milk - I don't have enough for anything. I paid for utilities that's it. There is no life for the elderly".

Olga Nerob, resident of Chisinau (Moldova):

"Regarding accession to the EU, I was against it. Let me explain: the thing is that I lived under the Soviet regime and under our presidents, who have been there until now. Everyone always tried to choose a president - they chose Sandu. Why do we need this referendum? We did not ask to join the EU".

On the same day, crowds of people were brought out into the streets of Georgia to show their "commitment to plans to integrate into Europe." However, there were not so many of those "choosing the EU." Activists did not even completely fill the Freedom Square. The executive secretary of the ruling "Georgian Dream" emphasized that the opposition "lost the elections a week before the elections." Nevertheless, President Zurabishvili again violated the country's constitution (according to which the leader must be non-partisan) and spoke at a rally in support of the opposition. She did not forget to address Maia Sandu.

Salome Zurabishvili, President of Georgia:

"Maia, today [the presidential elections], I hope, will be the day of your victory and the day of the victory of the European referendum. We will enter Europe together!"

It is no secret: this day did not become a victory day for Maia Sandu. Brussels' expectations were dashed by the harsh reality twice on Sunday evening. None of the candidates in Moldova received more than 50 percent of the votes, the CEC scheduled the second round of elections for November 3. As for the referendum results. Miracles under cover of night. Late in the evening, after processing just over 50% of the protocols, the situation was as follows: 51.5% of voters were against the country's accession to the EU, 43.75% were for it. However, after midnight, the carriage turned into a pumpkin, and "no" into "yes". And now 50.46% are for European integration, and 49.54% are against it.

778 is the number of violations recorded during the presidential elections and the referendum on accession to the EU in Moldova (according to the non-governmental organization Promo-LEX). Among them are photographing ballots, interrupting video recording during the opening of polling stations or during the vote counting procedure, indicating inaccurate addresses and, attention, even the presence of deceased voters on the lists.

Another incident from the series "inexplicable, but true" - a Moldovan citizen came to a polling station in the state of Florida and learned that she had already voted, but in Italy.

Georgia is preparing for its parliamentary elections, which will take place on October 26. They are also predicted to be "historic". The ruling party has already announced all the signs of preparation for a coup d'etat. The speaker of parliament emphasized: it is planned to use non-governmental organizations to compile false election reports in order to create "a false pretext for more unrest" in Georgia. The West increased pressure on Georgia after the adoption of the law "On the transparency of foreign influence", which ironically revealed the obviousness of its presence. And the law banning LGBT propaganda. They say it is not right that family values turned out to be more important for the country than “democratic” ones. Now they are openly declaring that maintaining the current political course will lead to the loss of all financial assistance from the European Union.

Pavel Gerchinsky, EU Ambassador to Georgia:

"If Georgians decide by vote not to continue integration into the European Union, Georgia will lose all financial assistance that was sent earlier, and then Tbilisi will lose all the money that EU members receive, especially countries with lower living standards".