THE ELECTION in Georgia on October 26th was a crucial moment for a country once hailed by the West for its democratic reforms. Its pro-European opposition saw it as perhaps the last chance to repair the damage done by the current anti-Western government and put the country back on track towards membership of the EU. If the official results are to be believed, that chance seems to have slipped away: they showed a decisive victory for the ruling, Russia-appeasing, Georgian Dream party, with 54% of the vote. Election authorities said an alliance of four opposition parties took just 38%. If the result stands Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin is closer than ever to its goal of creating another client state. The Georgian poll has taken place alongside another important test of Russian influence, a two-stage presidential election in Moldova that ends in the coming week.