Russian Influence Operations in the Black Sea Region: Georgia, Moldova, and Romania

About the Event

While much attention has been focused on Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin also continues to sow chaos and disruption elsewhere in Europe. In the Black Sea region, Russia has attempted to co-opt governments and, when that proves impossible, has attempted to disrupt, discredit, or manipulate democratic elections. As always, Kremlin influence operations are tailored to the environment. In Georgia, where it has a government that serves its interests, Moscow has been largely hands off, providing rhetorical support to the Georgian government's manipulation of elections and suppression of protests while avoiding the type of direct intervention it knows would trigger a backlash from Georgia's pro-Western civil society. In Romania and Moldova, Russia has attempted to subvert pro-European governments through covert endorsement of its favorite candidates and outright attempts to buy votes. Join an expert panel of scholars from Georgia, Moldova, and Romania as we discuss the implications of Russia's interference in democratic processes there and the lessons to be learned for democratic societies.

Speakers