Moldova bans pro-Russian Shor party after months of protests

Moldova's Constitutional Court on Monday banned the pro-Russian Shor party that has led months of protests and is headed by an exiled businessman accused by the West and the government of trying to destabilise the country.

Moldova's Constitutional Court on Monday banned the pro-Russian Shor party that has led months of protests and is headed by an exiled businessman accused by the West and the government of trying to destabilise the country. The court declared the party led by Ilan Shor, who lives in Israel, unconstitutional. Its decision triggered an immediate ban and the justice ministry will set up a special commission to complete all legal procedures for the party's dissolution.

Shor was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in jail in April over a $1 billion bank scandal and money laundering, and has had sanctions imposed on him by both the United States and the European Union. Shor did not immediately comment on the court's decision, under which lawmakers from the party will retain their parliamentary mandates as independents, without the right to join other factions in the assembly.

The party's vice-chairman, Marina Tauber, had condemned the court proceedings before the ruling. "We will still come to power with our team. For us, this shameful process is an experience," she said. "Citizens must have the right to free choice. Our team will fight for everything good for Moldova."

The party has since last summer organised protests in the capital Chisinau at which demonstrators have called for the resignation of President Maia Sandu and her pro-Western government over rising prices. Sandu has accused Shor of attempting to destabilise Moldova, whose economy has been hit by the fallout of the war in neighbouring Ukraine, and of trying to undermine the tiny former Soviet republic's bid to join the EU.

Shor has denied the protests are part of a Russian threat or of attempts to destabilise Moldova, and has accused Sandu of driving Moldova towards bankruptcy. The United States imposed sanctions on Shor last year for involvement in what Washington described as Russian malign influence operations in Moldova and systemic corruption.

The EU placed financial and travel restrictions on Shor last month for involvement in "actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova". The Shor party was created in 2016 out of a party known as the Socio-Political Movement "Equality". It won six seats in the 110-seat parliament in the last national election in 2021.

After the party won a local leadership election in the semi-autonomous Gagauzia region last month, its successful candidate said she would seek closer ties with Moscow. Moldova has accused Russia of plotting to overthrow Sandu. Russia, which has about 1,500 troops stationed in the breakaway region of Transdniestria, has denied the accusations.