Renata Skardžiūtė -Kereselidze
GIP Analyst

This week two Black Sea countries, Moldova and Bulgaria, elected openly pro-Russian presidential candidates. The outcomes have broad implications. For Georgia, aspiring to strengthen Black Sea regional identity, they pose challenges to maintaining the pro-European Black Sea narrative. However, there is more to the reasons why these candidates have been elected. Just like in Georgian and American elections, the voters focused on internal problems and fears, rather than geopolitical ambitions. In other words, foreign policy agenda does not win the elections this year.