In the title compound, [Co(C5H3N2O4)(2)(H2O)(2)] . C10H8N2, the Co atom is trans-coordinated by two pairs of N and O atoms from two monoanionic 4,5-dicarboxyimidazole ligands, and by two O atoms from two coordinated water molecules, in a distorted octahedral geometry. The 4,4'-bipyridine solvent molecule is not involved in coordination but is linked by an N - H ... N hydrogen bond to the neutral [Co(C5H3N2O4) (2)(H2O)(2)] molecule. Both molecules are located on inversion centers. The crystal packing is stabilized by N-H ... N and O - H ... O hydrogen bonds, which produce a three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded network. Offset pi-pi stacking interactions between the pyridine rings of adjacent 4,4'-bipyridine molecules were observed, with a face-to-face distance of 3.345 (1) Angstrom.