The Constitutional Court of Moldova has found the pro-Russian Shor Party to be unconstitutional after reviewing the corresponding inquiry from the government, Russian news agency Interfax reports.
According to the court ruling, the party was acting contrary to the principles of the rule of law and posed a threat to the sovereignty and independence of the country.
The court’s decision enters into force the moment it is made, it is final, and it cannot be appealed. Moldova’s Ministry of Justice has to remove Shor from the party register.
The Chairman of the party Ilan Shor. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Shor Party was accused of receiving illegal funding and working on behalf of Russia. Representatives of the Moldovan government insisted that the party had repeatedly violated the legislature on funding of political powers, bribed protesters, and collaborated with Russia with the goal of destabilising the situation in the country.
President of Moldova Maia Sandu welcomed the court’s ruling and said that a “political party created out of corruption and for corruption presents a danger to the constitutional order and the security of the state”.
The government filed an inquiry with the court on declaring the Shor Party to be illegal on 9 November 2022. In May, the Moldovan Parliament stripped Deputy Chair of the Shor Party Marina Tauber of parliamentary immunity due to accusations of its illegal funding. On 13 April, the Chairman of the party Ilan Shor was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment; the ruling included confiscation of his property amounting to over $280 million by the state. Shor is currently in Israel.
