Fines of over 1 million lei for wearing the “St. George” ribbon. 8 “ribbon” MPs have paid the fines and 9 others have challenged them in court

During 2022, the National Public Security Inspectorate (INSP) fined 1,009,500 lei to people who wore the black-orange ribbon, banned on the territory of Moldova as a symbol of Russian aggression against Ukraine, and by May 2023 fines amounting to 223,000 lei were paid.

According to data provided to the Guard Newspaper by the INSP, during the past year, including the demonstrations of May 9, 2022, police officers issued 235 official reports for wearing the black-orange ribbon. A total of 78 reports were sent to court, 5 of which were dismissed.

17 members of the Moldovan Parliament, who ignored the legal provisions and wore the black-orange bicolour ribbon during the demonstrations organised on 9 May 2022 in the centre of the capital, were fined 9 thousand lei each by the police. Eight of the 17 sanctioned MPs have paid the fines and 9 have challenged the decisions of the inspectors in court.

ZdG has identified the MPs who have challenged the acts fining them 9 thousand lei each for wearing the black-orange ribbon banned by law and shows you at what stage their appeals are being examined.

First MP of the Communists and Socialists Bloc to escape the fine

On 11 May, the Chisinau Court of Appeals issued a decision annulling the minutes and the sanctioning decision issued on the basis of them against the Bloc of Communists and Socialists MP Eduard Smirnov.

First BCS MP to escape a 9,000 lei fine for wearing the legally banned “St George” ribbon
The minutes fining Smirnov 9,000 lei were issued on 24 June 2022. On 27 July 2022 Smirnov challenged the act in court. The first court hearing in his case took place on 20 October 2022. Three more hearings followed in February, March and May this year, and in mid-May the ruling was handed down, making him the first MP to escape the 9,000 lei fine for wearing the legally banned “St George” ribbon.

Former President Igor Dodon also challenged in court the police report fining him 9,000 lei for wearing the black-orange ribbon on 9 May 2022.

The first hearing on the case was supposed to take place on July 19, 2022, at the Buiucani branch of the Chisinau Court. However, the hearing was postponed to November 9, after the former head of state failed to appear because he was placed under house arrest. The third and last hearing so far in this case took place on 23 January 2023, with no further hearings scheduled on the national court portal.

Among the MPs who wore the banned ribbon on 9 May 2022 and challenged the police minutes is BCS MP Fiodor Gagauz. The first hearing on his case was due to take place on September 12, 2022, but was postponed at the request of the parties. Three further hearings followed in November 2022 and January and March 2023. The next hearing is scheduled for 15 June this year.

5 postponed hearings in the Odnostalco case

BCS MP Vladimir Odnostalco has also challenged in court the police report fining him 9,000 lei for wearing the black-orange ribbon at the 9 May 2022 events. The first hearing in his case was supposed to take place on 29 September 2022, but it was postponed on the grounds that both Odnostalco and the investigating officer failed to appear.

At the request of Odnostalco’s lawyer, the hearing scheduled for 13 December 2022 was postponed and the hearing scheduled for 1 February 2023 was not held because the court clerk was on sick leave. The hearing of 27 March this year was postponed, as was the hearing scheduled for 21 April this year, as Judge Liliana Cusca was on sick leave. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for 5 June.

Bogdat Țîrdea also contested the 9,000 lei fine. The first hearing in his case took place on 15 December 2022. Another hearing was due to take place on 28 February 2023, but Țîrdea’s lawyers asked for the case to be postponed. The last hearing in the case was held on 28 March, with a further hearing scheduled for 18 May.

The judge postponed the ruling for 2 months

Vlad Bătrîncea is another BCS MP who challenged the minutes in which he was fined 9,000 lei for wearing the black-orange ribbon at the demonstration on 9 May 2022.

The first hearing in the case against Bătrâncea’s fine was held on 13 December 2022 and was postponed at the request of Bătrîncea’s lawyer. On 25 April, Judge Tatiana Bivol was due to give her ruling, but the hearing was adjourned until 30 June this year.

2 postponed hearings and a 5-month break until the next hearing

BCS MEP Petru Burduja also contested the minutes of the fine. The first hearing on his case was scheduled for 1 December 2022, but was postponed at the request of his lawyer. The next hearing was scheduled for 22 February 2023 and, like the first, was postponed at the request of the lawyer. The next hearing is scheduled for 20 July 2023.

According to the INSP, 17 deputies of the People’s Assembly and 4 other responsible persons from ATU Gagauzia were also sanctioned. Two of the sanctioned persons have paid the fines, 13 have contested the decisions of the investigating officers, one case has been closed and 6 are sent to the bailiff for enforcement proceedings.

Socialist deputy in the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia Alexandru Toporaș challenged the police report and on 19 August 2022 his application was rejected as unfounded. On 8 July 2022, the appeal of socialist Leonid Chiosea was also declared unfounded.

On 20 April 2022, the wearing of the black-orange ribbon and the “V” and “Z” symbols, representing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, was banned on the territory of Moldova.

Individuals who do not comply with the ban risk fines of up to 9,000 lei or community work of 30 to 60 hours. Persons in positions of responsibility risk a fine of up to 18,000 lei and legal entities can be fined up to 30,000 lei.