In Moldova, 2 days before voting, the pro-Russian party was removed from the elections
Two days before the parliamentary elections, the Moldovan Central Election Commission excluded the Heart of Moldova party, one of the pro-Russian forces that is part of the Patriotic Bloc, from the race. This is reported by Newsmaker Newsmaker.
“Heart of Moldova” was removed from electoral rolls due to investigations into voter bribery and illegal party financing. The CEC excluded the candidates of this political force from the list of the Patriotic Bloc, giving the bloc 24 hours to update the list of nominees, taking into account the decision of the commission and preserving the gender balance.
In the party “Heart of Moldova” called the decision of the commission “illegal and politically motivated”. The meeting of the Central Election Commission took place against the background of a protest organized by the Patriotic Block.
At the beginning of September, party representatives were searched in connection with the case of bribery of voters, illegal financing and money laundering. The head of the party, former head of the Gagauz Autonomous Region Iryna Vlah, said that the proceedings were allegedly fabricated by order of the pro-European party “Action and Solidarity” (PAS). PAS responded by stressing that everyone must abide by the law, and that government agencies must act independently and honestly.
The Ministry of Justice of Moldova, at the request of the CEC, turned to the court with a request to limit the activities of “Heart of Moldova” as part of the investigation, and on September 25 the Chisinau Appeals Chamber granted this request. The next day, the candidate from the Patriotic Bloc, Vlad Bartyncha, appealed to the Constitutional Court, contesting the amendments to the law on political parties, which allow limiting the activities of the political forces.
