Ombudsman Mihail Cotorobai requested the judges of the Constitutional Court (CC) to immediately examine the constitutionality of the ban on voting with expired identity cards or passports imposed on the Moldovans from the diaspora, IPN reports.

In his challenge, the ombudsman said this ban is contrary to the Constitution. According to Mihai Cotorobai, the ban on voting with expired identity cards or passports for the diaspora represents differentiated treatment of the citizens who can vote in the country with the identity card, including temporary one. Such treatment affects the substance of the electoral rights of the citizens from the diaspora and violates their right to elect.

The ombudsman said the right to vote is relative and its exercise can be subject to limitations. However, these limitations should not represent obstacles to exercising the right to vote for the Moldovans who are abroad. “Any restriction on the electoral rights should not exclude particular persons or groups of persons from participation in the country’s political life,” says the challenge.

Given that parliamentary elections will take place on February 24, the ombudsman demands to examine the challenge as swidfftly as possible so as to enable all the citizens of Moldova, regardless of the domicile or residence, the permanent or temporary place of stay, to exercise the right to vote without unjustified and distortional barriers.