Moldovan court overturns ban on pro-Russian party to run in elections
Kyiv • UNN
Moldova's Constitutional Court has overturned a law that banned a pro-Russian party linked to fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor from running in the elections. Members of the party are also allowed to run in the elections, despite Shor's conviction for fraud.
Moldova's Constitutional Court has overturned a law that banned a party affiliated with fugitive pro-russian oligarch Ilan Shor from running for office. This was reported by Reuters, UNN.
Details
The court ruled unconstitutional an amendment to Moldova's electoral law that bans people associated with parties recognized as illegal or unconstitutional from running for office for three years.
Parliament Speaker Ihor Grosu said that the government would comply with the court's decision, but would make every effort to prevent people associated with criminal organizations from running for office.
We will make adjustments in accordance with the court's decision, but we will not allow criminal groups to seize control of the electoral process and undermine democracy in Moldova
Recall
Last year, Shor was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for fraud in connection with the disappearance of $1 billion from Moldova's banking system in 2014-2015.
The party that bears his name was declared unconstitutional, and the amendment was used to prevent its members from running in local elections last year, including one of Shor's deputies who ran for mayor in Balti, Moldova's second largest city.
Shor has organized street protests against President Maia Sandu and opposes Moldova's path to European Union membership. Sandu, in turn, accuses him of trying to undermine Moldova's institutions with the help of russia.
