Moldova’s vote is one more sign of Russia’s weakness in its ‘near abroad’

On September 28, the governing pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) in Moldova emerged victorious in the general election. It not only defeated the Russia-friendly Patriotic Electoral Bloc (PEB) but also confirmed a new geopolitical trend.

Across post-Soviet Eurasia, Russia is losing ground amid the continuing Russian aggression against Ukraine. Paradoxically, Moscow launched the large-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022 to assert primacy over what it calls its “near abroad”. More than three years later, it is painfully obvious that the strategy has failed.

Countries and leaders, whether democrats or old-school autocrats, are turning away from Moscow.

In Moldova, the stellar result for PAS defied predictions of a tight race. In the run-up to the elections, pro-Russian f