Moldovan authorities on Wednesday have reinforced a ban on members of an outlawed Russia-backed party taking part in upcoming local elections.
Moldova’s Exceptional Situations Committee decided on Oct. 3 that members of the Shor Party who are charged, indicted, or suspected of committing criminal acts will be barred from taking part in November 5 elections.
The CSE, which is led by Prime Minister Dorin Recean and comprises several cabinet members as well as intelligence agency chiefs and prominent lawmakers, was initially established to deal with the emergency situation connected to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Constitutional Court, which outlawed the Shor Party in June amid moves by Moldova to reduce Russia’s influence, ruled on Tuesday that legislation approved by lawmakers in July banning party members from running for office for five years was unconstitutional.
The court’s decision came as a result of a complaint against the ban by members of the party, which was headed by exiled businessman Ilan Shor. He is accused by the West and the Moldovan government of trying to destabilize the country.
Shor, who is suspected of involvement in a $1 billion bank fraud, fled to Israel following the election of Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu in 2020.
He has organized months of anti-government protests from Israel attempting to overthrow Sandu and the pro-Western government that has been critical of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
U.S. sanctions seven Russians for attempt to destabilize Moldova
