Explainer - 10: Differences between the (repetitive) protests in Moldova and those that ended in Georgia

While the recent protests in Moldova and Georgia are mismatched in many ways, Russian state propaganda is putting an equal mark between them.

The Russian MFA Lavrov accuses the West of double standards when it comes to the protests organized in Moldova compared to those we witnessed in Georgia. Actually, these are apples and oranges. Let's dig into the nuances:

1) The protests in Moldova involve local power dynamics and are organized by opposition forces that have been sanctioned by the US for their close ties to Russia (the Shor Party);

2) Georgian protests were triggered by the “foreign agents” law & ceased after the law was canceled;

3) The protesters in Moldova are made up of socially vulnerable and opportunistic categories, who are paid to join the protests and are bused from the regions;

4) There was no money involved in the protests in Georgia, where the driving force has been the youth of the capital;

5) The protests in Moldova are largely linked to socio-economic issues (power bills), with little reference to the Western orientation of the ruling party;

6) In Georgia, people protested over a political issue: the "foreign agents" law was perceived as Russian-inspired;

7) The Moldovan protests are seen as a source of insecurity due to the collusion of interests between the organizers of the protests & Russia;

8) The need for protests in Georgia is due to the fact that the approval of the law would have constituted a step against EU candidacy.