Justice Ministry demands suspension of Greater Moldova Party's work for one year

The Justice Ministry informs that it has filed a request with the Centru Court of Appeals to limit the activity of the Greater Moldova Political Party for a period of 12 months. At the same time, the institution asked for the enforcement of an interim measure until the court's decision.

According to the cited source, the action follows a notification sent by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) on September 29, which found that the party had committed serious infringements of the democratic electoral process.

According to information presented by law-enforcement bodies, the Greater Moldova Political Party allegedly benefited from external financing from the Russian Federation, through Promsvyazbank, an institution associated with the Shor group. This practice runs counter the national legislation, which prohibits external, direct or indirect, financing of political parties.

The Justice Ministry emphasizes that the connection between the party, Promsvyazbank, and the Shor group represents a case of illegal external financing, impacting state security and the integrity of the electoral process.

Two days ago, the CEC deputy president, Pavel Postica, said that all votes accumulated by the Greater Moldova Political Party so far had been declared invalid, including those entered into the automated system. A decision to this effect was adopted by the CEC, following the Supreme Court of Justice's ruling, which dismissed the political party's appeal and upheld the electoral authority's decision to remove the Greater Moldova Party from the race.

At that time, Postica noted that, although the law provides in such cases for the application of the 'Withdrawn' stamp next to the electoral competitor removed from the race, in order not jeopardize the voting process, the CEC was unable to apply the stamp on the ballot papers next to the 'Moldova Mare' Political Party, since the voting process was already underway.

The Centru Court of Appeals rejected, on election day September 28, the political party's appeal. Thus, the Central Electoral Commission's decision to remove the Greater Moldova Party from the electoral race stays in effect.

The Greater Moldova Political Party on September 26 was excluded from the electoral race by a decision adopted by the CEC with six votes for and three abstentions. The decision came after examining an appeal submitted by the European Social Democratic Party, which accused the party of external financing and cooperation with fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.

Thus, based on documents issued by law enforcement institutions, the political party's involvement was invoked in: use of undeclared funds; use of money from outside the country for the electoral campaign; electoral corruption; participation in a camouflaged electoral bloc, through associations and voting recommendations promoted by Ilan Shor and the Victory Bloc, previously removed from the race and with limited activity; involvement of the Church (Metropolitan See of Moldova) in the electoral campaign; massive influence on electoral rights; direct help from the Russian Federation.