CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) 鈥 Moldova鈥檚 electoral commission on Friday barred a pro-Russian party from participating in this weekend’s tense parliamentary election, which is beleaguered by widespread claims of Russian interference.
The outcome of could determine whether Moldova, a Soviet republic until 1991 and a candidate for European Union membership since 2022, can continue on a path toward the EU or will be brought back under Russia鈥檚 orbit.
The Heart of Moldova party was one of four parties in the Russia-friendly Patriotic Electoral Bloc, or BEP, which is viewed as one of the main opponents of the ruling pro-Western Party of Action and Solidarity, in Sunday鈥檚 election.
The Central Electoral Commission’s action was based on a ruling a day earlier by the Chisinau Court of Appeal, which restricted the party鈥檚 activities for 12 months.
The justice ministry requested the restrictions following searches earlier this month on Heart of Moldova party members that led to allegations of voter bribery, illegal party financing and money laundering.
The electoral commission said in a statement that all candidates proposed by Heart of Moldova will be removed from the bloc’s list of candidates, and gave the bloc 24 hours to adjust its list to meet the representation thresholds required by electoral law.
The Party of Action and Solidarity has held a strong parliamentary majority since 2021, but risks losing it in the upcoming race, in which it faces several Russia-friendly opponents but no viable pro-European partners.
The BEP says it wants 鈥渇riendship with Russia, 鈥減ermanent neutrality鈥 and a 鈥渟tate that serves the people, not officials.鈥
Irina Vlah, leader of the Heart of Moldova, condemned 鈥渢he abusive decision鈥 and called it a 鈥減olitical spectacle, concocted a long time ago鈥 by the ruling party. She made a similar statement condemning the court ruling the previous day.
鈥淲e have made numerous calls pointing out the crimes that were being committed against us, but there has been no reaction, no change in attitude, which once again confirms that in recent weeks a scenario has been implemented against us,” read a statement on her Facebook page.
On Thursday, Vlah was banned from entering Latvia, Estonia and Poland, which accused her of 鈥渉elping the Russian Federation interfere in the preparations for the parliamentary elections.鈥
The electoral commission鈥檚 decision is likely to inflame tensions in an already polarized country where authorities have (dollars) to sway the outcome of Sunday鈥檚 vote via an alleged vote-buying operation and plans to incite riots around the election.
Moscow has repeatedly denied meddling in Moldova. In a statement Thursday, Russia鈥檚 Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed allegations of Russian interference in Moldova鈥檚 elections as 鈥渁nti-Russian鈥 and 鈥渦nsubstantiated.鈥
Cristian Cantir, an associate professor of international relations at Oakland University, told The Associated Press that pro-Russian parties may use the ban to claim they are being discriminated against and energize supporters.
鈥淚f political competitors break the law and contribute to the Kremlin鈥檚 plans to undermine Moldova, an institutional response is necessary for the preservation of the country鈥檚 security and democracy,鈥 he said. 鈥淗aving said that, the decision will be used by pro-Russian groups as further evidence for their claim of political persecution ... These groups will ramp up this rhetoric to mobilize their electorate.鈥
