The registration of Inna Popenko as a runner in the race for the presidency on behalf of the Party “Ravnopravie”/Shor Party was annulled by the Chisinau Appeals Court. The Court pronounced at the request of the Central Election Commission, which, for its part, was notified by independent candidate Silvia Radu. Inna Popenko is accused of corrupting voters and of not reporting all the costs incurred in her election campaign. The Court’s decision can be challenged in the Supreme Court of Justice within three days, IPN reports.

CEC member Maxim Lebidinski said it was established that Inna Popenko used undeclared funds and illegally benefitted from the support of the public association “For Orhei” and also corrupted voters by issuing them with cards for social stores. “The Central Election Commission doesn’t do politics, but ascertains the violations reported by other runners,” he stated.

Inna Popenko described the CEC’s actions as pressure exerted on her as an election runner. According to her, the accusations are unfounded as the social stores to which reference is made are opened within a project that has been implemented for a year. These shops worked until now and will continue to work after the elections. The candidate stated there is no democracy in Moldova, while some of the politicians lost common sense.

Inna Popenko’s lawyer Denis Ulanov told the journalists that the arguments provided by the representatives of Silvia Radu are nothing but pressure. The argument that Popenko shared out cards is absurd. The decision to remove the candidate from the electoral race is groundless and will be appealed to the higher court.