02:06Supporters of the Shor party staged a mock funeral for democracy in Chisinau on Tuesday, following a Moldovan court decision declaring that the organisation was 'unconstitutional' and would be banned.
Footage features the protesters in black clothes walking through the streets chanting 'Down with [President] Maia Sandu' and holding placards reading 'Democracy is dead', 'Maia [Sandu] has destroyed the rights and freedoms of Moldovan citizens!' and 'In loving and everlasting memory of freedom!'
Police officers are also seen detaining party supporters. No official information from the Moldovan Interior Ministry about arrests during the protest was released at the time of publication.
The party’s chairman Ilan Shor said on Tuesday that the organisation would continue to operate as the country's main opposition force despite the ban.
"We are planning, and we are confident that we will continue all our social and political activities. The Shor Party in its entirety will continue to operate within the framework in which we have operated until today as the country's main opposition force. The people are behind us, and we cannot [afford] to let them down," he said.
Under the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Monday, the activities of the Shor party were deemed illegal and the Moldovan Ministry of Justice was instructed to establish a commission to liquidate the party and remove it from the state register of legal entities.
The court launched the inquiry on May 10 at the request of the government, amid allegations of illegal financing and links to Russia. The administration accused the opposition group of acting 'contrary to the principles of the rule of law and endangering the sovereignty and independence of the republic'.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that "a political party created out of corruption and for corruption is a danger to the constitutional order and security of the state".
According to Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean, the party 'often violated the law' and also received financial support 'from a third state secret service with the aim of destabilising Moldova' and deviating from its course towards European integration.
In its defence, the party claimed the accusations were unfounded, arguing that it did not violate the Constitution and 'acts in accordance with the Moldovan legislation'.
The party's deputy chairwoman, Marina Tauber, said that the legal team intends to challenge the decision in the European Court of Human Rights.
In November 2022, the Moldovan government attempted a similar move in connection with the Shor party's ongoing rallies, but the court did not accept its request.
Moldova: 'Democracy is dead' - Chisinau residents stage 'funeral' in protest of Shor party ban
Supporters of the Shor party staged a mock funeral for democracy in Chisinau on Tuesday, following a Moldovan court decision declaring that the organisation was 'unconstitutional' and would be banned.
Footage features the protesters in black clothes walking through the streets chanting 'Down with [President] Maia Sandu' and holding placards reading 'Democracy is dead', 'Maia [Sandu] has destroyed the rights and freedoms of Moldovan citizens!' and 'In loving and everlasting memory of freedom!'
Police officers are also seen detaining party supporters. No official information from the Moldovan Interior Ministry about arrests during the protest was released at the time of publication.
The party’s chairman Ilan Shor said on Tuesday that the organisation would continue to operate as the country's main opposition force despite the ban.
"We are planning, and we are confident that we will continue all our social and political activities. The Shor Party in its entirety will continue to operate within the framework in which we have operated until today as the country's main opposition force. The people are behind us, and we cannot [afford] to let them down," he said.
Under the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Monday, the activities of the Shor party were deemed illegal and the Moldovan Ministry of Justice was instructed to establish a commission to liquidate the party and remove it from the state register of legal entities.
The court launched the inquiry on May 10 at the request of the government, amid allegations of illegal financing and links to Russia. The administration accused the opposition group of acting 'contrary to the principles of the rule of law and endangering the sovereignty and independence of the republic'.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that "a political party created out of corruption and for corruption is a danger to the constitutional order and security of the state".
According to Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean, the party 'often violated the law' and also received financial support 'from a third state secret service with the aim of destabilising Moldova' and deviating from its course towards European integration.
In its defence, the party claimed the accusations were unfounded, arguing that it did not violate the Constitution and 'acts in accordance with the Moldovan legislation'.
The party's deputy chairwoman, Marina Tauber, said that the legal team intends to challenge the decision in the European Court of Human Rights.
In November 2022, the Moldovan government attempted a similar move in connection with the Shor party's ongoing rallies, but the court did not accept its request.
Supporters of the Shor party staged a mock funeral for democracy in Chisinau on Tuesday, following a Moldovan court decision declaring that the organisation was 'unconstitutional' and would be banned.
Footage features the protesters in black clothes walking through the streets chanting 'Down with [President] Maia Sandu' and holding placards reading 'Democracy is dead', 'Maia [Sandu] has destroyed the rights and freedoms of Moldovan citizens!' and 'In loving and everlasting memory of freedom!'
Police officers are also seen detaining party supporters. No official information from the Moldovan Interior Ministry about arrests during the protest was released at the time of publication.
The party’s chairman Ilan Shor said on Tuesday that the organisation would continue to operate as the country's main opposition force despite the ban.
"We are planning, and we are confident that we will continue all our social and political activities. The Shor Party in its entirety will continue to operate within the framework in which we have operated until today as the country's main opposition force. The people are behind us, and we cannot [afford] to let them down," he said.
Under the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Monday, the activities of the Shor party were deemed illegal and the Moldovan Ministry of Justice was instructed to establish a commission to liquidate the party and remove it from the state register of legal entities.
The court launched the inquiry on May 10 at the request of the government, amid allegations of illegal financing and links to Russia. The administration accused the opposition group of acting 'contrary to the principles of the rule of law and endangering the sovereignty and independence of the republic'.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that "a political party created out of corruption and for corruption is a danger to the constitutional order and security of the state".
According to Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean, the party 'often violated the law' and also received financial support 'from a third state secret service with the aim of destabilising Moldova' and deviating from its course towards European integration.
In its defence, the party claimed the accusations were unfounded, arguing that it did not violate the Constitution and 'acts in accordance with the Moldovan legislation'.
The party's deputy chairwoman, Marina Tauber, said that the legal team intends to challenge the decision in the European Court of Human Rights.
In November 2022, the Moldovan government attempted a similar move in connection with the Shor party's ongoing rallies, but the court did not accept its request.