On March 15th, 2024, Arina Corsicova, an independent candidate, lodged a claim with the European Court of Human Rights contesting her exclusion from participation in the Moldovan local elections held in November 2023.
Corsicova, who stood as a candidate for Mayor of the municipality of Balti, placed second out of fourteen candidates earning the right to participate in the second round of elections that were held in November 2023. However, the Electoral Council of Balti Municipality decided to exclude Corsicova from participating in the next round of elections.
Expressing her motivations behind the legal action, Arina Corsicova emphasized her commitment to defending democratic principles, the rule of law, and justice in Moldova. She voiced concerns about the potential implications of her exclusion, describing it as setting a concerning precedent that could be exploited to suppress oppositional candidates in the future.
“I have filed this claim to the ECHR to defend democracy, rule of law, and justice in Moldova. What happened in Balti last fall sets a dangerous precedent, and I have no doubt that the authorities will use the same tactics to eliminate oppositional candidates in the future. It is my hope that this legal claim will help prevent the dismantling of democratic institutions and human rights which I, as a citizen, as well as the entire nation, have experienced over the past years. I ran for office in Balti because I wanted to serve its residents and I continue that ambition with this claim,” said Arina Corsicova.
In another important development for Moldova, on March 11th, 2024, the European Court of Human Rights announced its decision to review a case brought by the SHOR party against Moldova concerning the ban on the Shor Party.
The filing of Corsicova’s claim underscores the pivotal role of international bodies such as the ECHR in safeguarding democratic processes and upholding human rights standards.