The Heart of Moldova party is one of four in the Russia-friendly Patriotic Electoral Bloc, viewed as one of the main opponents of the ruling pro-Western Party of Action and Solidarity.
Moldova's electoral commission barred a pro-Russian party from participating in this weekend's parliamentary elections on Friday, a vote beleaguered by widespread claims of Russian interference.
The outcome of Sunday's high-stakes vote could determine whether Moldova, a former Soviet republic and a candidate for EU membership, will continue on a path towards the West or be brought back into Moscow's orbit.
The Heart of Moldova party is one of four parties in the Russia-friendly Patriotic Electoral Bloc (BEP), which is viewed as one of the main opponents of the ruling pro-Western Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS).
The Central Electoral Commission's decision was based on a ruling a day earlier by the Chișinău Court of Appeal, which restricted the party's 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 names 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 PAS party 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 "friendship with Russia," permanent neutrality and a "state that serves the people, not officials."
Irina Vlah, leader of the Heart of Moldova, condemned "the abusive decision" and called it a "political spectacle, concocted a long time ago" by the ruling party.
She made a similar statement condemning the court ruling the previous day.
“We 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," she said in a statement posted on her Facebook page.
On Thursday, Vlah was banned from entering Latvia, Estonia and Poland, which accused her of "helping the Russian Federation interfere in the preparations for the parliamentary elections."
Inflaming tensions
The electoral commission's decision is expected to inflame tensions in an already polarised country where authorities have warned that Russia is spending hundreds of millions of euros to sway the outcome of the vote via an alleged vote-buying operation and plans to incite riots.
Moscow has repeatedly denied meddling in Moldova. In a statement on Thursday, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed allegations of Russian interference as "anti-Russian" and "unsubstantiated."
Cristian Cantir, an associate professor of international relations at Oakland University, said that pro-Russian parties may use the ban to claim they are being discriminated against and energise supporters.
"If political competitors break the law and contribute to the Kremlin’s plans to undermine Moldova, an institutional response is necessary for the preservation of the country’s security and democracy," he said.
"Having 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 mobilise their electorate."
More background on the Moldovan election
Update 9/27/25:
2 Parties now banned...
Moldova's electoral commission has banned two pro-Russian parties, Heart of Moldova and Greater Moldova, from participating in the parliamentary elections held on Sunday, September 28, 2025. The bans were issued just days before the election over allegations of illegal foreign financing.
10 comments:
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There is ZERO doubt that President Trump, Kash, Tulsi, many others doing a great job, but we are still waiting for Pam Bondi to do something, instead of nothing but talking a lot....for example Terrorists need to be prosecuted, and dealt with. .
When former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi took office as the United States Attorney General, took office, promising competence and calm after years of political corruption and chaos with the two dummies Biden, and Harros in office tow of the worse people that the Democrats could find , I was hopeful that the tide at the Department of Justice had finally turned.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. Very wrong
My disappointment extends to FBI Director Kash Patel. Once billed as a reformer, Patel’s tenure increasingly feels like showboating rather than substance. And what of Deputy Director Dan Bongino? Once hailed as Patel’s natural ally in reform, he now seems sidelined—his fate sealed after his very public clash with Pam Bondi over her mishandling of the Epstein records.
It appears we are screwed unless Pam Bondi—and those around her—course-correct. The DOJ cannot survive as a mere echo chamber of politics. Americans deserve a Justice Department that is fearless, transparent, and willing to prosecute corruption no matter where it leads.
These people are downright dangerous and violent people!! This is what happens when there's no line drawn!!
These people are, or can be downright dangerous and violent people!! This is what happens when there's no line drawn!!
There limits for free speech, just like every other constitutional right. In some cases, what you say can be prosecutable, hate speech for instance. In other cases, you can say stuff like Kimmel did, but there can be associated penalties, like getting fired or suspended or sued. You can face consequences for violating somebody else's right to privacy or saying something on private property. We do have laws for slander and libel. In this country there's no law against saying something stupid, or something offensive in some way that another person of group takes offense at. The military for instance can court-martial your ass if you say or do something that is perceived to be detrimental to good order and discipline by denigrating the president or superior officers. So yeah, you can say shit but you can also be held accountable for it.
All these people involved should be locked up forever if not put down as people are feeling that their safety is at risk here!! These people calling others Nazis has go to stop!
Pam Bondi promised to be that leader. She hasn’t been. And unless something changes fast, history will remember her not as a reformer, but as just another cog in the machine she once vowed to dismantle.
Thumbs up for the end of democracy! Go Trump!
Keep holding onto the pretense that "continuity of government" is the same as "democracy". Especially once the "lawfare" begins.
Minus: Thumbs up for the end of democracy! Go Trump!
You say. I say thumbs down for the end of democracy under king donald.
Steve: There is ZERO doubt that President Trump, Kash, Tulsi, many others doing a great job...
...for Putin.
My thumbs up is for countries fighting fascism before it takes hold. When a country fights those who wish to transition from a democratic form of government to totalitarian fascist form -- that angers you. As someone who hates democracy. Other democratic countries, seeing that the United States has fallen to fascism, realize they need to take decisive action or they will be next.
The effectiveness of this tactic lies in its ability to immediately shift the debate from reasonable dialogue to a charged emotional state. The goal is to shut down discussion, to engage in a idiotic way
Funny... I didn't see you fighting fascism when Chavez took over Venezuela... how come? Why? I'll tell you why. You're an oficialista. In other words, a useful idiot for the "continuity of government" democracy facade .
You were in Venezuela when Chavez "took over Venezuela" and were protesting but didn't see me? That could be because I'm not a citizen of Venezuela and have never been there.
Chavez took over Venezuela in '67? Who knew?
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