Current:Home > FinanceA Moldovan court annuls a ban on an alleged pro-Russia party that removed it from local elections-InfoLens
A Moldovan court annuls a ban on an alleged pro-Russia party that removed it from local elections
View Date:2024-12-23 11:25:05
CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — An appeals court in Moldova’s capital on Tuesday annulled a decision that banned hundreds of candidates from an alleged pro-Russia political party from participating in an electoral race days ahead of a nationwide ballot.
The Chisinau Court of Appeal overturned the ban on the Chance Party that had been enforced by Moldova’s Commission for Exceptional Situations on Nov. 3 — two days before the Nov. 5 local elections. The ban removed about 600 candidates from the ballot in the country of about 2.5 million people. The party had legally challenged the ban.
Alexei Lungu, the Chance Party’s leader, reacted to the appeal court’s decision on Tuesday by claiming that Moldova’s state authorities had “acted illegally” and said the ban had “violated fundamental human rights and the right to free elections.”
Moldova’s government spokesperson, Daniel Voda, said after the court’s decision that it will challenge it at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Justice. “We will defend the right of state institutions to protect our national security interests from organized criminal groups,” he said.
On the day that the Chance Party was banned, Moldova’s Intelligence and Security Service, SIS, published a report alleging that Russia was trying to “influence the electoral process” through the party.
SIS alleged in a 32-page report that the party had received about 50 million euros ($53 million) in Russian money, which had been channeled by exiled Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor and used to destabilize the country and “buy” voters.
Shor, who resides in Israel and was sentenced in absentia in April to 15 years in jail on fraud charges, was the head of the Russia-friendly Shor Party, which was declared unconstitutional in June by Moldova’s Constitutional Court.
That decision came after the party held monthslong protests against the pro-Western government, which accused the party of trying to destabilize the country.
veryGood! (43)
Related
- Military veteran gets time served for making ricin out of ‘curiosity’
- Tennessee agents investigate the death of a man in Memphis police custody
- Barbie Botox: Everything You Need to Know About the Trendy Cosmetic Treatment
- Indiana man indicted in threats made to Michigan municipal clerk following 2020 election
- Subway rider who helped restrain man in NYC chokehold death says he wanted ex-Marine to ‘let go’
- Texas questions rights of a fetus after a prison guard who had a stillborn baby sues
- 'I'm a Swiftie!' Kevin Costner 'blown away' at Taylor Swift concert with his daughter
- Jodie Sweetin Disappointed Her New Movie Was Sold to Former Costar Candace Cameron Bure's Network
- 2 Florida women charged after shooting death of photographer is livestreamed
- Shippers warned to stay away from Iranian waters over seizure threat as US-Iran tensions high
Ranking
- Krispy Kreme is giving free dozens to early customers on World Kindness Day
- Streamers beware: It's not just Netflix and Disney. A password sharing crackdown is coming.
- The future of crypto hinges on a fight between the SEC and a former burger flipper
- Michigan police chief, mayor apologize after arrest video of 12-year-old boy goes viral
- Kyle Richards Shares an Amazing Bottega Dupe From Amazon Along With Her Favorite Fall Trends
- Niger’s junta gains upper hand over regional bloc threatening military force, analysts say
- Home Depot employee fatally shot in Florida store, suspect is in custody
- Maryland angler wins world-record $6.2 million by catching 640-pound blue marlin
Recommendation
-
Dallas Long, who won 2 Olympic medals while dominating the shot put in the 1960s, has died at 84
-
Getting lit for Hip-Hop's 50th birthday
-
West Virginia University outlines proposed program and faculty cuts
-
Hundreds of items from Twitter offices going up for auction as Musk continues X rebrand
-
November 2024 full moon this week is a super moon and the beaver moon
-
Madonna Celebrates Son Rocco’s Birthday With Heartfelt Tribute
-
Court dismisses challenge to Biden’s restoration of Utah monuments shrunk by Trump
-
HSMTMTS Showrunner Shares Lucas Grabeel’s Emotional Reaction to His Character Coming Out