Socialist Igor Dodon, former president of Moldova, has challenged at the Chisinau Court the report fining him 9,000 lei for ignoring legal provisions and wearing the black-orange bicolour ribbon at the May 9 demonstrations in the centre of the capital. According to information published on the National Courts Portal, the contravention file was registered and assigned for examination on 7 June this year.

The first court hearing was scheduled for 19 July at the Buiucani court in Chisinau, where the case will be examined by magistrate Svetlana Garștea-Bria. Garștea-Bria is the judge who previously admitted the claims of Mariana Tabuica, the sister of former Justice Minister Vladimir Cebotari and ordered the collection of 415.65 thousand lei from the accounts of the “MoldATSA” State Enterprise. At the same time, a decision of the magistrate was the subject of examination at the European Court (“Savca v. Moldova” case of 15 March 2016).

On 18 May, socialist Igor Dodon announced that he had been fined 9000 lei by the police. Igor Dodon described the report issued by the law enforcement officers as an “abuse” and announced that he would challenge it in court.

“The government sent the police to issue me a report for participating on Victory Day with the symbols of victory over fascism. We will challenge this abuse in all courts. It is an unconstitutional law, which will eventually be annulled. In addition to being unconstitutional, this law is discriminatory and artificially divides society, being deeply anti-democratic,” said Igor Dodon in a post on his Facebook page.

Sixteen members of the Moldovan Parliament, who ignored the legal provisions and wore the black-orange bicolour ribbon at the May 9 demonstrations in the centre of the capital, were fined 9000 lei each by the police.  In a comment to ZdG, Viorel Cernăuțeanu, head of the General Patrol Inspectorate, told us that the MPs were summoned twice, but so far no MP has shown up at police headquarters.At the same time Cernăuțeanu said that the institution he heads has not received any summons to challenge the act in court.

Earlier, ZdG wrote that several MPs of the Communist and Socialist Bloc (BCS) ignored legal provisions and wore the black-orange bicolour ribbon at the May 9 demonstrations in the centre of the capital. Other officials and church leaders were among those wearing the banned ribbon. Among those who wore the banned ribbon was the former chairwoman of parliament, the chairwoman of the parliamentary faction of the BCS, Zinaida Greceanii. Another BCS MP, Fiodor Gagauz, was also pictured wearing the black and orange ribbon. Former Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin, now a member of parliament, also wore the black-orange ribbon.

Since 20 April, the wearing of the black-orange ribbon and the “V” and “Z” symbols, which represent Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, has been banned in Moldova.  Fines ranging from 4 500 to 9 000 lei or unpaid community work from 30 to 60 hours were imposed. Persons in positions of responsibility risk fines of 9,000 to 18,000 lei, and legal entities – 18,000 to 30,000 lei.