Alexandr Nesterovski, the Communist Socialist Bloc’s candidate for Bălți mayor, announced he was boycotting the runoff. “Political honor is more important than winning an election”, he posted on Facebook.

Nesterovski said he made the decision after consulting with the outgoing Socialist leader Igor Dodon and other party members, reaching the conclusion that “this election has been compromised and stripped of moral and political legitimacy as well as legality”.

Nesterovski calls on civil society and foreign diplomatic missions not to recognize the election and condemn the “desecration of electoral law that took place in Bălți after the first round”.

After the winner of the first round, Shor Party’s Marina Tauber, was removed from the race over campaign financing violations, the Central Electoral Commission decided that the runoff will be held on December 19. The runner-up, independent Nikolai Grigorishin, was supposed to face third-placed PAS’s Boris Marcoci. Meanwhile, PAS announced it was withdrawing its candidate.

Before announcing his boycott, Nesterovski was next on the list. The CEC is due to assemble tomorrow to decide on what’s next.