Moldova Party asks ECtHR for legal evidence check
The Moldova Mare Party requested the Chișinău Court of Appeal to refer the matter to the European Court of Human Rights for an advisory opinion regarding the legality of the evidence used in a case seeking to restrict its operations.
The motion, filed by the party’s lawyer on Thursday, 23 October, was immediately dismissed as "abusive" by the Ministry of Justice, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), and the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS). The institutions accused the defence team of attempting to delay the process.
Igor Hlopețchi, the party’s lawyer, explained the reason for the request:
“We requested the direct application of Additional Protocol No. 16 to the European Convention on Human Rights, through which we asked the Supreme Court of Justice to refer the matter to the ECtHR for an advisory opinion. We want [the ECtHR] to explain whether reports from journalistic investigations and police stations comply with the standards of Article 3 of Additional Protocol No. 1. Since the ECtHR has previously condemned the Republic of Moldova for arbitrary exclusions from electoral cycles, the party will argue for the European court to issue an opinion and pre-empt a new condemnation.”
Present at the hearing, Moldova Mare leader Victoria Furtună stated that the motion could prevent potential condemnations of the Republic of Moldova by the ECtHR.
Representatives of the Ministry of Justice, CEC, and SIS rejected the request on the grounds that it is procedurally unfounded at this stage and is only intended to postpone the case's examination on its merits. The institutions characterised it as “abusive.”
The legal context of the case
The case concerns the Ministry of Justice’s initiative to restrict the party’s activity for 12 months. The request followed the CEC’s finding that Moldova Mare allegedly benefited from foreign funding from the Russian Federation through Promsvyazbank, a bank associated with the “Șor” group.
The Court temporarily restricted the party’s activity on 2 October. These interim restrictions will remain in place until a final ruling on the merits is issued.
The Chișinău Court of Appeal must now issue a conclusion on the motion filed by the party’s lawyer – a request seeking for Moldova's Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) to address the ECtHR with a request for an advisory opinion. The next hearing is scheduled for 30 October.
Additional Protocol No. 16 to the European Convention on Human Rights allows supreme courts in member states to request an advisory opinion from the ECtHR regarding the interpretation or application of the rights guaranteed by the Convention, in a pending case.
SIS accusations and exclusion from the race
SIS claims that one-third of the party members allegedly received transfers via the Promsvyazbank (PSB) mobile app, a Russian bank subject to international sanctions. The intelligence service considers the party “an extension” of the “Șor” criminal group.
Furthermore, the party allegedly used foreign funds and undeclared resources in its election campaign.
For this reason, the CEC definitively excluded the party from the electoral race for the parliamentary elections. The decision was taken by the CEC on 26 September 2025, and confirmed by the Chișinău Court of Appeal on 28 September, the very day of the election.
According to an investigation by Nordnews, the organisation “Evrazia” (controlled by Ilan Șor) operated an influence network coordinated by Russian citizens. This aimed to promote three contenders in the 28 September elections: the “Alternativa,” “Patriotic” blocs, and the Moldova Mare Party.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
