The U.S. Department of State said the Moldovan Supreme Court’s non-transparent decision to uphold the invalidation of Chisinau’s June 3 mayoral elections represents a threat to Moldovan democracy, IPN reports, with reference to a press statement issued by the Department’s spokesperson Heather Nauert.

“The winning candidate in Chisinau’s mayoral race received a majority of the votes. International observers found relatively minor irregularities that would not justify invalidation of the election results, and there were no calls from election participants to invalidate the results. The Court’s unusual and unwarranted decision thwarts the electoral will of the Moldovan people and damages respect for the rule of law and democratic principles in Moldova,” says the statement.
 
“As Secretary Pompeo emphasized to Prime Minister Filip in their June 25 meeting, free and fair elections are the hallmark of a democratic government and must reflect the will of the country’s citizens without political interference.”

In the evening of June 25, the Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova upheld the Chisinau Appeals Court’s and the Chisinau City Court’s decisions to invalidate the early mayoral elections held in Chisinau.