Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, expressed her opinion on the amendments to the Moldovan Electoral Code, which prohibit former members of the Shor party from running in elections.
According to Zakharova, these changes strongly affect the political situation in Moldova. She said that the adoption of such decisions on one day at the state level raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the process. Zakharova also stressed that this may indicate the weakness of the Moldovan authorities and their dependence on foreign sponsors rather than on the interests of their own citizens.
She expressed fear that such practices could be used in future elections, including the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2024 and 2025. Zakharova also pointed out that the timing of changes to the country’s electoral legislation is questionable and may not be in line with international standards.
Finally, Zakharova emphasised that such actions undermine the right of citizens to participate in the political life of the country without discrimination, which contradicts the principles approved at the Copenhagen CSCE meeting in 1990. She also noted that international observers would closely follow the developments and assess the situation in the upcoming elections.
