Moldova's "Victorie" Bloc banned from elections
The "Victorie-Pobeda" Electoral Bloc hasn't been registered by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) to participate in the parliamentary elections on September 28.
This decision was made during Saturday's meeting on July 19.
While CEC members debated the issue, a group of supporters of the "Victorie" Bloc protested outside the institution.
"We're here to remind the CEC that the will of the people is paramount. We'll chant, and we'll fight for everyone's rights to be respected, even though the state's dictatorial tendencies persist," the protesters stated.
They chanted: "Fair elections!"; "Shame!"; "We are the people!"; "Justice now!"; "Respect our laws!"
On July 14, the political "Victorie" Bloc, formed by parties affiliated with the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, submitted its registration documents to the Central Electoral Commission to enter the parliamentary race on September 28.
Notably, on July 6, the "Victorie" Bloc organized a congress in Moscow. During this event, the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor – sentenced in Moldova to 15 years in prison for bank fraud – announced the bloc's intention to participate in the parliamentary elections on September 28.
At the event, he stated that the current Bashkan of Gagauzia, Evghenia Guțul, who is under investigation in the case regarding the illegal financing of the former "Shor" party, would be first on the list of candidates. Additionally, Shor claimed that the only salvation for the Republic of Moldova is union with the Russian Federation.
Chișinău authorities condemned the political event organized by the "Victorie" Bloc, calling it "an act of national betrayal."
Furthermore, after this congress, several political parties in Chișinău called on authorities to ban the "Victorie" Bloc from participating in the parliamentary elections and to investigate the involvement of Moldovan politicians in "anti-state" actions.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
