On May 26, Moldovan President Maia Sandu extended Independence Day congratulations not to the Georgian authorities but to Salome Zourabichvili, the former President of Georgia, addressing her as if she still held office and awarding her Moldova’s highest state honor.
In a message posted on social media, Sandu congratulated "the courageous Georgian people on Independence Day" and reaffirmed Moldova’s support for those committed to "freedom, dignity, and a European future." Sandu called on Georgia to join Moldova in the challenging process of European integration, inviting the country to "walk together" on the "difficult" path to the EU.
During the address, Sandu announced that the Moldovan government had decided to award Salome Zourabichvili the Order of the Republic, the country’s highest state award. Sandu praised Zourabichvili’s "leadership and commitment to democratic values," stating that it "inspires us all," and concluded her message with the words, "Long live Georgia!"