The leaders of the electoral bloc NOW are calling for the votes cast in the two Transnistrian constituencies to be canceled on the ground that the freedom and fairness of elections has been seriously violated there.
“In the two constituencies organized for the Transnistrian region there has been massive fraud. Voters in the Transnistrian region have been transported by the tens of thousands in an organized manner and in exchange for a remuneration of $20 for their votes in the legislative elections. Moreover, the opposition was unable to campaign in the Transnistrian region as access was forbidden there for the opposition leaders”, according to a statement made by Andrei Năstase and Maia Sandu at a press briefing.
The NOW leaders are urging the observation missions to declare the vote in the two constituencies as running against the OSCE and Council of Europe standards and not recognize it.
Further, the NOW leaders claimed that the vote in constituency no.33, where Năstase is running, has also been tainted by “massive fraud”. In particular, they allege that electoral lists were falsified and voters were being brought to vote in an organized manner for Democrat Constantin Țuțu. In this context, NOW will press negligence charges against police chief Alexandru Pânzari.
In addition, NOW complained of “tens of cases” where its observers have been “harrased and intimidated” by government agents and of impediments to file complaints.
The NOW leaders said they would also seek the criminal prosecution of CEC chairperson Alina Russu for “obstructing the right of vote in the diaspora and for abusing her authority”.
